are plossl eyepieces good

Thanks, Angelo M. You picked a great first scope. 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 Super Plossl design was better than regular Plossl eyepieces, but not by much. Edge sharpness is just satisfactory, nothing to boast about, as is the apparent field of view. We are a reader-supported organization. The Plossl eyepiece has 4 lenses, consisting of 2 identical double lenses. Learn more about our story and the team behind the scene. 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. Explore Scientific recently extended this offering by adding a series of 82 degree eyepieces labeled LER, or Long Eye Relief. I cant answer that specifically as I have no experience with that eyepiece in that scope. https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-starsense-explorer-dx-102-130-reviewed/, If I was to upgrade these lenses, I was planning on working toward something like this: Once I knew how much I liked the zoom I upgraded to the Baader Hyperion Zoom. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I just ordered Hyperion 13mm and 21mm but I really like how sharp and crisp view is in plossl 40mm. AP is all about the mount and accurate tracking. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. I hope I can say that someday. Think of these as your Ford, Chevy, and Toyota of eyepieces. You use the 8-24 zoom for the midrange. The only reason it's in this list because of its price and a long focal point. Personally I think they're still worth it. 32 mm = 18.75X12 mm = 50X8 mm = 75X6 mm = 100X4 mm = 150X3 mm = 200X. Because some objects look better at low power, some at medium power, some at high power, and some at very high power. 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. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. But with 2 eyepieces and a Barlow, you have the full effective range of your telescope. In the case of the Celestron, you get all the focal lengths from 24 to 8mm in one eyepiece that costs $100. The biggest advantage is much better ER in a large ocular. This is a good thing, because normally the shorter the focal length of the eyepiece, the less eye relief you have. You can buy a range of these from Modern Astronomy. Divide that by the magnification of that eyepiece in that scope. If that surface is wobbly the scope will be almost useless. the reality is that today's eyepieces are all quite good, particulalarly in an f/10 telescope. Does this sound like something you would recommend based on the telescope I have? When you are shopping, if you need long eye relief, make sure you are selecting the correct ones. The bottom line is that it is best to have several magnification choices so you can optimize the view. Kellner eyepieces have 3 lenses cemented together and have a 35-50 degree field of view. I often recommend the 2 in this series as excellent low-power wide view eyepieces, especially in scopes at focal ratios below F8. A 6mm Plossl has a tiny eye lens. 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. Generally, Plssl eyepieces are best suited to Newtonian and fast telescopes. 130 mm scope will have a max of 260X for planning purposes. Glad you found it helpful. Comparing to Plossl eyepieces, Super Plossl is somewhat better for astronomy. It comes with 1.25 Plossls 25mm (26x) and 10mm (66x) eyepieces. But just because an eyepiece is 2 doesnt mean it has a wider field of view than one that is 1.25. Like going from a 32 TV to a 65? 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. Although Kellner eyepieces will help you learn a lot in the beginning but soon will realize that youre missing out on something, and eventually you will be tempted to spend money on another good quality eyepiece. If the above guide has helped you understand the terms and workings of eyepieces, scroll up and make a selection from our recommendation list. And of course, NEVER look through a telescope pointed at the sun that does not have a safe solar filter covering the front. Lets take a look. Any exit pupil between 7 mm and .5 mm is just fine. Simple Plosels work well and unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I would start with simple affordable eyepieces. Within the budget-friendly realm are the 6mm and 9mm Goldlines/Redlines (66-degree Ultra-Wide-Angle) for telescopes with a focal ratio of f/8 or longer, and the excellent 58-degree Planetary eyepieces, sold by a variety of sellers on Amazon and by Agena Astro, which come in a wide variety of focal lengths and are optically superb for their price. Eyepiece Field of View Simulator astronomy.tools Field of View Simulator Change Telescope Reset Change Target Add Equipment For visual use, 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X Barlow lenses are common. No results, please adjust your filters. But, if you have a plan, you can fill in those slots, working toward a well-balanced set of magnifications. If money is not a concern, you cant go wrong with Tele Vue eyepieces, any Tele Vue eyepieces. But for AP you should really start your planning with the mount. They are most useful in medium and longer focal lengths for terrestrial, planetary, and lunar viewing. Plossls provide very good eye relief for eyeglass wearers in focal lengths of about 25mm and longer. For one thing, a wider field of view is almost always more pleasant. There are many more designs that are associated with specific brands, but the ones above are designs that are produced by many companies in one form or another. Imagine you are looking at the moon with each of these eyepieces and consider what you would see. I see that there are some optical limits to how wide an FOV a 1.25 EP can manage at bigger (like 32mm) focal lengths. Here's the short answer - Plossl eyepieces are generally better than Kellner eyepieces, but they also tend to be more expensive. 