thanks Ed. 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. Compared with a zoomable telescope eyepiece, they are pretty much the same in terms of the quality of the image. There is a little bit more to it than that and there are other design . A rubber safety cap protects the lens when not in use while also providing additional grip on this 35 mm Plossl eyepiece. This was very useful, I got a meade infinity 90mm ( after read the review here -. For visual use, 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X Barlow lenses are common. As long as you take good care of them, Plossls can last you a lifetime, and you will be able to use them with your next telescope if you upgrade at some point. While many people will stay with and add Plossls to their eyepiece set, I would recommend not going below 10 mm focal length as the eye relief gets quite short. Explore Scientific recently extended this offering by adding a series of 82 degree eyepieces labeled LER, or Long Eye Relief. I owned an XT8 Intelliscope which is the same optical tube on a PushTo mount. 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. Despite the narrow field of view and short eye relief, it showed shockingly good views of Saturn, Jupiter, and even the Moon. Good value. If you were considering a Super Plossl made by an entry-level brand, just use those extra funds to instead get a regular Plossl made by a more reputable manufacturer. 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. Gold line eyepieces are available in 6mm, 9mm, 15mm, and 20mm focal lengths. Ever since, I have been attempting to cram in every fact about the Universe, I can find into my head. This can be debated 100 ways, but that is my advice. But those EPs mentioned were all great too! The difference isnt that severe, and I often track more often than is strictly necessary to keep the object centered anyway. I continue to be very pleased with the ES82 eyepieces. The length of eye relief on a Plossl eyepiece ranges from 12 millimeters (less common) all the way up to 45 millimeters with added benefits being that you dont have any issues seeing into your view. Optics manufacturers began selling and popularizing Plossl eyepieces, albeit with a generally simplified design where each achromatic doublet had the same focal length. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. However, for your extra money you get the finest manufacture, the best polish and coatings available. All the rest will likely be 1.25. Note to spectacle wearers: Plossl eyepieces with 15mm and longer focal lengths are good choices for spectacle wearers but for shorter focal lengths the Celestron XCel LX series have greater eye-relief so are better suited. Orion Sirius Plossl 1.25" eyepieces are ideal for all types of telescopes: reflector, refractor, and catadioptrics such as Maksutov-Cassegrains. Be aware of the focal ratio of your scope. 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. In this article, we will only focus on the differences between Plossl and Kellner eyepieces. All focal lengths offer 50 field-of-view except the 40mm which offers 42 I was just wondering if plossls are still worth it or should get a better eyepiece in a 30mm range. Soft rubber eye guard that's custom fitted . > Click here to jump to the Best Eyepieces section. Good quality. 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. Since each eye has a different focal point, I suspect pulling the eyepiece out until reaching focus and then tightening the set screw. If you look up transparency and seeing in the context of telescopes you can learn more about how atmospheric conditions will affect what magnifications you will choose on any given night. The Big Bang Optics also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank and other sites. Also, note that the pricing is based on 1.25 eyepieces. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-astrophotography-telescopes/. Number of Lenses. https://telescopicwatch.com/?s=barlow, Best of luck with your new telescope. Celestron's 4-element Plossl eyepiece features include blackened lens edges to minimize internal reflection and maximize contrast, fully multi-coated optics for maximum light transmission. Choose three focal lengths. Ah I see what you are saying, I had wondered whether this might have had an impact as Ive seen it mentioned before but dont fully understand it so will do some research, thank you . 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. Thanks so much. A common problem are eyepiece kits, which are big boxes that some telescope suppliers will sell you with half a dozen eyepieces, most of which include annoyingly short focal length Plossl eyepieces. This can be very helpful for star hopping. Prices can run from $20 to $200 so the field is pretty broad. Field of view, is about finding, framing, drift time, and context. . That is a wonderful expression. The bottom line is that it is best to have several magnification choices so you can optimize the view. 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. 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. Does this sound like something you would recommend based on the telescope I have? How Good Are Super Plossl Eyepieces for Astronomy? If we combine a Barlow with an 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece, we have an amazing range. Plossl eyepieces are perfect for astronomical viewing because the field of view is wider. Plossl eyepieces have an eye relief equal to about 80% of their focal length. We will use 10 mm as the eyepiece focal length, but we will look at three different 10 mm eyepieces, each with a different apparent field of view, AFOV. 