8.8 = 240 = .34 Yes, Plossl eyepieces are some of the most popular with amateurs and professionals alike. There are inexpensive adapters that will let you use standard 1.25 eyepieces in a .965 focuser/diagonal. For visual use, 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X Barlow lenses are common. Where a difference can show up is that a lower number focal ratio scope will make it harder for an eyepiece to provide a uniformly good, in-focus image all the way across the field of view due to the steeper angle that the light arrives at the edges of the eyepiece with a low focal ratio scope, as compared to a high focal ratio scope. Here we get into the BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, and Ferrari of eyepieces. Aspheric eyepiece is a variation of Plossl design, it has an anti-reflection coating on the front glass surface to ensure maximum light transmission and will also provide your instrument with better quality images if you need higher magnification levels. They have a narrow AFOV but have a reputation for being very sharp.. Plssl eyepieces are good all-around performers, producing sharp images at the center of the field, but they have only four lens elements. https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/explore-scientific-70-eyepieces.html. Your email address will not be published. Good quality plossl eyepieces - Discussions - Stargazers Lounge This is where the second formula comes into play. Super Plossls offer a smaller field of view, which makes them good for close-up views and examining small objects. Im also uncertain about what to expect from an additional investment? Here's the short answer - Plossl eyepieces are generally better than Kellner eyepieces, but they also tend to be more expensive. It uses two symmetrical pairs of glass elements (one convex and one concave) to pass the light. Heres the short answer Plossl eyepieces are generally better than Kellner eyepieces, but they also tend to be more expensive. So, I am going to organize the guide around five questions and four formulas. In this article, we will only focus on the differences between Plossl and Kellner eyepieces. I need some eyepieces with long FL for low magnifications. If you are completely new to stargazing, Kellner eyepieces are absolutely fine. Even though the design has existed for more than a century, it has stood the test of and is still today the standard against which other eyepiece designs are measured. I just ordered Hyperion 13mm and 21mm but I really like how sharp and crisp view is in plossl 40mm. It comes with two Barlow lenses, one Newtonian eyepiece, and three Plossl eyepieces in the set. There is always more to learn but it helps if you go in with a good base understanding, and that was my goal. One of the TMB Planetary eyepieces are extremely nice for 50. Some of these series also offer 2 eyepieces for telescopes that can accept 2 eyepieces. A Plossl eyepiece is one of the most decent general-purpose eyepieces that are available on the market. At this point, a Plossl and a Kellner are so close in price and performance that you may as well get the Plossl. The Plossl is a good all-around eyepiece design, is well suited for generic use and is relatively inexpensive to make. I had a TV 20mm Plossl once. Under my sky it was rare that I would be able to get over 225X and still maintain a good quality image, except on the Moon. The longer FL Plossls (>15mm) have some distinct advantages over more complex designs without the major disadvantage of Plossls which is short ER. 130 mm scope will have a max of 260X for planning purposes. I also like to have my face physically in contact with the eyepiece (or the eyepiece cup) so the tight eye relief of the shorter focal lengths actually works really well for me. Imagine you are looking at the moon with each of these eyepieces and consider what you would see. They can be recognized by a thin gold line just below the eye cup. You can accomplish a longer eye relief by barlowing a longer f/l plossl, so that is something to think about as well. I use some plssl eyepieces, since I still have quite a few in my kit, and yes, the others are correct. the shorter the focal length eyepiece = the shorter the eye relief. A long eye relief is also important for those who wear eyeglasses at the eyepiece, whether thats a member of the general public at a star party or an astronomer with astigmatism, which, unlike near- or far-sightedness, cannot be corrected with the telescopes own focuser. These