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. You can email me also. 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. 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. 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. I have CPC 925 and I currently own Hyperion 10mm, Hyperion 17mm and Celestron plossl 40mm. Plossl eyepieces are great. 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. Something in the 30 to 38 mm range with a 65 to 70 degree AFOV. 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. We often end up spending more on eyepieces than we did on the telescope. You will see these under many brands, including Orion, Celestron, GSO, and others. When I started, I purchased less expensive eyepieces to learn about them and how I would use them. 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. There are three types of Plossl eyepiece: the regular, Super, and Orthoscopic. Later in the article, I will also give my top recommendations for both the best Kellner as well as the best Plossl eyepieces. Free shipping for many products! i still use the binos. 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. 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. So plan this into such a purchase. Dont worry about the math, as its simple stuff you can do with any calculator, on paper, or perhaps in your head. I have not had an opportunity to test it yet but the general discussions have favorable. We have a range of 32 mm to 3 mm. This means less time trying to figure out which way your images should be oriented before examining them. Again, for no other reason than to compare it to the 17mm Hyperion and draw your own conclusions about Plssls. However, because they have more glass elements than other designs, like Kellners, their manufacturing becomes extremely important to get high-quality optics. 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. But what are the other differences? If that is the case, it will give me another reasonably good, inexpensive zoom to recommend to beginners. I need some eyepieces with long FL for low magnifications. 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! But those EPs mentioned were all great too! In that respect, they are similar to the Explore Scientific 82 degree mentioned earlier. I had a bino pair of TV 20mm Plossls, very fine for high power planetary observation with my long focus 8" Mak, then I also bought the older TV 21mm Plossl, after trying the 21mm I sold the more recent 20mm. a breath of fresh air! No price limit. Most likely it will be used as a loaner eyepiece to go with one of my two loaner telescopes. You really understood the material. 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. I recently purchased the SVBony 7-21 zoom from Amazon. I often recommend it. 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. Now you can get good eyepieces for under or around $50. So, basically a Plossl eyepiece is a type of eyepiece that enables the viewer to see a wider field of view than would normally be the case, but at the cost of him/her having to physically put his eye very close to the lens of the eyepiece. With regards to budget, whatever works well and is on par with the quality & capability of the telescope. A wide range of focal lengths are available, all in 1.25-inch size. 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. High-quality Plssl eyepieces provide high contrast and sharpness across the entire field of view. Being a total novice, I love the StarSense app and technology. Fully coated optics provide crisp and bright views of the cosmos. 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. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. Goldline series of eyepieces provides the best value in this price range, better than Plossls. 