6 replies to this topic

[starfinder123123]

I read that eye relief is shorter in UWA and that is troubling for me. I would appreciate wider FOV, but the ER is bothering me. 

Anyone with both of these eyepieces that can offer some insight?

I appreciate it, thanks.

Or should I save my money and get one of those low power-super wide eyepieces?

Edited by starfinder123123, 30 April 2025 - 11:24 AM.

[vtornado]

Or should I save my money and get one of those low power-super wide eyepieces?

 

Do you have a max true field of view eyepiece?

Edited by vtornado, 30 April 2025 - 02:44 PM.

[sevenofnine]

Here's another C/N thread on the AT 13/82 UWA you might find interesting. For me, it depends on the scope and mount how much you will like the ultra wide angle eyepieces. I have the AT 4/82 UWA and like it a lot in my manual Dob. Tracking at 300x is difficult for me and the UWA gives much more drift time especially on planets. It's just so-so when I'm using a tracking mount. I tend to focus on the center portion of the view. I like my AT 12/60 Paradigm and would be reluctant to give it up chasing better. Good luck with your choice! 

 

https://www.cloudyni...3mm-82-degrees/.

[fjjoachim]

I have a 15mm Paradigm and a 13mm UWA and I wear eyeglasses. One caveat is that I don't wear eyeglasses when I am looking through my 8" Dob, regardless of the eye relief.

 

I just looked through both the 15mm Paradigm and the 13mm UWA with my glasses on. I can see most of the field in the 15mm Paradigm, and not much of the field in the 13mm UWA.

 

I prefer to look through my UWA eyepieces because I like the 82 degree AFOV. I understand the hassle of putting glasses on and off all the time. I have Starsense on my Dob, and I need my glasses to find objects of the app. What I do is put Eye Glasses String Holder Straps on my glasses. When I am using Starsense, I put my glasses on. When I look through my UWA eyepieces, I take them off and they hang around my neck within easy reach if I need to put them back on. You can order these Eye Glasses String Holders on Amazon for real cheap.

 

With that said, I still use my 25mm, 15mm, and 8mm Paradigms during public outreach events at my astronomy club. I keep the eye cup all the way up, unless someone has to wear glasses, then I lower the eye cup for them. If some kid sneezes our puts his/her thumb print on the lens, it's no big deal. I use my AT 13mm, 10mm, and 7mm UWA, and my Sky Rover 30mm and 18mm Ultra Flat Fields at private star parties.

 

By the way: I just tried looking through my Sky Rover 18mm and 30mm with glasses on, and I can see the entire field. The 2" 30mm UFF has a 70 degree AFOV, and the  1.25" 18mm has a 65 degree AFOV. I really like these two eyepieces: They are well corrected to the edge of the field.

[SeattleScott]

This is really just personal preference and compromise. The Paradigm will have a somewhat more comfortable view while the UWA will have a wider view. I understand you like viewing comfort but also want 80 AFOV. You just have to decide which you want more. And I don’t know that this is something any of us can tell you. You might just have to try them yourself to know.

Now you could get the best of both worlds if you increase your budget. You can have wide AFOV and comfortable eye relief with a 12.5 Morpheus or 14 NT7. No compromise needed, other than for your wallet.

So I think this summarizes your situation:
Comfortable eye relief
~80 AFOV
Affordable

Pick any two

[starfinder123123]

Or should I save my money and get one of those low power-super wide eyepieces?

 

Do you have a max true field of view eyepiece?

For 1.25" body? Yes, 32mm TV plossl.

[starfinder123123]

This is really just personal preference and compromise. The Paradigm will have a somewhat more comfortable view while the UWA will have a wider view. I understand you like viewing comfort but also want 80 AFOV. You just have to decide which you want more. And I don’t know that this is something any of us can tell you. You might just have to try them yourself to know.

Now you could get the best of both worlds if you increase your budget. You can have wide AFOV and comfortable eye relief with a 12.5 Morpheus or 14 NT7. No compromise needed, other than for your wallet.

So I think this summarizes your situation:
Comfortable eye relief
~80 AFOV
Affordable

Pick any two

Thanks. 

I think I'll go with:

- Comfortable eye relief

- Affordable.

 

12mm Paradigm stays!

Thanks guys.