eyepieces have about 35 to 50 degrees apparent fields of view and reasonable eye relief, though quite short for high magnifications. Dont worry about the math, as its simple stuff you can do with any calculator, on paper, or perhaps in your head. Press Esc to cancel. eyepiece for Xmas scope - Beginners Forum (No Astrophotography If you read the article you know how to calculate the magnification and field of view. My Meade 4000 56 and 60 degree Meade Plossls are pretty sharp to my eyes and do pretty well for me. These tend to run toward the more expensive price range. A Barlow lens will not reduce the CA in a low FR achromat refractor so to speak of it changing the focal ratio would, I think, introduce confusion in most situations. Some include: Parks Gold Series, Celestron Ultima's, Meade Series 4000 Super Plssls (depending on year / origin / style) and a few others that I don't remember. Eyepiece Field of View Simulator astronomy.tools Field of View Simulator Change Telescope Reset Change Target Add Equipment A Kellner eyepiece has 1 double lens and 1 single lens. But in this scope, the 32 mm doesnt work well. As you saw in the article, they eyepieces that would be best for you, or your child, is based on your budget and what your goals are. These are just a few examples of eyepieces that I have used, and some that I own. It will also make your life easier if youre out observing on windy days that would otherwise blow off the front cover of your telescope. I did sell them all when I adopted Dioptrx, and the Naglers are amazing! Explore Scientific recently extended this offering by adding a series of 82 degree eyepieces labeled LER, or Long Eye Relief. You can do the calculation which will show that the 70 will have a significantly wider field of view as compared to the 52. I have just one Meade product currently and that is a series 4000 1.25 inch UHC type filter which I use for outreach. Prices can run from $20 to $200 so the field is pretty broad. I see that there are some optical limits to how wide an FOV a 1.25 EP can manage at bigger (like 32mm) focal lengths. Hayppy that now I have more facts to put in my decision. By default, expect a 40-degree field of view in a Kellner and a 50-52 degree field of view in a Plossl. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-telescope-mounts-for-astrophotography/, https://telescopicwatch.com/best-astrophotography-telescopes/, https://telescopicwatch.com/best-barlow-lens-and-how-to/, https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-8-24mm-zoom-eyepiece-review/, https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8879-1-25-Inch-Enhanced-Telescope/dp/B000BMPBLK/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3KKUJRXYYN7DI&dchild=1&keywords=telescope+diagonal+1.25&qid=1610887695&sprefix=telescope+diagonal%2Caps%2C512&sr=8-8, https://telescopicwatch.com/orion-skyquest-xt8-intelliscope-review/, https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/baader-hyperion-mark-iv-8-24mm-universal-zoom-eyepiece.html, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Orion+Q70&ref=nb_sb_noss_2, https://telescopicwatch.com/best-telescope-eyepieces/, https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8829-Wide-Field-Telescope-Eyepiece/dp/B000M89H7C/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Orion+Q70&qid=1606584502&sr=8-2, https://www.amazon.com/Explore-Scientific-68%C2%B0-40mm-Eyepiece/dp/B007LMG3F6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=explore+scientific+68&qid=1606584676&sr=8-1. Have Any Astronauts Been Lost in Space Forever. To say it a different way, in general, an F5 scope will place more demands on the eyepiece around the edge of the field of view than an F10 scope. Those are significantly more expensive than the 1.25 focal lengths. What Is a Plossl Eyepiece - Planet Seekers Or we say that F10 would be easier or less demanding on the eyepiece than the F5. Basic question - what is a Plossl eyepiece? - Getting Started General 100-300X, 2X Barlow. Field of view, is about finding, framing, drift time, and context. Type above and press Enter to search. Interesting points Philip. Even if the scope comes with the more acceptable Kelner or . Most people prefer the wider TFOV. Each eyepiece gives you a unique magnification based on the formula listed at the start: Why do you need more than two eyepieces? What I can say is that, in general, eyepiece characteristics are inherent to the eyepiece. Omni 40mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. I have Celestron