What apparent field of view and eye relief do I want? Personally I think they're still worth it. The generic GSO Plssl from many manufacturers, including Astronomics (Astro Tech) and Agnena Astro, is as good as the Celestron and a few bucks cheaper. One more thing if you havent purchased a telescope yet, I would recommend a tabletop version, since they are easier for kids to move than the fiddley ones with spindly legs and complicated dials. If you are very demanding and must have the very best, this is where you want to be. Even though both eyepieces are very common in beginner telescopes, it has become harder to find Kellner eyepieces on their own in the last two years, whether they come from a brand name or the original equipment manufacturer or a reseller. still, i somehow managed to avoid the eyepiece pitfalls when buying used off ebay. I want to help you select the best eyepieces for your budget and your telescope. My 20, 26, and 32mm Plossls will probably stay around. It costs three to four times as much as the Celestron Zoom, but if you have the budget, this is the one to get. Even though there are more sophisticated types of EPs, Plossls hit the right spot between high-quality optics and price. You can use the same eyepiece on planets and deep-sky objects (DSOs). I usually recommend a 32 mm Plossl type eyepiece as that provides about the widest view you can achieve with a 1.25 focuser. This is the link to the eyepiece I am looking at potentially buying, would you recommend this over the Orion one or vice versa do you think? I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. It appears to be a custom-made 90 degree binocular built from two 90 degree diagonals and binocular-size objectives attached in place of the usual OTA. With modern multi-coated optics that thwart internal reflections, Plossls and Kellners have little difference in glare or transmission/opacity. Orion Sirius Plossl 1.25" eyepieces are ideal for all types of telescopes: reflector, refractor, and catadioptrics such as Maksutov-Cassegrains. I dont dabble in AP. This has nothing to do with your scope or eyepiece. Other brands have joined and have used the Super Plossl label, but they all keep the original 4-piece design. These low-quality Plossls lack an internally blackened lens barrel with thread baffles and blackened lens edges and sophisticated anti-reflection multi-coatings, all of which are a necessity to produce an excellent image. Higher than 3X is usually reserved for astrophotography. Plossls cost a bit more than the Kellners as Plossls are expensive to manufacture because they require good optical glass and precisely matched concave and convex doublet surfaces to prevent internal reflections. It may be a bit less than that in reality but for practical purposes that is close enough. Achromatic vs Apochromatic refracting telescopes. Because the eyepiece was still similar enough to a Plossl and still kept the symmetrical design, they called it Super Plossl. If your scope uses eyepieces that are closer to 1, then you have an old style .965 that is now obsolete. Kellner eyepieces work perfectly with small and medium-sized telescopes. With the XT8i I usually used the zoom configured with a 1.5X Barlow giving me a 75X to 225X which I found to be nearly perfect for that scope. https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/explore-scientific-70-eyepieces.html. Omni 32mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. These eyepieces have about 35 to 50 degrees apparent fields of view and reasonable eye relief, though quite short for high magnifications. 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. 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. However, sometimes i am at the end of the range of the binocular focus adjustment. Every review suggests replacing the 10mm Kellner eyepiece (and possibly 25mm Kellner) that comes with it. They all work, but as you go up in price, you gain features or performance or both. A Barlow lens can save you money and add flexibility. With your glasses on, you simply cant get your eye close enough to an eyepiece that only has 10 mm of eye relief. One of the TMB Planetary eyepieces are extremely nice for 50. Theres a reason Plossls are usually kept at 52 degrees. I had one and sold it. 14 = 128 = .6 This is my all-time favorite eyepiece and the one I use more than all the others put together. Many brands of eyepieces are available, including SVBony UltraWide, Astromania UltraWide Angle, Agena Astro StarGuider Enhanced UltraWide Angle and others. However, your budget must guide your purchases. Thanks, Angelo M. You picked a great first scope. A rubber safety cap protects the lens when not in use while also providing additional grip on this 35 mm Plossl eyepiece. Over time, you may wish to add a specialty eyepiece here or there, but I would not make that a priority until you have filled out your magnification range. Understanding and using a Barlow Lens 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. I want these as possible as wide, magnification and astrophotography purpose. I dont know if they make anything like this anymore, but as a kid, I had plastic slides with images on them (the Milky Way, Horse Head Nebula, etc.) Plossl eyepiece is good for astronomy and microscopy. but the meat of the article is about understanding the considerations and specifications to know when selecting eyepieces. One of the main drawbacks of this eyepiece, though, is the eye relief. I think I will go for the BHZ because, as you say, I will be able to use it now and into the future. It's no surprise that the eyepieces in our Sirius Plossl line are our best-selling telescope eyepieces. This can be especially helpful in telescopes of focal ratios below F8. In 1849, Carl Kellner invented the Kellner eyepiece, which