These eyepieces have about 35 to 50 degrees apparent fields of view and reasonable eye relief, though quite short for high magnifications. These eyepiecesproduce a 'standard apparent feld of view' of between 50 and 56 with most set at around 52. Again, this is more noticeable in lower focal ratio scopes. 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. Imagine you are looking at the moon with each of these eyepieces and consider what you would see. I have seen wider-field Plossls. Again, for no other reason than to compare it to the 17mm Hyperion and draw your own conclusions about Plssls. If one Super Plossl specifies it uses a 5 lens design, then you can definitely consider it a true Super Plossl that might offer better performance, but no brand has released any of those for decades. Again, does it create a more immersive viewing experience? https://telescopicwatch.com/orion-skyquest-xt8-intelliscope-review/. I would expect it to be similar to the Celestron in image quality. The atmosphere is typically the limiting factor as we get to higher magnifications. the reality is that today's eyepieces are all quite good, particulalarly in an f/10 telescope. Most people prefer the wider TFOV. There are some very good choices in this range. short answer: yes. 4mm Eyepiece vs 20mm Eyepiece. 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. Inexpensive Plossls that are manufactured using low-quality lenses are susceptible to internal reflections when viewing bright objects at high magnification. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. Let us know in the comments if there is anything else you want to ask or share your thoughts on this post, always looking forward to feedback from others who will benefit from it as well! Plossl against Kellner eyepieces in a previous article, 5 Budget Telescopes That Are Sneakily Powerful. I often had to drop back to about 180X because of poor seeing and transparency. These come in focal lengths from 2.3 mm to 25 mm. In the box you'll receive 5 1.25 eyepieces at following sizes, a 32 mm Plossl Eyepiece, 17 mm Plossl Eyepiece , 13 mm Plossl Eyepiece, 8 mm Plossl Eyepiece, 6 mm Plossl Eyepiece, a 2X Barlow Lens 1.25. This number can range from 30 degrees to 120 degrees. Youll find yourself adjusting these type of factors less than. Question: would it perform well with 1.5/2x and 3x Barlows? Omni 9mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. Offering a wide 52 apparent field of view, these 10mm, 17mm, and 25mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepieces provide extremely sharp images of impressively high contrast. My most used eyepiece is an 8-24 mm zoom. A wide-angle view of 66 degrees makes it perfect for viewing large objects and even entire constellations while still being able to focus on smaller details with ease. These are considered to be the least expensive eyepieces for serious astronomy and are offered in focal lengths from about 6mm to 40mm. a breath of fresh air! However, I have eyepieces that have larger exit pupils than 7 mm and they work well. Most telescopes come with one or two eyepieces, which gives you one or two magnification options. Meanwhile, Plossl eyepieces are much more common and easy to find. Not all are Plossls, but excellent eps at f/10. now it all makes sense, you did a great job explaining all this information it was a lot to take in but i have it now. Your email address will not be published. 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. My Barlow is a 2X with a removeable Barlow element that can be screwed right onto an eyepiece giving a 1.5X effect. is pretty forgiving of eyepiece faults and a wide variety of eyepiece designs will work just fine in it. 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. This eyepiece was even better at correcting false color fringing, but because of internal reflections, the glare was even worse. However, sometimes i am at the end of the range of the binocular focus adjustment. Tip Its almost always cheaper to buy directly from Agena Astro. The original Meade 5-piece Super Plossl hasnt been in production for decades and at this point is more of a collectors item than a high-performance eyepiece. My 20, 26, and 32mm Plossls will probably stay around. I once had to use a 6mm Plossl to attempt to perform a star-test collimation for a telescope at the observatory. Type above and press Enter to search. Now we can establish a target magnification range. Get to know more about us here. Thanks, Angelo M. You picked a great first scope. 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. Omni 12mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. I have several 10mm eyepieces in my eyepiece boxalmost all of them are eyepieces that came with some telescope I boughtand I will almost always choose to use one of the Kellners over one of the Plossls, because the Kellners have a longer eye relief, which is comparable to the focal length. You can do the calculation which will show that the 70 will have a significantly wider field of view as compared to the 52. The third choice of eyepieces is the Orion 12 mm Sirius Super Wide Angle Correct Image Eyepiece. Some optics brands have taken the next step and launched some eyepieces they have labeled as Super Plossl. Between $100 and $250, I will call it mid-range. If you were considering a Meade