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. The image quality is very good and the additional field of view and longer eye relief makes them very comfortable to use. I am very near-sighted, barely see the big E on the vision chart without glasses. The BHZ 2 Adapter has threads on it so you can attach filters to it allowing you to use 2 filters with the zoom. Again, does it create a more immersive viewing experience? Poorly chosen eyepiece might give you poor experience and sometimes even make stargazing difficult. This four-element Plssl design is the most popular eyepiece optical design that gives you excellent image quality, good eye relief, and a 50 to 56 degrees apparent field of view. This gives us more flexibility at the low end of the magnification range. Then you can judge for yourself if it is worth it. It may be a bit less than that in reality but for practical purposes that is close enough. I would expect it to be similar to the Celestron in image quality. A decent barlow might cost as much or even more. Quality this good usually costs a lot more. I am considering buying another eyepiece, maybe 6mm, and a Barlow, maybe 2x, to give me a wider and higher range of magnification. These are matters of individual preference and budget. But I think you will feel more confident about your purchases and be less likely to be disappointed if you read through the guide. Pentax 10.5mm Eye Piece Excellent Condition (#314374986239) r***d (1910 . Plossl eyepieces are often included in better telescope packages as the starter eyepieces. Combining a cheap eyepiece with a cheap barlow isn't a elegant solution. To determine a magnification range, we will start with the aperture of the telescope, the size of the front lens, or the mirror in the back. In this article, we will only focus on the differences between Plossl and Kellner eyepieces. There is the 56mm Meade Plossl which magically turns my short FL refractors into their own finder scopes. 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. But your point is well taken. Your email address will not be published. It was named after Peter Barlow who invented it in the 1800s, so it is usually capitalized. This design has some advantages over other designs, such as the Kellner eyepiece or Orthoscopic eyepieces. Recall that your lowestpower eyepiece's exit pupil should not exceed 6mm. Number of Lenses. Hi, I have recently bought a Orion XT8 and am trying to work out which eyepieces to add to what is provided with the scope. philhas Members 61 459 Location: North East England The components of a Plossl eyepiece are the two groups of lenses. And certainly, if you are getting into AP you are going to need that big budget. They provide a range of magnifications with one eyepiece. Whether it is cars or telescope eyepieces, there are inexpensive ones, upgraded models, and very expensive ones. Explore Scientific 68 34 mm or ES 82 30 mm would also be good choices at a significantly higher price but with better edge correction. These are the workhorse eyepieces of today. If you want to observe the fine details of a specimen, Plossl eyepiece has a higher magnification than an ocular with lower lenses. Are there any good low-cost 2 EPS out there? To achieve these benefits, they may use special glass and more costly manufacturing. If you want to buy him $200 eyepieces so he can grow into them, that works. There is one aspect in which a Kellner can actually outperform a Plossl: eye relief. Orion Sirius Plossl eyepieces are ideal for any type of telescope; refractor, reflector, or catadioptic. If you are completely new to stargazing, Kellner eyepieces are absolutely fine. Do you need a 10 mm planetary and a 10 mm DSO eyepiece? 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. 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. A Kellner eyepiece has 1 double lens and 1 single lens. Our previous exchange convinced me to start out with an 80mm refractor. 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. Every review suggests replacing the 10mm Kellner eyepiece (and possibly 25mm Kellner) that comes with it. Despite one being fundamentally superior to the other in terms of image correction, Kellners and Plossls are generally quite comparable in terms of the image you actually see. However, some lateral color error is apparent when looking at bright subjects, such as Jupiter or Venus, against a dark sky. 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. 32mm (20x & 40x). Omni 12mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. You can do the calculation which will show that the 70 will have a significantly wider field of view as compared to the 52. Thanks. 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. The Plossl eyepiece is a type of optical system that was invented by Ernst Abbe. These companies rebranded them under their own names. Each eyepiece gives you a unique magnification based on the formula listed at the start: Why do you need more than two eyepieces? The Big Bang Optics also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank and other sites. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide all this information! If you had to choose 1 low-power 2 EP for chasing deep sky objects (again, at 600mm f7.5), what size piece would you go for? I have an SCT and my eyepiece case only hasPlssls (and one Ortho) in it. These and the essentially identical AT Paradigm are universally praised as good quality eyepieces with a wider 60-degree apparent field of view. Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? But some people demand the very best, and it is available, at a price. 