and the Baader Hyperion. Lets just say that once you get below F5, it is really hard for the eyepiece to deliver a clean image to the edge. That's how cost-efficient the entire package is! As Im sure you know, a Barlow actually narrows the cone of light that enters the eyepiece, hence it affects the apparent focal length and thus the f/ratio of the telescope objective. But for AP you should really start your planning with the mount. Best suited for telescopes with f-ratios f6 or slower. A 32mm plossl eyepiece and a 2x barlow lens should be enough to give you a good range of eyepieces for every use case. Plossl eyepieces are often included in better telescope packages as the starter eyepieces. They are also good for those who have astigmatism because they are designed to be more forgiving with eye placement. It comes with 1.25 Plossls 25mm (26x) and 10mm (66x) eyepieces. Telescope Eyepieces | Orion Telescopes: Shop Im fairly picky so would extend budget for better eyepieces if its worth it. Can you give me any specific recommendations on what to buy and from where? So you ended up with: https://telescopicwatch.com/best-telescope-mounts-for-astrophotography/, Then you look at the optical tubes. 32 mm = 18.75X 16 mm = 37.5X (32 mm eyepiece with a 2X barlow), 12 mm = 50X (If you have a 25 mm that came with your scope, use Barlow for 12.5 mm), 4 mm = 150X (8 mm eyepiece with a 2X Barlow), 3 mm = 200X (6 mm eyepiece with a 2X Barlow), 24 mm = 25X (the low power end of the zoom), 8 mm = 75X (24 mm zoom setting in a 3X Barlow), 2.66 mm = 225X (8 mm zoom setting in a 3X Barlow), True field of view or FOV = Apparent field of view (AFOV) eyepiece / magnification. A Televue Plssl may be better than a generic one, but the difference is probably not worth the additional cost. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8879-1-25-Inch-Enhanced-Telescope/dp/B000BMPBLK/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3KKUJRXYYN7DI&dchild=1&keywords=telescope+diagonal+1.25&qid=1610887695&sprefix=telescope+diagonal%2Caps%2C512&sr=8-8, Excellent article and very good recommendations. Eyepieces under $100 each are generally considered budget or low-cost eyepieces. If well made, Plossls are bright, with good contrast, and a flat field, and excellent sharpness. I believe the 5000 UWA's are good as well. Then you can judge for yourself if it is worth it. There are three types of Plossl eyepiece: the regular, Super, and Orthoscopic. Regular Plossl eyepieces with maybe just a slightly better coating or build quality. It had one of the best fields, edge to edge, in my SCT that I've ever seen. I am very near-sighted, barely see the big E on the vision chart without glasses. Orion Sirius Plossl 1.25" Telescope Eyepieces All focal lengths offer 50 field-of-view except the 40mm which offers 42 In comparison, Aspherical lenses generally have no color distortion but might not work out well if the telescope user needs really high magnification. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The BHZ 2 Adapter has threads on it so you can attach filters to it allowing you to use 2 filters with the zoom. Very often, those eyepieces will be in the outdated 0.965 format rather than the modern 1.25 or 2 diameter barrel format. I currently own a Mak127 ( that can't use 2"eyepieces) and a 80ED ( that one can hold 2"eyepieces). The views through it are very impressive, and it always amazes me when I get that one out. Not everything in the sky benefits from high magnification. Comparing to Plossl, the Expanse eyepiece is a lot more expensive. I have used these in my F6 and F5 Dobs and find them a good value for the price. If we want to get VERY specific to a combination then inherent aberrations of this scope and that eyepiece could produce a unique result. Free shipping for many products! Can you help me. My Barlow is a 2X with a removeable Barlow element that can be screwed right onto an eyepiece giving a 1.5X effect. The field of view of the eyepiece has a few effects when it comes to actually using it in the telescope. However the package includes a 1.25 to 2 adapter so if you have a 2 focuser you can treat this like a 2 eyepiece leaving the adapter normally included with the scope for use with other 1.25 eyepieces. For the $66/$42 of these kits, you can get one or two decent eyepieces (depending on where you buy). Also, note that the pricing is based on 1.25 eyepieces. So we say that an F5 scope benefits from better corrected eyepieces more than the F10 scope. I think you will love it! 32 mm = 18.75X12 mm = 50X8 mm = 75X6 mm = 100X4 mm = 150X3 mm = 200X. very happy. Also work very well with my binoculars that have removable focal reducers built into. . Or, you may find that you like the 8 mm and 6 mm used with the Barlow and can avoid the expense of two eyepieces. 40mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece | Orion Telescopes i didnt have all this simply-put information when i bought my orion st-80 as my christmas present to myself in 2020. i started out with several pair of binoculars i bought used off ebay, then bought the scope. I had one and sold it. In simple terms, high focal ratio scopes, say those over F6, tend to be less demanding on eyepieces than those below F6. These will normally be higher priced and may be outside the price range we show here. These are two very important considerations when you are looking for eyepieces. Elena is a Canadian journalist and researcher. Stargazinghelp.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. All the rest will likely be 1.25. This type of eyepiece provides you with wide-field views without any distortion due to its use as an achromatic lens system which reduces chromatic aberrations by combining two lenses made from different types of glass materials together on each surface. When a beginner is choosing eyepieces on a budget, there are a number of possible designs they may choose between. Youll find yourself adjusting these type of factors less than. It's no surprise that the eyepieces in our Sirius Plossl line are our best-selling telescope eyepieces. Choosing the best eyepiece for you - Astronomy Now They are a good brand with high-quality eyepieces, you just dont need to spend the extra money for almost no gain in performance. The Big Bang Optics was started because of our love for astronomy and to help others like us find the best telescope and accessories. When I was getting my start in the hobby, I bought an ultra-cheap ($15?) But I have one little niggle. Kellner eyepieces were first designed by Carl Kellner in 1849. Meade telescope maksutov eyepiece ETX-105EC Super Plossl 6.4mm 1.25" w capsule. It costs a lot to get that last 10% of performance. i did buy an astro-tech 3.2 paradigm ed from a cloudynights.com forum member. Most modern telescopes use a focuser, or diagonal, that accepts 1.25 eyepieces. To achieve a maximum of 200X (2X the aperture of 100 mm), we solve for the focal length. When you are shopping, if you need long eye relief, make sure you are selecting the correct ones. 3. I often recommend the 2 in this series as excellent low-power wide view eyepieces, especially in scopes at focal ratios below F8. https://telescopicwatch.com/?s=barlow, Best of luck with your new telescope. Plssl eyepieces are affordable and they're outstanding additions to amateur telescopes. How important a consideration is this when deciding on an eyepiece? Celestron Eyepieces | Celestron Telescope Eyepieces - High Point Scientific Outstanding job Jack. I need your advice on it. If you feel the need to buy something now, consider this Orion diagonal. Some experience with Baader Aspheric 31mm/36mm? - Eyepieces - Cloudy Nights This is a fairly inexpensive zoom that I wanted to try. Note that many cheap eyepieces promise a wide AFOV but deliver a view with a lot of distortion or aberration as you move away from the center of the field of view. I already got the 10mm super wide because of the added eye relief but at 15mm both have the same eye relief. What is a Plssl eyepiece? | BBC Sky at Night Magazine Can You See The ISS With A Telescope? The Plossl eyepiece is a four-element design consisting of two doublets. So plan this into such a purchase. As we go up in price range, we gain capabilities that may not be immediately obvious. If you are going to wear your glasses when you observe, you want at least 18 mm of eye relief and 20 mm is better. Read our full affiliate disclosure here. There is a little bit more to it than that and there are other design . This type of design provides for both total magnifications as well as an erect image with little distortion. Good evening everybody. But just because an eyepiece is 2 doesnt mean it has a wider field of view than one that is 1.25. These are highly sought after ep's, and hold their value well. These are exceptional eyepieces, and only available on the used market nowadays. This was very useful, I got a meade infinity 90mm ( after read the review here -. Here are a few types of eyepieces you may read about and their typical