Its made up of four lenses in two groups. I decided to jump in with both feet and get an Orion ED80 (600mm f7.5 with a 2 focuser, So that I can move into astrophotography down the road. SVBONY Direct . But the longer FL units are certainly useful. With an f/10 telescope, Plossls are as sharp as any other kind of eyepiece of the same focal length. 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. Offered in both 2 and 1.25, these are excellent eyepieces. One of the main drawbacks of this eyepiece, though, is the eye relief. Again thank you very much for all the information in the page, excellent notes. 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. All registered. Visual astronomy is all about aperture, the more the better. 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. That is the critical factor. All of the Omni eyepieces have a 1.25" barrel size with the exception of the super low power 56 mm, which has a barrel size of 2". I often recommend a 32 mm Plossl as a good low power wide view eyepiece for scopes with a 1.25 focuser. But your point is well taken. For our experience level, would you recommend changing anything right now? 1.25" 6.3mm 32mm 40mm Plossl eyepiece set give you a good variation in magnification for a wide range of targets with extra sharpness and long eye relief. Theres a reason Plossls are usually kept at 52 degrees. Excellent article, thank you very much for taking the time to publish it. Put the zoom on the Barlow for the high range. But in this scope, the 32 mm doesnt work well. A Barlow lens can save you money and add flexibility. 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. Second? I can say that most of my plossls have been replaced by other eyepieces for various reasons. By having a range of magnifications, you can optimize the image, which means you need more eyepieces. Note that we also gained a 16 mm magnification at no additional cost. The longer FL Plossls (>15mm) have some distinct advantages over more complex designs without the major disadvantage of Plossls which is short ER. Look at the apparent field of view specs and understand what this means for the field of view. Plossl eyepieces are great. I still have it and still use it from time to time. None of my fancy EPs have enough contrast for this application. Between Kellners and Plossls, this means a 32mm Plossl, which maximizes the field of view in the 1.25 barrel diameter format, will show more stars than either a 32mm Kellner with the same magnification but a smaller true field of view, or a 40mm Kellner (or 40mm 1.25 Plossl, which has a 40 degree apparent field of view) with a lower magnification and the same true field of view. 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. It offers good color correction and high-contrast images. Disclosure - If you buy something via our link, we may earn a commission with no additional expense to you. 4. They also have good eye relief, making them comfortable to use for extended periods. I wont go into all the types of aberrations that can be there. Plossl eyepieces are often included in better telescope packages as the starter eyepieces. There is no guarantee that you will be able to get a good image of any given target at that level of magnification on any given night. thanks Ed. . The reason a plano-convex lens is good for using with a telescope is that it provides for both magnifying and erecting the images. Can you suggest the total . In the next section, we will talk about the AFOV of an eyepiece. But the longer FL units are certainly useful. There are so many others at comparable or higher prices, many of which are quite good and some rather poor. Gold Line eyepieces also offer better eye relief than Plossl eyepieces, especially at the shorter focal lengths. 11 = 163 = .5 The field of view of a p Plossl eyepiece is typically 60 to 120 degrees. In stargazing, eyepieces are as important as telescopes are. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. 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. or a Baader Classic Ortho 18mm with both a 1.5/2x Barlow and 3x Barlow. It had one of the best fields, edge to edge, in my SCT that I've ever seen. That is up to you and your budget. They have a 60deg apparent field, long eye relief, adjustable eye shield and extremely well corrected. If you want a very good eyepiece with a bit wider field of view but are on a budget, these are very good choices. They are 82-degree AFOV eyepieces. In this article, were going to talk about what is a Plossl eyepiece, what are its components, how do they work, how many types are there and how youd buy a good Plossl eyepiece. Non-eyeglass wearers can usually tolerate Plossls as short as about 10-12mm before their eyelashes start brushing the ocular lens. Inexpensive Plossls that are manufactured using low-quality lenses are susceptible to internal reflections when viewing bright objects at high magnification. Below .5 mm exit pupil, floaters in the eye become more apparent and can be bothersome. Most people will be fairly comfortable with eye relief of 12 mm or higher. . Lets take a look. I dont own nor have I used it, but Orion has a very good reputation. This is just a planning target. You can buy a range of these from Modern Astronomy. Do you have any additional comments to help me? Lets look at the minimum. It includes two high-magnification Plossl eyepieces and five lower magnification zoom oculars with an adjustable focus in the kit. 