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. The "sharpness" you are seeing may well be better explained by the focal length of the ep than the quality of Plossls in general. 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. They are usable, but your eye will be extremely close to the top lens glass. The Celestron Omni Plossl eyepiece range offers a nice entry-level range into the higher quality 4-element Plossl design. Ive added comments on where you may find and use them. The atmosphere is typically the limiting factor as we get to higher magnifications. Interesting points Philip. A four-element eyepiece was made by putting together two achromatic doublets with different focal lengths. I still have it and still use it from time to time. Age is not part of the equation. Very often, those eyepieces will be in the outdated 0.965 format rather than the modern 1.25 or 2 diameter barrel format. condition as described, a good transaction. How important a consideration is this when deciding on an eyepiece? Understanding and using a Barlow Lens And you don't even have to get the full set if you don't want to. As for Barlow Lenses, take a look at this article. This determines how much light the telescope will gather. It costs three to four times as much as the Celestron Zoom, but if you have the budget, this is the one to get. Question: would an 18mm Baader Classic Ortho mostly used for Moon and planets loose sharpness and contrast if used with a short F5 telescope like the Celestron Astro-Fi 130? If you go this route, you can always add single focal length eyepieces along the way to serve specialized purposes. As we go up in price range, we gain capabilities that may not be immediately obvious. SV207 30mm Super Plossl Eyepiece. I had one and sold it. This has nothing to do with your scope or eyepiece. The only one not in the article is the Orion Q70 which is available in 38 mm, 32 mm and 26 mm. When a beginner is choosing eyepieces on a budget, there are a number of possible designs they may choose between. Such eyepieces are able to offer great performance, i.e., satisfactory degrees of deviations, to about a 50.degree field. So you would have to test the set to see the actual result. Now we have a maximum established. You can add the specialty single FL eyepieces later if you wish. 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. All are good eyepieces and diagonals, and would be excellent for star party use. As to a more immersive experience, yes, I would say a wider FOV does provide a more immersive experience. To get the best performance, you have to be willing to pay the price. So we say that an F5 scope benefits from better corrected eyepieces more than the F10 scope. https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-8-24mm-zoom-eyepiece-review/. The magnification and field of view is the same as a 10 mm eyepiece (AFoV being unchanged) in a 600 mm telescope but the eye relief is that of a 30 mm eyepiece. Other brands have joined and have used the Super Plossl label, but they all keep the original 4-piece design. 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. The basic design hasnt changed much, but the real costs of manufacturing have dropped. I also just bought the Celestron Starsense 102mm refractor (650mm focal length, f/6.5) as a first scope for me and my kids. I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. That is a really interesting picture. 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. It should list what size eyepieces you can use. The design uses a planoconvex, two cemented-element eye lens and a large convex field lens. The ES 82s are my favorite eyepieces, especially in the 1.25 format. 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. Plossl eyepiece is one of the reasonable options when it comes to telescope eyepieces for stargazing or astronomy. These are two very important considerations when you are looking for eyepieces. I have used these in my F6 and F5 Dobs and find them a good value for the price. If you feel the need to buy something now, consider this Orion diagonal. Non-eyeglass wearers can usually tolerate Plossls as short as about 10-12mm before their eyelashes start brushing the ocular lens. dnrmilspec is right. These will eventually be used in an 8in dob whenever it arrives. Plossl eyepieces are typically used for observing and viewing things at long distances, but they can also be useful when using a telescope to provide both magnifying power and erecting the images. We will talk more about the field of view later, but note that if you can use 2 eyepieces, you will typically only have one or two for very low power wide field views. These eyepiecesproduce a 'standard apparent feld of view' of between 50 and 56 with most set at around 52. 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. Then set your maximum based on your aperture and split it up. 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, Thanks for your reply, I think I will go for the Orion Q70 . Plossls tend to come with large, ground-standing Dobsonians, whereas youre more likely to find a Kellner sold with a tabletop Dobsonian.

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