13 replies to this topic

[HellsKitchen]

It's gotten to the point where I have accrued enough eyepieces that keeping them in one case is not possible. The case I use now doesn't fit half of them and I'm finding it a bit bulky regardless. I'm going to have to break up my collection into 2-3 more manageable portions. Are there any good alternatives to pluck foam cases, I see some people on here using things like camera cases/bags, those plastic dividers etc. 

 

Here is what I own. Just interested in some ideas. I'm thinking of grouping them as follows,

 

Case 1 - Primary

 

3.5mm Pentax XW

4.5mm Morpheus

6.5mm Morpheus

9mm Morpheus

12.5mm Morpheus

17.5mm Morpheus

20mm XWA

26mm Nagler

30mm UFF

Nebula filters

 

 

Case 2 - Lightweight/planetary set

 

1.6mm Vixen HR

2.4mm Vixen HR

3mm Delite 

4mm Delite 

5mm Delite

7mm Delite

9mm Delite

22mm LVW

 

I might add a 13-15mm here at some point

 

Case 3

 

Nikon 1.6x Barlow

2.5x Powermate 

5x Powermate

Ancillary stuff like collimators etc. 

Edited by HellsKitchen, 28 April 2025 - 06:11 AM.

[therealdmt]

Interesting. I’m at a similar spot in terms of number of eyepieces and sundry accesories.

 

I’ve got two cases, one of which is for my main set of 82° eyepieces and main filters, plus a 68° 24 if it isn’t already in a scope’s focuser, and one zoom and one focal extender.

 

The other eyepiece case is my lightweight grab ‘n go set, for use with my 72ED or 52SD. Inside are my Plossls, another set of 1.25" filters, and some 1.25" diagonals (90° mirror, 90° prism and a 45° for terrestrial), and another barlow and another zoom.

 

Meanwhile, I’m planning on taking a little trip next week, and if I take the Dob, I’ll need at least another pouch of some sort for my collimation-related gear plus anything that didn’t fit in the main case. I haven’t gotten to three dedicated cases yet, but I’m almost always observing from home, so whatever doesn’t fit in the two cases I’m just leaving loose. Also, it’s not like I have to bring everything out every single session (though of course I typically come pretty close, lol).

 

Actually, looking at your third case, do you really need all those barlows on top of carrying all those individual eyepieces? I’ve taken to just leaving most of my barlows inside (in the house). Of course that brings up why do I even have them then, but I’ve not quite gotten to the point of selling off excess gear but rather am still in the "filling in the edges" gear acquisition phase. Anyway, I think you have a reasonable strategy, especially if you typically do dedicated planetary sessions vs DSO sessions. A question is, are these cases more for storage or more for observing use (or, like for me, a little of both)? Reason I ask is because I really don’t need so many eyepieces on a given session. If the cases are only for use in the field, you could probably pare them down further, pre-selecting a choice set for the night

[stomias]

1 is too many, 1000 not enough

[jmillsbss]

I'd offer my help but I'm afraid it would be like "the blind leading the blind".  I don't have THAT many EPs any more.  I finally took inventory of what I use and what I rarely use and split them up into cases like that.  I found I used the ones I use even more and the ones I don't use, well, now I use them even less.  After a little while I accumulated another camera and EAA rig so I sold most of the "ones I don't use" to make a cleared out case I could use for the EAA stuff.

 

All that to say, I had mine sorted by make. I also had them sorted by use, small form factor for refractor work, big fat guys and hyper wides for the Dob, another for binoviewer pairs. That seemed to work pretty good, and I find doing that settles the "What case to carry?" question pretty cut and dried.  Maybe that's the way I would suggest.  Oh, you're gonna reach back into the other case from time to time because maybe your "favorite" is in that case, but after a few nights, I was content to keep it simple and do it the way I had planned.

 

Needless to say, you can't really go wrong. What you're trying to do is to stop dragging out a whole pile of cases every time you go out. You just have to be disciplined about it. There's probably only about a handful of EPs you use every time out and a few more that rotate in and out.  You probably could get by with a lot fewer EPs, but where's the fun in that?!?!?  I find if I take my Nagler 22 and my Delos 10, and maybe the 6, I can have a pretty good time, regardless which scope I use.

[csrlice12]

The trunk of a nice luxury automobile should be big enough...if not, you need a second car.

[JayinUT]

Here are some that I have seen and am considering. I agree, I usually find I need about 3-4 main eyepieces and then 2 of my orthos. Right now  I have multiple Pelican cases and they work but I am considering one of these just for ease of use in the field and to simplify. 