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. The basic design hasnt changed much, but the real costs of manufacturing have dropped. Warranty Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. And I continue to read excellent reports on the AT Paradigm and similar under different labels. Something in the 30 to 38 mm range with a 65 to 70 degree AFOV. Some of these series also offer 2 eyepieces for telescopes that can accept 2 eyepieces. 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. But some people demand the very best, and it is available, at a price. As is outstanding in the workmanship, a Plossl type eyepiece is a moderately wide field eyepiece involving two colorless doublets in which the crown components generally face each other. Interesting points Philip. The 4000 SWA's were way overpriced for their performance IMHO. Thinking in a super ploss 32mm and maybe something between 9mm and 15mm . It sounds cool, they must be better than regular Plossls with that name, right? If you want a very good eyepiece with a bit wider field of view but are on a budget, these are very good choices. 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. A very good quality eyepiece for a reasonable sum. I dont think so. 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. It also was considerably more expensive. I generally use my 40 to search for DSOs so Ill probably replace that one at some point too. Theres a reason Plossls are usually kept at 52 degrees. 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 biggest advantage is much better ER in a large ocular. When I started, I purchased less expensive eyepieces to learn about them and how I would use them. As we continue, what would you recommend adding first? A Plossl eyepiece has a field of view thats very wide, so if youre looking at the full moon or some other object in space with it, chances are youll see the entire thing. Celestron Omni Eyepieces: The Omni series is the most economical eyepiece offering from Celestron. The 50 apparent field of view is plenty for me. Plossl eyepieces are very good and fairly inexpensive, typically between $25 and $50 each. This also makes them more resistant to any form of dust getting inside the eyepiece. Im just starting out with astronomy and this really helped my understanding. Our previous exchange convinced me to start out with an 80mm refractor. On the inside, they are exactly the same design. Stargazinghelp.com is a knowledge hub for professional and amateur astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. 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. If you are investing for the future, get the BH zoom. Whether it is cars or telescope eyepieces, there are inexpensive ones, upgraded models, and very expensive ones. Any 1.25 eyepiece will work with the BH Zoom 2 adapter. The Big Bang Optics was started because of our love for astronomy and to help others like us find the best telescope and accessories. Perhaps you should seek out help from your local astronomy club. 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! If you don't like the reflections, there really aren't many other budget options at its focal length beside a Plossl which will be super uncomfortable to use, or spending over $100 for something like a Meade UWA. As a result, this can cause aberrations in the image as you move from the center of the view toward the edges. How you divide up your magnification range is up to you. These are exceptional eyepieces, and only available on the used market nowadays. A wide range of focal lengths are available, all in 1.25-inch size. 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. They are also really sharp. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Meade telescope maksutov eyepiece ETX-105EC Super Plossl 6.4mm 1.25" w capsule at the best online prices at eBay! From planetary viewing to deep sky watching. None of my fancy EPs have enough contrast for this application. When I was getting my start in the hobby, I bought an ultra-cheap ($15?) Do you have any additional comments to help me? In stargazing, eyepieces are as important as telescopes are. The Hexagon Zoom Eyepiece is made from durable plastic material that resists scratching and it has an eye relief distance of 15mm. Look those up, seeing and transparency in the context of astronomy. You will get varying opinions on this but I would not worry too much about this. Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? Thanks in advance I really appreciate it! This design has some advantages over other designs, such as the Kellner eyepiece or Orthoscopic eyepieces. Typically a Barlow does not add or subtract from this, but there again we have bad Barlows and Good Barlows. If you are completely new to stargazing, Kellner eyepieces are absolutely fine. I once had to use a 6mm Plossl to attempt to perform a star-test collimation for a telescope at the observatory. So we say that an F5 scope benefits from better corrected eyepieces more than the F10 scope. With a 130mm-F5 I would use a Plossl 32mm for its low-mag-wide-view. Regular Plossl eyepieces with maybe just a slightly better coating or build quality. Think of these as your Ford, Chevy, and Toyota of eyepieces. Any 1.25 diagonal should work. Excellent article, thank you very much for taking the time to publish it. Lenses are fully multi-coated for excellent light transmission and reduced internal reflections. Being a total novice, I love the StarSense app and technology. When a beginner is choosing eyepieces on a budget, there are a number of possible designs they may choose between. I would expect it to be similar to the Celestron in image quality. My 20, 26, and 32mm Plossls will probably stay around. 