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. The Plossl eyepiece is a type of optical system that was invented by Ernst Abbe. No, adapters are not needed but they may come in handy when you want to change the focal length or add other lenses such as filters or Barlow lenses. The three-lens eyepiece that came out of this was much better at controlling false color fringing and other distortions, even in telescopes with short focal lengths. You use the 8-24 zoom for the midrange. 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.) If money is not a concern, you cant go wrong with Tele Vue eyepieces, any Tele Vue eyepieces. In my opinion, you do not. These "other" ones I speak of, aren't technically that, they are a 5 element eyepiece, of a different design. Thanks all. The BH zoom is optically a 1.25 eyepiece. A 10mm or shorter Plssl is probably not worth it unless you want to see how you personally cope with short eye relief. An exit pupil larger than 6 mm may start to show a shadow of the secondary mirror. . Over $250, I will label premium eyepieces. Newer multi-coatings are better, I suppose, but newer does not always mean better in the ocular game. If you are completely new to stargazing, Kellner eyepieces are absolutely fine. After these, we have mostly proprietary designs from various eyepiece companies. Brilliant article and I thank you for it, I was literally really confused prior to reading it. For one thing, a wider field of view is almost always more pleasant. You will get varying opinions on this but I would not worry too much about this. Be sure to read the following as you consider your eyepiece purchases. Most people prefer the wider TFOV. The stock 9 and 15mm Omnis were very good. I think you will love it! Yes, the wider field of view of a Plossl is very helpful, but 40 degrees of Kellners isnt a soda straw (unless you are used to looking through very wide field eyepiece. 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. Tele Vue has eyepieces that approach $1000. This is your Lexus, Acura, and Infinity types that offer more features, better build, and a bit more polish. Something in the 30 to 38 mm range with a 65 to 70 degree AFOV. Are there any good low-cost 2 EPS out there? Omni 32mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. Which is Stronger? Sorry but I am not offering a configuration and pricing service. 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. If I had to give them all up and keep only one eyepiece, It would be the BH Zoom. So you ended up with: Our previous exchange convinced me to start out with an 80mm refractor. Think of these as your Ford, Chevy, and Toyota of eyepieces. The Big Bang Optics was started because of our love for astronomy and to help others like us find the best telescope and accessories. 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. Glad you found it helpful. Other brands have joined and have used the Super Plossl label, but they all keep the original 4-piece design. I cant answer that specifically as I have no experience with that eyepiece in that scope. 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. If you would prefer to buy him $60 eyepieces or even $30 eyepieces because he is only 7 and he can upgrade later, that is also OK. Thanks for going through the entire post. For super Plossl eyepiece, the field of view is typically 40 to 60 degrees. If the above guide has helped you understand the terms and workings of eyepieces, scroll up and make a selection from our recommendation list. Even though there are more sophisticated types of EPs, Plossls hit the right spot between high-quality optics and price. They also offer more eye relief than Plossls at the shorter focal lengths. I had a TV 20mm Plossl once. Orion Q70 38 mm works well. No price limit. 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. 6.7 = 268 = .3 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. The BHZ in a 2X Barlow will take an XT8 to 300X. This SVBONY eyepiece review should get you up to speed with the budget stargazing options. While it covers the same range as the Celestron zoom, it offers better optics, better mechanical operation, and a wider field of view. Worth it is a tough question to answer. Also, atmospheric conditions can limit how much magnification you can use on a given night. Then set your maximum based on your aperture and split it up. I took notes and now can shop with confidence When you are shopping, if you need long eye relief, make sure you are selecting the correct ones. For it's cost, a 32mm Plssl eyepiece is hard to beat. Orion Sirius Plossl eyepieces are ideal for any type of telescope; refractor, reflector, or catadioptic. I