Super Plossl, in that case just get the regular one also by Meade. . There are certainly much better options out there but at a significant cost. There is one aspect in which a Kellner can actually outperform a Plossl: eye relief. And I continue to read excellent reports on the AT Paradigm and similar under different labels. For what it is worth, a slow scope like your CPC9.25 (f/10?) But just because an eyepiece is 2 doesnt mean it has a wider field of view than one that is 1.25. If your scope uses eyepieces that are closer to 1, then you have an old style .965 that is now obsolete. The 50 apparent field of view is plenty for me. Eyepieces under $100 each are generally considered budget or low-cost eyepieces. This is where the cheap eyepiece will frequently fail to deliver a good image, around the edges. The Big Bang Optics also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank and other sites. Does this sound like something you would recommend based on the telescope I have? This 10 mm Orion Sirius Plossl Eyepiece is a great, moderately high power ocular for observing small planetary nebulas and globular star clusters, as well as for planetary probing when seeing conditions don't permit higher magnifications. Most modern telescopes use a focuser, or diagonal, that accepts 1.25 eyepieces. If you are just testing the waters or on a tight budget, get the Celestron, which is still pretty good. For modern eyepieces, the differences between Plossl and Super Plossl is going to depend on the manufacturer. And remember, when all else fails, read the instructions. You have selected a very good starting telescope that will serve you for many years to come. I think you will change your mind. 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! Fully coated with magnesium fluoride on every air-to-glass surface for excellent light transmission and high contrast views. . philhas Members 61 459 Location: North East England We may earn commissions by recommending products on this website. 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. Like going from a 32 TV to a 65? A good modern eyepiece like a BST starguider 12,8 and 5mm are excellent eyepieces. It doesnt matter what type of telescope you have, as long as your scope takes these standard sizes. I believe the 5000 UWA's are good as well. People may have heard, and rightly so, that Huygens or Ramsdens are crummy eyepieces and that they should get a Plossl instead, and they may believe the same applies to Kellners, but the truth is that Kellners are often good eyepieces. I am not aware of an ES branded 70 degree series in the USA, but they do have a Bresser branded 70-degree series. Good evening everybody. Yes, Plossl eyepieces are some of the most popular with amateurs and professionals alike. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Since 2011, we've published astronomy related content and reviews to help guide the community better. The tradeoff was that each lens surface added another internal reflection, reducing contrast and adding glare. The result in magnification is the same and the eye relief associated with the eyepiece is retained or, in some cases, actually lengthened a bit. You might be able to find a Kellner, or perhaps a high-quality Orthoscopic. The views through it are very impressive, and it always amazes me when I get that one out. 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. 4. If you are looking at eyepieces that are wider than 55 degrees AFOV, you will again need to consider looking at the better corrected, and typically more expensive, eyepieces. For astronomical observations, such as viewing craters on the moons surface from Earth, high-magnification models are preferred because they offer more detail. That can only be shown through actual testing. At least you'll have one budget eyepiece that will give you a larger part of the sky at low magnification. Your eyepieces do not need to be the same brand as your telescope. Even if we were next-door neighbors this would take weeks of discussion and planning. The longer FL Plossls (>15mm) have some distinct advantages over more complex designs without the major disadvantage of Plossls which is short ER. I just ordered Hyperion 13mm and 21mm but I really like how sharp and crisp view is in plossl 40mm. PS. They deliver sharp images in almost all telescopes. Note to spectacle wearers: Plssl eyepieces with 15mm and longer focal lengths are good choices for spectacle wearers. No other type can compare with it when it comes to that quality. I have just one Meade product currently and that is a series 4000 1.25 inch UHC type filter which I use for outreach. On many occasions, that will be too high power for the atmospheric conditions. This was very useful, I got a meade infinity 90mm ( after read the review here -. In that respect, they are similar to the Explore Scientific 82 degree mentioned earlier. thanks for all your help. 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. Worth is a subjective evaluation, so here is my subjective input: 1. The basic design hasnt changed much, but the real costs of manufacturing have dropped. For shorter focal lengths, the StarGuider BST series eyepieces have greater eye-relief, so are better suited. Kellner vs Plossl - Comparison table. that I could slide into my telescope and look at. Omni 40mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. I dont think so. there are of course options to plossls which are about the same prices as GSOs such as the BST Discoveries and TMB type eyepieces (new from Skies the Limit on Ebay) which have a wider field and better eye relief than plossls and are probably as good as most things non-premium. 