 

Case 1 LINK 

 

Case 2 LINK 

 

Case 3 LINK 

[rfcooley]

It's gotten to the point where I have accrued enough eyepieces that keeping them in one case is not possible. The case I use now doesn't fit half of them and I'm finding it a bit bulky regardless. I'm going to have to break up my collection into 2-3 more manageable portions. Are there any good alternatives to pluck foam cases, I see some people on here using things like camera cases/bags, those plastic dividers etc. 

 

HK,

 

When I started having a lot of eps I realized that I needed to consolidate all of them to a more convenient and portable solution. I own many OTAs and I wanted to set up my eps into these smaller cases. I wanted to have several small cases. Each case could be used with multiple OTAs.  What I came up with was about 6 small cases numbered 1 through 6. Case #1 will work with all of my OTAs and give me a variety of magnification, Exit pupils and FOVs. I am a firm believer in versatility. 

 

Case 1 consist of;

• AstroTech PFF 25 thru 5.5
• SVB 7-21 Zoom
• SVB 26/70 2"
• TV 2x Barlow
• Polarizing Moon Filter
• Sky Glow filter.

This kit works well with whatever OTA I decide to use.

 

Kit #2 consist of:

• Meade 4000 32mm Plossl (1.25)
• LER Gold Ring 20,15, 9, 6 (1.25)
• TV 24mm Wide Field (1.25)
• SVB 9-27 Zoom
• Meade 2x Shorty Barlow
• Polarizing moon filter
• Sky Glow filter.

Kit #2 works well in my small to medium OTAs that use 1.25 eps.

 

Kit #3 are all of my high end eps and is in a much larger case than the others. The kit ranges from 

• 30 to 3.5 mm in 1.25/2.0" format
• 2x Barlow.
• 3x Barlow 
• Polarizing Moon Filter
• Sky Glow/UHC
• H-alpha
• S II
• O III

Kit #3 is my most extensive collection of high end eps and generally only  accompanies my larger OTAs 12.5"  Custom Meade Light Bridge or the C11. It is my largest case a Apache 3800 (Harbor Frieght).

 

Kit #4 is Planetary 12 thru 3mm orthos

Kit #5 is UWA 82 to 100 AFOV eps

Kit #6 is AP kit with Reducer/Correctors,  Field flattners, 5x Barlow some adapters for the different cameras..

 

All of the cases are Apache 1800 (Harbor Frieght) with the exception of Kit #3. All of the 1800 fit in the soft or hard cases with each of the OTAs. In this way I have telescope and accessories in one hand and the mount and tripod in the other.

 

 

            

 

This may give you some ideas,

 

Clear Skies, Never Lose the Wonder

 

RF

[Herodotus]

Milwaukee hard cases. I use them and they rock.

[mikeDnight]

I have a few heavy eyepieces and find that using engineers foam matting is long lasting and holds the eyepieces firmly in place. It is also easy to cut and isn't expensive.

 

My aluminium case has Pentax XW's 23mm, 16.5mm.  10mm, 5mm & 3.5mm. Also a 3.4mm Vixen HR and 40mm & 30mm TMB orthoscopic wide angle Paragon's, with Baader 2" 10th wave  dielectric diagonal.

 

My wooden case contains my binoviewer pairs 35mm, 25mm, 18mm pseudo Masuyama's and 16.8mm  Kson Orthoscopic's.  Also a handful of single pseudo Masuyama's and a 3-8mm SvBony Zoom, and 1.25" Tak prism, Baader Zeiss BBHS prism, and Lunt solar wedge. Mk ll binoviewer and 2X Ultima sv Barlow. 

Edited by mikeDnight, 28 April 2025 - 04:32 PM.

[HellsKitchen]

Interesting. I’m at a similar spot in terms of number of eyepieces and sundry accesories.

 

I’ve got two cases, one of which is for my main set of 82° eyepieces and main filters, plus a 68° 24 if it isn’t already in a scope’s focuser, and one zoom and one focal extender.

 

The other eyepiece case is my lightweight grab ‘n go set, for use with my 72ED or 52SD. Inside are my Plossls, another set of 1.25" filters, and some 1.25" diagonals (90° mirror, 90° prism and a 45° for terrestrial), and another barlow and another zoom.

 

Meanwhile, I’m planning on taking a little trip next week, and if I take the Dob, I’ll need at least another pouch of some sort for my collimation-related gear plus anything that didn’t fit in the main case. I haven’t gotten to three dedicated cases yet, but I’m almost always observing from home, so whatever doesn’t fit in the two cases I’m just leaving loose. Also, it’s not like I have to bring everything out every single session (though of course I typically come pretty close, lol).