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. There is always more to learn but it helps if you go in with a good base understanding, and that was my goal. This is not a hard and fast rule, just a cautionary note. This is a fairly inexpensive zoom that I wanted to try. By correcting for aberrations, the field of view of these eyepieces could be much larger than the soda-straw field of view in a Ramsden or Huygens, around 40 or perhaps up to 50 degrees. One of the TMB Planetary eyepieces are extremely nice for 50. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. Not only is it good to share the experience but you can get first-hand advice on things like diagonals and may even be able to try one in your scope to see if it makes a difference. My love affair with space began in a field in India at the age of 7, when I looked up at the Milky Way for the first time. that I could slide into my telescope and look at. As of the past couple years, it seems possible that the choice between Kellners and Plossls has been made for usyou either get what you get with your beginner telescope, or you will have to find a Plossl. The stock 9 and 15mm Omnis were very good. Tele Vue offers several series with apparent fields of view from 50 degrees to 120 degrees. Using your example: We will use a 100 mm telescope with a 600 mm focal length and Another way to look at it is that a 30 mm eyepiece in a 3X Barlow works like a 10 mm eyepiece.. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. But, if you have a plan, you can fill in those slots, working toward a well-balanced set of magnifications. Some will offer longer eye relief which can be important to eyeglass wearers. Do you think the Baader Hyperion Zoom would work OK with the Skywatcher 150p? If you want to observe the fine details of a specimen, Plossl eyepiece has a higher magnification than an ocular with lower lenses. Quality this good usually costs a lot more. Apparent Field of View: This is a measure of how wide a view the eyepiece will provide as compared to alternate eyepieces. We often end up spending more on eyepieces than we did on the telescope. Even if the scope comes with the more acceptable Kelner or . Their 50 to 52 degree AFOV is wide enough for general observing. In general terms, the higher the AFOV number, the more the eyepiece will cost. If you cant use 2, that 32 mm Plossl, which has a 50 degree AFOV, will give you about as wide a field of view as you can get in a 1.25 eyepiece. NEW. I am not aware of an ES branded 70 degree series in the USA, but they do have a Bresser branded 70-degree series. No results, please adjust your filters. Each eyepiece gives you a unique magnification based on the formula listed at the start: Why do you need more than two eyepieces? 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. Hi Ed, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plossl eyepieces are great. These sport a 60-degree apparent field of view, about a 20% wider apparent field of view than Plossl eyepieces. condition as described, a good transaction. The price can run to over $1000 per eyepiece. Gold Line eyepieces also offer better eye relief than Plossl eyepieces, especially at the shorter focal lengths. Elena is a Canadian journalist and researcher. Plossl eyepieces have a wider field of view that can go from 50 to 56 degrees. I had one and sold it. Now looking for a couple of decent eyepieces. So save yourself this future unnecessary expense and just buy a Plossl. It costs three to four times as much as the Celestron Zoom, but if you have the budget, this is the one to get. If you do upgrade, youll probably want to go for a different eyepiece design than a Plosslsomething with a sharper image or a wider field of view or a longer eye relief (or all three.). It has made learning the Constellations and star-hopping more fun and engaging for my whole family exactly what I was hoping for. The sharp/crisp view you get from your 40mm Plossl comes down to the relatively low magnification it provides. 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 A couple of them felt fancier, but the jump in performance was either insignificant or non-existent. Another way to look at it is that a 30 mm eyepiece in a 3X Barlow works like a 10 mm eyepiece. Again, does it create a more immersive viewing experience? That is up to you and your budget. These sizes have become the industrys standard sizes. 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. no caps come in bolt case. I have a 4 element (traditional) and a 5 element 32mm Meade, both from the same era in Japan, and the 5 element is much better by quite a bit. This will give you a maximum target for planning purposes. You can do that by using this long focal length eyepiece. 