is essentially a Ramsden eyepiece where one lens has been replaced with an achromatic doublet made of two different types of glass. They are usable, but your eye will be extremely close to the top lens glass. The tradeoff was that each lens surface added another internal reflection, reducing contrast and adding glare. Modified vs Unmodified DSLR Astrophotography: The Ultimate Showdown! Not everything in the sky benefits from high magnification. Unless you are a professional astronomer or extremely demanding, you can select your eyepieces based on magnification, the apparent field of view, eye relief, and price. Every new skill takes time. A 32mm Plssl is worth it. Inexpensive Plossls that are manufactured using low-quality lenses are susceptible to internal reflections when viewing bright objects at high magnification. Do I need an adapter if my scope has a Plossl lens? To achieve a maximum of 200X (2X the aperture of 100 mm), we solve for the focal length. - 32mm plossl. I did sell them all when I adopted Dioptrx, and the Naglers are amazing! Eye relief of less than 10mm gets really uncomfortableyou tend to rub your eyepieces against the eyepiece or lens, and you have to hold your eye at just the right distance to keep from touching the lens. All are good eyepieces and diagonals, and would be excellent for star party use. You noted eye relief is important for those wearing glasses. Again, this is more noticeable in lower focal ratio scopes. A 20mm Plssl is probably worth it, if for no other reason than to compare the views it gives to the 21mm Hyperion you have. (Svbonys Plossls, for example, are optically identical to Orions Sirius Plossls). And, in general terms, the higher the AFOV, the harder it is to make an eyepiece that will present a good image all across the field of view, which also drives up the cost. Read the full Earning Disclosure here. I believe the 5000 UWA's are good as well. I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. It sounds cool, they must be better than regular Plossls with that name, right? Plossl eyepieces have an eye relief equal to about 80% of their focal length. Required fields are marked *. They have a narrow AFOV but have a reputation for being very sharp.. This will become more apparent the wider the AFOV is of the eyepiece, in my experience. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. In essence the design differences between Kellner and Plossl comes down to the number of lenses within the eyepiece barrel. The Plossl has good color correction plus is free of the ghost images that plague the Kellner. If you plan to go longer than that you can get an AC adapter or a power tank. Orion Sirius Plossl eyepieces are ideal for any type of telescope; refractor, reflector, or catadioptic. The only one not in the article is the Orion Q70 which is available in 38 mm, 32 mm and 26 mm. This can be debated 100 ways, but that is my advice. For visual use, 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X Barlow lenses are common. Plssl eyepieces are good all-around performers, producing sharp images at the center of the field, but they have only four lens elements. I expect such eyepieces are available but I have never seen or used one. The 21mm is simply amazing, I can't believe that TV decided to discontinue this little gem, it is better than the newer version in every category including eye comfort, the overall shape along with fit and finish is one of the best from TV. Many thanks, Sophie. 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. The only difference is that they have a different design as well as a shape with their lenses, which affects the magnification of your telescope view. Are Plossl eyepieces good? What follows are specific eyepieces that I have tried, own, or have read so many good reports about that I feel very comfortable recommending them. If you just want eyepiece recommendations and dont care about the details, Im adding that section right below before we go into the specifications that answer the above questions and make use of the formulas. The computerized pad and motor work on AA batteries which can last you a few hours. You can still get eyepieces, but there are few choices. Apparent Field of View: This is a measure of how wide a view the eyepiece will provide as compared to alternate eyepieces. I beleive this is the same as they ones you asked about. I have CPC 925 and I currently own Hyperion 10mm, Hyperion 17mm and Celestron plossl 40mm. In the beginning, you are not going to know what the atmospheric conditions might be in your area. Kellner vs Plossl - Comparison table. Pentax 10.5mm Eye Piece Excellent Condition (#314374986239) r***d (1910 . I often had to drop back to about 180X because of poor seeing and transparency. https://telescopicwatch.com/?s=barlow, Best of luck with your new telescope. They also offer more eye relief than Plossls at the shorter focal lengths. The Big Bang Optics 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. Your email address will not be published. Is there anyway you could include links to the eyepieces you mentioned in the last paragraph of your reply as Im totally new so worried about buying the wrong thing! The Hexagon Zoom Eyepiece is made from durable plastic material that resists scratching and it has an eye relief distance of 15mm. In the world of eyepieces, when you want the very best, turn to Tele Vue, but be prepared to pay a truly premium price. The Plossl eyepiece is a four-element design consisting of two doublets. At that price point, it couldnt compete with other 5-element devices like Erfle and Nagler eyepieces that had better performance. Some optics brands have taken the next step and launched some eyepieces they have labeled as Super Plossl. And the zoom provides every magnification in that range without having to change eyepieces. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even big telescopes are subject to limitations imposed by the atmosphere. 6.5-ish mm (100x & 200x) Those that still come with Huygens and Ramsdens are generally cheap and low quality, since practically the only reason to use those designs in modern times is that they are extremely cheap to manufacture. If you want a very good eyepiece with a bit wider field of view but are on a budget, these are very good choices. But dont fear that you will waste your investment as eyepieces are standard sizes. For me personally, even though I don't use glasses to observe, I still don't want to dig out the view through a plossl or ortho eyepiece which tend to have short eye relief. This wider field of view will make it easier to find your targets, allow you to view larger deep-sky objects, and provide a more immersive experience for everything that you view. Kellner eyepieces use three glass elements in two groups to minimize color fringing. I must also warn you that some of these bad Plossls may actually turn out to be worse than any run-of-the-mill Kellner. When a beginner is choosing eyepieces on a budget, there are a number of possible designs they may choose between. Then there is a pair of 32mm and 20mm TV Plossls which make my binoviewers work well with a Daystar Quark H-alpha solar filter. This means less time trying to figure out which way your images should be oriented before examining them. There are so many others at comparable or higher prices, many of which are quite good and some rather poor. Dont worry about the math, as its simple stuff you can do with any calculator, on paper, or perhaps in your head. I wont go into all the types of aberrations that can be there. Thanks in advance I really appreciate it! Press Esc to cancel. You are asking about a very specific eyepiece in a very specific scope combined sometimes with a Barlow. It doesnt matter what type of telescope you have, as long as your scope takes these standard sizes. It has made learning the Constellations and star-hopping more fun and engaging for my whole family exactly what I was hoping for. Im just starting out with astronomy and this really helped my understanding. If your focuser/diagonal will accept 2 eyepieces, then I will suggest you get one or two 2 eyepieces for your low power wide view eyepieces. Because of this setup, you might also hear a Plossl eyepiece referred to as a symmetrical eyepiece. The stock 9 and 15mm Omnis were very good. Take a look at your manual or users guide. Some people have more than 6 and some have as few as 3. Magnification or power = focal length telescope / focal length eyepiece, Focal ratio = focal length telescope / aperture telescope, maximum practical aperture = aperture X 2, Edges of the optics are blackened for increased contrast, which prevents internal reflections, Anti-reflection, fully multi-coated optics provide enhanced light transmission for bright and clear images. 6.7 = 268 = .3 This is perfect for a 25mm Plossl (an extremely common standard) and downright luxurious with a 32mm Plossl, but when you get below about 12.5mm or 10mm, it can begin to get difficult to use. Do you need to have the best to enjoy astronomy? When I was getting my start in the hobby, I bought an ultra-cheap ($15?) Can you give me any specific recommendations on what to buy and from where? The category is over $300 and some of these are way over $300. But you may only be able to achieve that rarely. Free shipping for many products! But the difference in price to get to the next level is high, and the performance difference may be small. Well, I'll just say it. i dont have 1 of everything, and i bought the best i could afford on a low budget; meade and orion. The price ranges we show here are the typical prices. I still use my 30mm Celestron Ultima fairly often with some of my telescopes. My Meade 4000 56 and 60 degree Meade Plossls are pretty sharp to my eyes and do pretty well for me. Eye relief is the distance from the eye lens to your eyeball, and the higher the better (within reason). Best Telescopes For 10 Year Old Kids: Reviews and Buying Guide, The Complete Guide to the Planets You Can See With a Telescope, The Best Barlow Lenses: Reviews and Buying Guide. A Barlow lens is an optical device that goes between the eyepiece and the focuser. If there is a local club, I would suggest you visit and consider joining. Thinking in a super ploss 32mm and maybe something between 9mm and 15mm . However, i can read very well without my glasses with almost microscopic vision and can use my binoculars without glasses. I have since moved up to a 12 Dob but I use the same eyepieces and the BH Zoom continues to be my most used. Does this sound like something you would recommend based on the telescope I have? You use the 8-24 zoom for the midrange. It's no surprise that the eyepieces in our Sirius Plossl line are our best-selling telescope eyepieces. There is no problem using a Celestron eyepiece in a Meade telescope, for example. I have an F4 Newtonian reflector and if I use an eyepiece of longer than 25 mm, an exit pupil of 6.25, I start to get a dark area in the center of the field of view which is a shadow of the secondary mirror. Omni 12mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. None of my fancy EPs have enough contrast for this application. Tele Vue offers several series with apparent fields of view from 50 degrees to 120 degrees. We may earn commissions by recommending products on this website. 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. Looking from different sorts I found the Baader Aspheric 31mm and 36mm.these two eyepieces allow me to switch between 2" and 1.25"just by changing the barrel. 