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. A Kellner eyepiece has 3 lenses, while a Plossl has 4. Plossl eyepieces are great. Or, you can have three properly sized eyepieces and use a Barlow lens to achieve three more magnifications, which is usually a less expensive way to go. Here are a few types of eyepieces you may read about and their typical AFOV. Their 50 to 52 degree AFOV is wide enough for general observing. I have CPC 925 and I currently own Hyperion 10mm, Hyperion 17mm and Celestron plossl 40mm. Plossl eyepieces have 4 lenses that are paired in two doublets. Second? There is no problem using a Celestron eyepiece in a Meade telescope, for example. Because some objects look better at low power, some at medium power, some at high power, and some at very high power. My understanding of eyepieces was very limited until I read this article, you explain things in a clear and understandable way which made my understanding so much clearer. For example, if you put a 30 mm eyepiece in a 3X Barlow, it will triple the magnification you get from that eyepiece. Scott. But dont fear that you will waste your investment as eyepieces are standard sizes. Read our full affiliate disclosure here. I consider the Plossl to be the minimum standard for a good eyepiece. Take the AFOV of the eyepiece (provided by the mfg) in your case 82 degrees The Plossl eyepiece is a four-element design consisting of two doublets. This is my all-time favorite eyepiece and the one I use more than all the others put together. Learn more about our story and the team behind the scene. The field of view of the eyepiece has a few effects when it comes to actually using it in the telescope. You can build a full set of these with good results, but be aware of eye relief, especially if you wear glasses. In most cases, these are eyepieces that are focused on wider AFOV or better correction for low focal ratio scopes. This gives us more flexibility at the low end of the magnification range. The ES is actually slightly cheaper than the Orion but my understanding from your reviews and replies is that ES might actually be the better eyepiece have I got that right? This is the link to the one I plan to buy as I know some others come with add ons: https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/baader-hyperion-mark-iv-8-24mm-universal-zoom-eyepiece.html, Thats great you had an XT8i that makes me feel confident I got a good telescope . So, for your 30 mm, 82/60 = 1.36 degrees. However, because they have more glass elements than other designs, like Kellners, their manufacturing becomes extremely important to get high-quality optics. 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. 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? Good 32mm Plssls run around $30-$40. Are plossl eyepieces still worth it? Plossl eyepieces have an eye relief equal to about 80% of their focal length. You see the object in a wider expanse of space with more stars. thanks Ed. As the clear cut worlds best eyepiece manufacturer, their name should at least be mentioned in an article like this. And I am a visually observing focused person. You can email me also. If you read the article you know how to calculate the magnification and field of view. This is why we recommend you try to locate the object first at low power, then use a higher magnification if you likethe wider field of view on the sky provides more context in terms of asterisms and reference stars and makes it more likely that youll catch the object you are looking for. When selecting the best eyepiece for you, consider: Eyepieces are standardized so whatever investment you make today, the eyepieces will continue to serve you in any future scopes you may own. 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. Sirius Plossls offer a 52-deg apparent field of view for clear, sharp images. Gold line eyepieces are available in 6mm, 9mm, 15mm, and 20mm focal lengths. A key thing to remember is that eyepieces are universal. These lenses are connected together. My Meade 4000 56 and 60 degree Meade Plossls are pretty sharp to my eyes and do pretty well for me. From planetary viewing to deep sky watching. I have to say that your questions are answered in the article. A 6mm Plossl has a tiny eye lens. Thanks for your comment. It was grueling, because I couldnt even get the entire field of viewI had to keep my eye hovering above the exit pupil. How do you focus - I would have expected helical focusers in the eyepiece holders but don't see any? 