 

Actually, looking at your third case, do you really need all those barlows on top of carrying all those individual eyepieces? I’ve taken to just leaving most of my barlows inside (in the house). Of course that brings up why do I even have them then, but I’ve not quite gotten to the point of selling off excess gear but rather am still in the "filling in the edges" gear acquisition phase. Anyway, I think you have a reasonable strategy, especially if you typically do dedicated planetary sessions vs DSO sessions. A question is, are these cases more for storage or more for observing use (or, like for me, a little of both)? Reason I ask is because I really don’t need so many eyepieces on a given session. If the cases are only for use in the field, you could probably pare them down further, pre-selecting a choice set for the night

 

Those Powermates were accrued well before I ended up with the eyepieces I have now, so I did end up with a lot of duplication. The Nikon barlow fills in the gaps nicely in set 1, so it'll probably get the most use there. The 5x Powermate expands a bit on that. I find myself reaching for a barlow during many sessions. Even having them in a seperate small ancillary case should be less bulky than my current arrangement. Plus that ancillary case will have my collimation tools and other essentials so it will be coming out most of the time in any case (pun intended  )

 

I intend to use these as both storage and observing, I don't really want to hand pick eyepieces for each session. I'll have an idea of what I want to view on a particular night and which eyepieces I'll most likely use, but these plans almost always deviate lol. I also like to fine tune and experiment with the best magnfication/FOV for the objects I view. I'll end up using eyepieces I didn't expect to use with the result of the best views of the night!

 

 

 

I'd offer my help but I'm afraid it would be like "the blind leading the blind".  I don't have THAT many EPs any more.  I finally took inventory of what I use and what I rarely use and split them up into cases like that.  I found I used the ones I use even more and the ones I don't use, well, now I use them even less.  After a little while I accumulated another camera and EAA rig so I sold most of the "ones I don't use" to make a cleared out case I could use for the EAA stuff.

 

All that to say, I had mine sorted by make. I also had them sorted by use, small form factor for refractor work, big fat guys and hyper wides for the Dob, another for binoviewer pairs. That seemed to work pretty good, and I find doing that settles the "What case to carry?" question pretty cut and dried.  Maybe that's the way I would suggest.  Oh, you're gonna reach back into the other case from time to time because maybe your "favorite" is in that case, but after a few nights, I was content to keep it simple and do it the way I had planned.

 

Needless to say, you can't really go wrong. What you're trying to do is to stop dragging out a whole pile of cases every time you go out. You just have to be disciplined about it. There's probably only about a handful of EPs you use every time out and a few more that rotate in and out.  You probably could get by with a lot fewer EPs, but where's the fun in that?!?!?  I find if I take my Nagler 22 and my Delos 10, and maybe the 6, I can have a pretty good time, regardless which scope I use.

 

I think sorting them by use will work out better for me. I like the Morpheus better than the Delites for DSO work, which is the majority of what I do. So those will be my most used eyepieces, and therefore will form part of the main case. 

 

The Delites, kept separately, will naturally be a smaller, lighter case so that will be great for those times when I want to view the moon and planets for a couple hours in the evening or morning.

 

Fewer EPs, nah won't work for me, I like to experiment with magnification and FOV to get the best view and presentation of an object   

[HellsKitchen]

Milwaukee hard cases. I use them and they rock.

 

Do you mean these https://www.milwauke...ucts/48-22-8450

[Procyon]

Same here, I filled up 2 cases, 1 case for every eyepiece and filter I use for my main scope, a 2nd smaller one with the binoviewers and binoviewing ep's and a few 1.25" planetary single ep's.

But now I need a 3rd for a refractor setup and hopefully I stop there. A smaller-medium sized one is enough. I prefer the thick looking Nanuk or Meijia ones. Am looking at all the nice bags with padded spaces, but the hardcase is the better way to go I find.

I do have a Canon bag with padded slots for eyepieces, filters, adapters, small batteries, crosshair eyepieces, etc. I'll usually fill that up and take with me for a backyard night.

Edited by Procyon, 29 April 2025 - 07:06 AM.

[GSwaim]

I only buy what I need and actually use. I tried astrophotography for a couple of years but got bored and sold the components for that activity and went back to just doing visuals of the sun, moon, & planets. 

 

Sometimes you just want to try new things but interest in the activity wanes, it happens... It's common with most hobbies to get carried away with buying stuff that's not needed or wanted anymore so storage becomes a issue at some point.

 

I've only purchased top quality components to maximize my visual experiences with 3 refractors so there's no need for additional new purchases, just maintain what I have so I now enjoy the views and learning experiences. 

Edited by GSwaim, 29 April 2025 - 09:55 AM.

[izar187]

I went with 1 set of (mostly) long eye relief ep's between Morph's and Delite's fov's,

for four scopes from 4" to 13", and down from 3 to 1 barlow, for all in one case.

Just for the simplicity of everything in one carrier, and staying there.

 

No, that's not a recommendation, but works for me and I like it.  : )