30 = 60 = 1.3 - 32mm plossl. I am going to use 6. It includes two high-magnification Plossl eyepieces and five lower magnification zoom oculars with an adjustable focus in the kit. Thanks for your comment. A Kellner eyepiece has 1 double lens and 1 single lens. I am looking for as much as best I can buy. If you just want a quick answer, skip to the conclusion at the end of the article. If you stumble the first few uses, dont be discouraged. It's no surprise that the eyepieces in our Sirius Plossl line are our best-selling telescope eyepieces. Now we have a maximum established. By default, expect a 40-degree field of view in a Kellner and a 50-52 degree field of view in a Plossl. A zoom eyepiece works like the zoom lens on a camera. 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. But what are the differences between these two and how do you know which one to choose? The 26 and 32 are usually the first ones I reach for. These eyepiecesproduce a 'standard apparent feld of view' of between 50 and 56 with most set at around 52. Because of this setup, you might also hear a Plossl eyepiece referred to as a symmetrical eyepiece. And of course, NEVER look through a telescope pointed at the sun that does not have a safe solar filter covering the front. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-barlow-lens-and-how-to/, Celestron 8-24 Zoom Review So, for your 30 mm, 82/60 = 1.36 degrees. That's hard to beat IMO. Can you suggest the total . 600 mm / 200X = 3 mm This will be the focal length of our highest power eyepiece. Ive added comments on where you may find and use them. The Plossl is a good all-around eyepiece design, is well suited for generic use and is relatively inexpensive to make. So you ended up with: 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. Remember that visual and AP have very different requirements, so plan on at least two different optical tubes. Very nice article. All registered. I took notes and now can shop with confidence Also worth mentioning i wear glasses which I will wear while observing. They can be recognized by a thin gold line just below the eye cup. This will give you a lower power and a medium to high power eyepiece, depending on the focal length of your scope. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Im also uncertain about what to expect from an additional investment? Here we have very good eyepieces with some extra features. 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. What apparent field of view and eye relief do I want? Some reviews also suggest replacing the diagonal. 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. 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. I have a variety of eyepieces, including Explore Scientific and Meade 82 degree series so I have choices. 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, The Explore Scientific 68 degree series would be better but at a much higher price. If there is a local club, I would suggest you visit and consider joining. I often recommend a 32 mm Plossl as a good low power wide view eyepiece for scopes with a 1.25 focuser. Offering a wide 43 apparent field of view, this 40mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece provides extremely sharp images of impressively high contrast. Thanks all. I also struggled to see features on both (gas bands on Jupiter and clear rings on saturn). Combining a cheap eyepiece with a cheap barlow isn't a elegant solution. You can do the calculation which will show that the 70 will have a significantly wider field of view as compared to the 52. It uses two symmetrical pairs of glass elements (one convex and one concave) to pass the light. In the 1990s Meade instruments came up with a new design for the Meade 4000 line similar to Plossl that added a fifth glass element on top of the two pairs (4 total). Many thanks. 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. Plossl eyepieces have 4 lenses that are paired in two doublets. 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. Just start with 32 mm for your low-power eyepiece. I wants to install one in house(fixed place) another I need movable. If we want to get VERY specific to a combination then inherent aberrations of this scope and that eyepiece could produce a unique result. The only reason it's in this list because of its price and a long focal point. The combination of high-quality optics and accessible prices have made them the favorite design for amateur astronomers and even professionals. My Barlow is a 2X with a removeable Barlow element that can be screwed right onto an eyepiece giving a 1.5X effect. 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. The field of view of a p Plossl eyepiece is typically 60 to 120 degrees. 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. Today, most beginner telescopes of any quality are sold with either Kellner or Plossl eyepieces. If you were considering a Meade Super Plossl, in that case just get the regular one also by Meade. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Meade 32mm 2" 5-element Super Plossl Wide Field Eyepiece at the best online prices at eBay! One of the main drawbacks of this eyepiece, though, is the eye relief. It is as simple as that. If you are upgrading, avoid ones that say correct image as these add a prism system into the diagonal which can reduce the light transmission. 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. Note that the price categories are approximate, as prices can vary between retailers. 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.