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. Both solutions offer somewhat similar mag-fov-er-price. If you are completely new to stargazing, Kellner eyepieces are absolutely fine. Higher than 3X is usually reserved for astrophotography. Both will provide the same magnification. I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. No surprise there. Kellner eyepieces use three glass elements in two groups to minimize color fringing. To achieve six magnifications, you can have six eyepieces. So perhaps you do your line up like this. Edited April 23, 2010 by russ teh_orph Members 28 198 Author Other than the limited AFOV, which you are apparently fine with, and limited eye relief in the shorter focal lengths there is certainly no reason not to choose Plssls. I agree with your comment on zooms for kids. Its quite long but that is what we are aiming for and hopefully, it was useful to you. These have the advantage that the front section with the optics can be unthreaded and threaded on to the filter threads of a 1.25 inch eyepiece. This makes them a bit more complex and expensive than other designs, but also gives them a wider field of view, reasonable eye relief, and reduces optic aberrations. Ive read, and re-read, and re-re-read this page. But your point is well taken. A Televue Plssl may be better than a generic one, but the difference is probably not worth the additional cost. Now put the zoom on a 3X barlow and you have: Using the zoom approach with a Barlow your eyepiece set would consisit of a 32 mm low power eyepiece. A wide range of focal lengths are available, all in 1.25-inch size. Other eyepieces of more advanced design can have better eye relief and field of view. I was looking on a OPT website and they have celestron 32mm and 15mm plossl. EP-mm = magnification = afov Omni 56mm Eyepiece - 2" Learn More. They also have good eye relief, making them comfortable to use for extended periods. Just start with 32 mm for your low-power eyepiece. And you don't even have to get the full set if you don't want to. The Hexagon Zoom Eyepiece is made from durable plastic material that resists scratching and it has an eye relief distance of 15mm. I think you will love it! Once we are done, they will make sense. They are 82-degree AFOV eyepieces. It costs three to four times as much as the Celestron Zoom, but if you have the budget, this is the one to get. I like my 38/70. Celestron - 1.25" Eyepiece and Filter Accessory Kit - 14 Piece Telescope Accessory Set - Plossl Telescope Eyepiece - Barlow Lens - Colored Filters - Moon Filter - Sturdy Metal Carry Case. The Plossl design has become the mainstay of the modern ocular business and probably represents the best value in terms of performance and price, especially in medium and long focal lengths. I am looking for as much as best I can buy. 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. Be sure to read the following as you consider your eyepiece purchases. Comparing Orion Telescope & Binoculars options, it appears that a Kellner can be found for almost half the price of a Plossl of the same focal length, although there are also equally cheap Plossls available from various sellers on Amazon that are highly comparable. If youre still wondering between a Kellner vs Plossl, my advice to you would be invest a little extra cash and go for a good quality Plossl. A Televue Plssl may be better than a generic one, but the difference is probably not worth the additional cost. If we look at the range I provided above, we see that we could replace several eyepieces with one zoom. 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. If you upgrade the telescope or add a second one, the eyepieces will work on that telescope too. So, even if you have a Maksutov-Cassegrain scope, you should get a good experience from this eyepiece. Optics manufacturers began selling and popularizing Plossl eyepieces, albeit with a generally simplified design where each achromatic doublet had the same focal length. 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. Soft rubber eye guard that's custom fitted . In your case, I would do this for the 30 and the 20. For super Plossl eyepiece, the field of view is typically 40 to 60 degrees. Quality this good usually costs a lot more. If money is not a concern, you cant go wrong with Tele Vue eyepieces, any Tele Vue eyepieces. But what are the differences between these two and how do you know which one to choose? The difference in TFOV will be significant at this focal length. 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. Using this 40 mm Plossl eyepiece is an excellent way to get a wide field of view with your telescope. So speaking of the Barlow as if it modifies the FL of the eyepiece, while technically not correct, does provide an easier model to understand the net effect. 2. Interesting points Philip. In our example, we targeted 200X as the top magnification. But for AP you should really start your planning with the mount. The Japan made 16mm Meade 3000 was a very nice medium power plossl and the 40mm in that series was surprisingly nice as well. At shorter focal lengths they have less eye relief, and at all focal lengths they have a narrower field of view, than newer types. A super Plossl eyepiece is a top-performing eyepiece that can be used for a variety of tasks, from viewing objects in the distance to looking at microscopic things. A Kellner eyepiece has 1 double lens and 1 single lens. Many thanks, Sophie. Orion Sirius Plossl 1.25" eyepieces are ideal for all types of telescopes: reflector, refractor, and catadioptrics such as Maksutov-Cassegrains. I also have an older smoothtop 20mm Meade 4000 that is also 5 element, and it is a fine eyepiece too, compared to another 20mm of the same vintage. Why two sizes? 6.5-ish mm (100x & 200x)
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