70 mm scope will have a max of 140X for planning purposes. I do not miss beating my eyelashes against a 9.7mm Meade Plossl that I used to own. I foolishly destroyed it while experimenting with solar projection, because I hadnt realized the metal-and-glass construction was aided by a plastic retaining ring on the field stop, and I hadnt realized you do not need to change the eyepiece focal length when doing solar projection. These are the workhorse eyepieces of today. Over $250, I will label premium eyepieces. That is the critical factor. Which is Stronger? I often recommend it. Now we just divide it up and fill in some sample focal lengths. Plossl and Kellner eyepieces are two very common examples of a simple eyepiece design, and they are probably the most common type of eyepiece you are likely to come across when eyepieces have been bundled with a telescope; they are also a very common aftermarket accessory. These eyepieces are technically called Symmetrics, since Plossls can have different focal lengths for each doublet, but they are always marketed as Plossl. Now looking for a couple of decent eyepieces. Any 1.25 eyepiece will work with the BH Zoom 2 adapter. I've got a one-off plossl like that in my kit that I'll probably never sell, (aside from my 5 element ones) and it's one that is rarely seen. The reason a plano-convex lens is good for using with a telescope is that it provides for both magnifying and erecting the images. If you are new around here and you want to get started with the hobby, check out our astronomy for beginners guide or the recommended gear page. Many Kellners are made with field stops opened up to 50 degrees, in which case it can truly compare to a Plossl in any telescope with a focal ratio of f/6 or slower. EP-mm = magnification = afov They also have good eye relief, making them comfortable to use for extended periods. It comes with two Barlow lenses, one Newtonian eyepiece, and three Plossl eyepieces in the set. I often recommend the 2 in this series as excellent low-power wide view eyepieces, especially in scopes at focal ratios below F8. Great article on eyepieces but I am still undecided exactly what eyepiece & Barlow to buy and from where since some buying sites dont provide all the info you cite in your article. The first group is made up of a convex lens and concave lens, while the second one has four small cylindrical lenses that work together to magnify what you see through them for your viewing pleasure. No price limit. Plssl eyepieces are affordable and they're outstanding additions to amateur telescopes. Heres the short answer Plossl eyepieces are generally better than Kellner eyepieces, but they also tend to be more expensive. So your 600 mm example (f/6) becomes, in effect, an 1800 mm focal length, f/18 but it does not change the focal length of the eyepiece. You have to decide how fussy you are about the edges and what your budget can tolerate. If you wish to find a short-focal length eyepiece with a longer, more comfortable eye relief, you could use a long-focus eyepiece with a separate, high-quality barlow lens (an achromatic or apochromatic fully multi-coated barlow would be necessary), or you could purchase one of the several designs incorporating a smyth/barlow lens into the eyepiece design. You will see these under many brands, including Orion, Celestron, GSO, and others. 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. Note that the price categories are approximate, as prices can vary between retailers. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. My Baader Hyperion Zoom is my most used and favorite eyepiece. Ive added comments on where you may find and use them. Thanks. A wide range of focal lengths are available, all in 1.25-inch size. The Regular Plossl eyepiece is made to be a basic type of scope for viewing objects that are nearbysay within two feet or so from where youre looking through it. Most telescopes come with one or two eyepieces. I agree. We have a range of 32 mm to 3 mm. However, I have eyepieces with much smaller exit pupils and they work fine. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Orion+Q70&ref=nb_sb_noss_2, Understanding Telescope Eyepieces- There are recommendations, based on budget, These Astromania Plossl eyepieces provide a good way to do exactly that without breaking the bank, and this is what I love about them: they're an affordable way to significantly upgrade your telescopes. A Plossl eyepiece lens provides more eye relief than anything else out there! This is not a hard and fast rule, just a cautionary note. Looking forward to first use. As a kid, I loved looking at the moon (which can be seen any time of day, regardless of ones bedtime) so make sure that the field of view is wide enough to see the whole shebang. This is your Lexus, Acura, and Infinity types that offer more features, better build, and a bit more polish. As I mentioned earlier in the article, not all Plossls are created equal, which simply means that there are good Plossls and then there are bad Plossls. Simple Plosels work well and unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I would start with simple affordable eyepieces. Not all are Plossls, but excellent eps at f/10. I wants to install one in house(fixed place) another I need movable. Now we have a maximum established. Youll find yourself adjusting these type of factors less than. I also struggled to see features on both (gas bands on Jupiter and clear rings on saturn). They also offer a generous 16 mm of eye relief which is most important in the shorter focal lengths. 2x Barlow document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our team of experts has reviewed and ranked 180+ telescopes based on price and quality. Many thanks. But the longer FL units are certainly useful. 75-225X, 1.5X Barlow No other type can compare with it when it comes to that quality.