saw Jupiter today and its 4 moons but when I looked at saturn I struggled to get a really clear image and it was very small. Using this 40 mm Plossl eyepiece is an excellent way to get a wide field of view with your telescope. This was my first zoom eyepiece and the one that caused me to fall in love with zoom. Both solutions offer somewhat similar mag-fov-er-price. However, Orion has managed to make one that is quite compatible with most styles of telescope. No price limit? The Plossl was also called a Kellner Type III in some earlier references; in the 1950's, Edmund Scientific sold a "Kellner" eyepiece made from war surplus lenses, but it actually consisted of two achromats in the classic Plossl configuration. Warranty Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. 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. Elena is a Canadian journalist and researcher. If your telescopes focal length is different, just change the focal length in the formula. Your email address will not be published. Oh the pain of uh having access to really cool eyepieces.). Thanks for your comment. Sirius Plossls offer a 52-deg apparent field of view for clear, sharp images. I agree with your comment on zooms for kids. 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. Thanks for a very helpful guide. Again, does it create a more immersive viewing experience? This is important to keep in mind because it means brands have to try really hard to one-up each other because the competition in a niche hobby such as astronomy can be fierce. 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. 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 work perfectly with small and medium-sized telescopes. 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. I do not miss beating my eyelashes against a 9.7mm Meade Plossl that I used to own. So its best for use during duller times when there isnt much brightness visible. Both will provide the same magnification. https://telescopicwatch.com/orion-skyquest-xt8-intelliscope-review/. Required fields are marked *. Or is this overkill and am I better off saving money and going forward something like the Celestron Zoom? We will now discuss the specifications of eye relief and apparent field of view. A Televue Plssl may be better than a generic one, but the difference is probably not worth the additional cost. i dont have 1 of everything, and i bought the best i could afford on a low budget; meade and orion. Other eyepieces of more advanced design can have better eye relief and field of view. You could say Super Plossls are not much more than a marketing tactic these days. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-telescope-mounts-for-astrophotography/, Then you look at the optical tubes. There are three types of Plossl eyepiece: the regular, Super, and Orthoscopic. The way a Plossl eyepiece works is by using the convex lens and concave lenses to create an image that has both total magnification of what youre viewing, as well as erect images. It's no surprise that the eyepieces in our Sirius Plossl line are our best-selling telescope eyepieces. 4mm Eyepiece vs 20mm Eyepiece. Plus the FOV expands as you zoom to the higher powers. And I am a visually observing focused person. 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. Ideally, you want a minimum of three eyepieces for (1) low power (2) peak visual acuity and (3) high-power viewing. Since there are so many different types of eyepieces available on the market, choosing the right one for your situation can prove to be a harrowing task. ES 82 degree series plus 1 meade uwa @20 mm with 1800 focal length optical tube lowest mag 51 x / highest mag 300. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-astrophotography-telescopes/. Im just starting out with astronomy and this really helped my understanding. 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. 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. But with 2 eyepieces and a Barlow, you have the full effective range of your telescope. But will the Baader CO with 1.5-2-3x Barlows deliver a visibly sharper and more contrast view of the Moon and planets than the zoom lens with a 2x Barlow, to compensate for the zooms convenience that is the question! Some optics brands have taken the next step and launched some eyepieces they have labeled as Super Plossl. Consider something between 35 and 40 mm in focal length with an AFOV of 65 degrees or wider for your lowest power eyepiece for your 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. Does having a 70 vs 52 fov make a noticeable difference for double the price? This will give you a maximum target for planning purposes. Comparing to Plossl, the Expanse eyepiece is a lot more expensive. I havent addressed .965 eyepieces in the recommendations. I have owned wider eyepieces, but ultimately I just prefer the Plssls (must be a mental defect). I would like to know what is best for a 7 year old that would be getting his first telescope. They can also be found as Orion Expanse sporting a blue line rather than gold.