AFOV. I have the 38 mm and recommend it often. If you do not have your Hyperions yet I recommend you wait until you have these and try them out before you buy the Plossls. Kellners are the other popular design for amateur stargazing, go ahead and check out that article if you want to dive deeper into the subject. About Us | Privacy Policy | ContactLittle Astronomy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you are buying your first telescope, and you are choosing between the telescope that includes a Kellner or a telescope that comes with a Plossl, with all the other specs being similar, pick the telescope thats offering you the Plossl, even if its slightly more expensive. In addition, the eyepiece would be a Huygens or Ramsden design, where two lenses made of the same type of glass could be combined to yield minimal false color fringing, as long as the focal length of the telescope remained fairly long. A decent barlow might cost as much or even more. So, if your scope is F6 or lower, you may want to consider some of the higher priced, better corrected eyepieces if you want the best image to the edge of the field. When discussing eyepieces, you will hear people comment on how well the eyepiece is corrected. Combining a cheap eyepiece with a cheap barlow isn't a elegant solution. 8.5-ish mm (75x & 150x) I have a custom-built 32mm Plossl that has been opened up as wide as possible to 60 or 70 degrees, for use as a 2 eyepiece, although in my 10 Dobsonian at f/5 the edge distortions prevent it from seeing much use. Hi - I bought these from another AM'er 1 year or so back, thinking I will get into visual astro, But never found the inclination, So here it is for sale 9mm Nagler type 6 mint with box and caps,16mm Nagler type 5,optics are exc. Plssl's were top of the line at one time, and are still being sold today, so that says something too. I usually recommend a 32 mm Plossl type eyepiece as that provides about the widest view you can achieve with a 1.25 focuser. For what it's worth: I believe the Omni 1.25 inch 2x Barlow is one of the Shorty Barlows manufactured by GSO. . Any exit pupil between 7 mm and .5 mm is just fine. Even when I upgraded to a 6mm Goldline, I kept the Kellner around because of pretty annoying kidney-bean blackout issues on the Moon with that eyepiece. Visual astronomy is all about aperture, the more the better. I just added the 4.7 mm. How do you focus - I would have expected helical focusers in the eyepiece holders but don't see any? The tradeoff was that each lens surface added another internal reflection, reducing contrast and adding glare. Meade telescope maksutov eyepiece ETX-105EC Super Plossl 6.4mm 1.25" w Can you suggest the total . Conclusion. So, even if you have a Maksutov-Cassegrain scope, you should get a good experience from this eyepiece. So, for your 30 mm, 82/60 = 1.36 degrees. Simple Plosels work well and unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I would start with simple affordable eyepieces. Thanks for a very helpful guide. My 20, 26, and 32mm Plossls will probably stay around. Edge sharpness is just satisfactory, nothing to boast about, as is the apparent field of view. https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-8-24mm-zoom-eyepiece-review/. Using this approach, you would buy a 2X Barlow and hold off on the 4 mm and 3 mm to see if you can reach these magnifications often enough to justify buying an eyepiece. By the 1980s, amateur astronomy equipment suppliers were still selling new telescopes with Huygens and Ramsden eyepieces, not merely because they were cheap but because they lacked internal reflections. Again thank you very much for all the information in the page, excellent notes. And new proprietary designs come out from time to time. In my opinion, there are no wrong exit pupils. Both solutions offer somewhat similar mag-fov-er-price. It's one of the best choices you have when it comes to budget stargazing. Personally I think they're still worth it. That is a wonderful expression. Are Plossl eyepieces any good? In some cases, the eyepieces are waterproof to protect them from internal contamination caused by heavy dew conditions. 6.7 = 268 = .3 The components of a Plossl eyepiece are the two groups of lenses. Also, children do not often have highly developed motor skillsso I would avoid the frustration of switching out eyepieces, and consider a zoom lens. What should one opt for a 2 EP over a 1.25? Plossl eyepieces have a wider field of view that can go from 50 to 56 degrees. These are the workhorse eyepieces of today. This has nothing to do with your scope or eyepiece. My own lineup (with a C8) is 32mm Plossl, 18.2mm DeLite, and 10.5mm Pentax (the last one not chosen to match, but rather because it belonged to a deceased friend). Celestron Telescopes Reviews: Should you buy? - Little Astronomy Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. Plossl eyepiece is one of the reasonable options when it comes to telescope eyepieces for stargazing or astronomy. Perhaps another review would be helpful. I really enjoy usingPlssls. Scott. The downside to this type of lens is that they can cause chromatic aberration which creates colored spots around bright objects such as planets or stars due to the different wavelengths not going through equally. In essence the design differences between Kellner and Plossl comes down to the number of lenses within the eyepiece barrel. I expect such eyepieces are available but I have never seen or used one. When I started, I purchased less expensive eyepieces to learn about them and how I would use them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Such eyepieces are able to offer great performance, i.e., satisfactory degrees of deviations, to about a 50.degree field. The Orthoscopic Plossl eyepiece is for those who are interested in performing close-up work on specimens up to three inches away from them and still get high magnification. The Big Bang Optics participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. They also offer more eye relief than Plossls at the shorter focal lengths. We will talk more about the field of view later, but note that if you can use 2 eyepieces, you will typically only have one or two for very low power wide field views. A Barlow lens is an optical device that goes between the eyepiece and the focuser. Fully coated with magnesium fluoride on every air-to-glass surface for excellent light transmission and high contrast views. I often had to drop back to about 180X because of poor seeing and transparency. The Big Bang Optics is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. I dont own nor have I used it, but Orion has a very good reputation. I am considering buying another eyepiece, maybe 6mm, and a Barlow, maybe 2x, to give me a wider and higher range of magnification. Theres a wide range of quality when it comes to Plossls and trusting the brand you are getting one from matters a lot if you dont want to get an eyepiece with lots of reflection or optical issues. I have seen wider-field Plossls. I have used both Kellner & Plossl eyepieces and a few others, and I can tell you that they all are quite different from each other in terms of the quality of the image that they produce. TeleVue Naglers, Plossl and Powermates | Astromart Better edge correction with a short-focus telescope is one of the things you pay extra money for, and sophisticated eyepiece designs have as many as eight elements. I wont go into all the types of aberrations that can be there. A Kellner eyepiece has 3 lenses, while a Plossl has 4. Comparing to Plossl eyepieces, Super Plossl is somewhat better for astronomy. The Plossl's are very easy to modify, allowing me to use the bino-viewer on, all my refracting telescopes without having to cut down the tube length, p.s. Its made up of four lenses in two groups. Sirius Plossls offer a 52-deg apparent field of view for clear, sharp images. Are Plossl eyepieces any good? - KnowledgeBurrow.com Once we are done, they will make sense. With regards to budget, whatever works well and is on par with the quality & capability of the telescope. Warranty Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. So yeah, they are good.. and some are even better than others, and more collectible. Generally, Plssl eyepieces are best suited to Newtonian and fast telescopes. Higher priced eyepieces usually include more elements in the optical path that are there to help reduce or eliminate aberrations that can be seen around the edges of lower cost eyepieces. Like going from a 32 TV to a 65? Do you need to have the best to enjoy astronomy? Does this sound like something you would recommend based on the telescope I have? Within the budget-friendly realm are the 6mm and 9mm Goldlines/Redlines (66-degree Ultra-Wide-Angle) for telescopes with a focal ratio of f/8 or longer, and the excellent 58-degree Planetary eyepieces, sold by a variety of sellers on Amazon and by Agena Astro, which come in a wide variety of focal lengths and are optically superb for their price.