are plossl eyepieces good

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. Since each eye has a different focal point, I suspect pulling the eyepiece out until reaching focus and then tightening the set screw. I have personally tested a few Super Plossl and compared them to their regular counterparts by the same brand. Most people will be fairly comfortable with eye relief of 12 mm or higher. This is a good thing, because normally the shorter the focal length of the eyepiece, the less eye relief you have. What is a Plssl eyepiece? | BBC Sky at Night Magazine Also, note that the pricing is based on 1.25 eyepieces. Those are significantly more expensive than the 1.25 focal lengths. Simple Plosels work well and unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I would start with simple affordable eyepieces. A standard Plossl eyepiece is typically between 20mm to 25mm but can range anywhere from 15mm up to about 40mm in diameter. Are there any good low-cost 2 EPS out there? If you read the article you know how to calculate the magnification and field of view. The Baader offers wider fov, but at quite the price premium. There are some very good choices in this range. 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. Then set your maximum based on your aperture and split it up. I generally use my 40 to search for DSOs so Ill probably replace that one at some point too. Even if the scope comes with the more acceptable Kelner or . Something in the 30 to 38 mm range with a 65 to 70 degree AFOV. Celestron Omni Plossl Eyepiece | First Light Optics Do you think the Baader Hyperion Zoom would work OK with the Skywatcher 150p? Good quality plossl eyepieces - Discussions - Stargazers Lounge Not all are Plossls, but excellent eps at f/10. 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. Are Plossl eyepieces any good? Typically, these will be 25 mm and 10 mm or something close to that. Nothing will stop you from trying to go higher, but in all likelihood, the image will be poor and not worth the cost of eyepieces to achieve it. The Expanse is a lens that provides an extra sharp image, and it also has a wider field of view compared to the Plossl eyepiece. Then you can judge for yourself if it is worth it. I have owned wider eyepieces, but ultimately I just prefer the Plssls (must be a mental defect). The eye relief is the distance between your eyes and the eyepiece where you are able to view the whole image comfortably. Some reviews also suggest replacing the diagonal. I often had to drop back to about 180X because of poor seeing and transparency. So, for your 30 mm, 82/60 = 1.36 degrees. Good 32mm Plssls run around $30-$40. How do you focus - I would have expected helical focusers in the eyepiece holders but don't see any? So, I am going to organize the guide around five questions and four formulas. 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! In general terms, the higher the AFOV number, the more the eyepiece will cost. Sometimes you want to see a wider field of view to locate an astronomical object like a nebula by using nearby stars. I have a variety of eyepieces, including Explore Scientific and Meade 82 degree series so I have choices. The third choice of eyepieces is the Orion 12 mm Sirius Super Wide Angle Correct Image Eyepiece. Astromania 1.25" 4mm Plossl Telescope Eyepiece - amazon.com 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. OHHH, now i get it! Plssl eyepieces are affordable and they're outstanding additions to amateur telescopes. 32 mm = 18.75X12 mm = 50X8 mm = 75X6 mm = 100X4 mm = 150X3 mm = 200X. Even though there are more sophisticated types of EPs, Plossls hit the right spot between high-quality optics and price. The magnification range that is appropriate to your scope. I would recommend the Orion Q70 series over that. Again, it only costs $30 to $40 to find out, so the education is not that expensive. You can do the calculation which will show that the 70 will have a significantly wider field of view as compared to the 52. Not perfect to the edge but better than the Bresser, in my opinion. Now we have a maximum established. Plossl eyepieces are often included in better telescope packages as the starter eyepieces. Kellner Vs Plossl | What's The Difference? - Starry Nova Finally, a wider field of view just makes it easier to find stuff. Features : 5 superior-grade Plossl eyepieces: 1.25-in, 4-element design with a 52 AFOV (32mm has 44)4mm, 6mm, 9mm, 15mm, and 32mm . While eyepieces with relatively complex, proprietary, or bespoke designs are becoming more commonly available in the beginner price bracket, there is often good reason to choose a much simpler design. Dont worry about the math, as its simple stuff you can do with any calculator, on paper, or perhaps in your head. We will use a 100 mm telescope with a 600 mm focal length that only takes 1.25 eyepieces. The Plossl eyepiece is a four-element design consisting of two doublets. This type of design also helps provide for eye relief; its a better experience if your eyes. My Baader Hyperion Zoom is my most used and favorite eyepiece. SVBONY Direct . Elena is a Canadian journalist and researcher. But for the targets requiring higher mag Im still undecided between: This design has some advantages over other designs, such as the Kellner eyepiece or Orthoscopic eyepieces. Celestron 2026 Erecting Prism Barlow Lens Set is another great choice for those looking to get a variety of magnifications. Videos for related products. 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. I would like to know what is best for a 7 year old that would be getting his first telescope. However, i can read very well without my glasses with almost microscopic vision and can use my binoculars without glasses. I wont go into all the types of aberrations that can be there. 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". What's the difference between two Plssl eyepieces? 1.25" Power mates with T ring adapter. But, if you have a plan, you can fill in those slots, working toward a well-balanced set of magnifications. 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. I usually recommend a 32 mm Plossl type eyepiece as that provides about the widest view you can achieve with a 1.25 focuser. For that purpose it is probably easier to find one to borrow. Apparent Field of View: This is a measure of how wide a view the eyepiece will provide as compared to alternate eyepieces. Celestron Telescopes Reviews: Should you buy? - Little Astronomy 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. I loved my Baader Mark-IV 8mm-24mm Zoom+Barlow combo in my 8" EdgeHD. An exit pupil larger than 6 mm may start to show a shadow of the secondary mirror. 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. Nice, thank you again for the additional inputs. Can you help me. Omni 40mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. If money is not a concern, you cant go wrong with Tele Vue eyepieces, any Tele Vue eyepieces. Some of these series also offer 2 eyepieces for telescopes that can accept 2 eyepieces. 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, Excellent article and very good recommendations. I need your advice on it. I dont think so. Differences and Similarities. Goldline Eyepieces - The Definitive Guide - Telescopic Watch Rating (max 5): Plossls are extremely versatile and can be used for all use cases. Again thank you very much for all the information in the page, excellent notes. 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. That is the critical factor. I havent been into the hobby for long but my experience is in line with whats been said. 75-225X, 1.5X Barlow I still have it and still use it from time to time. They offer a 52-degree apparent field with clean, high-contrast images. Can you suggest the total . Now looking for a couple of decent eyepieces. Excellent, thank you for the breakdown, very much appreciated. Despite the narrow field of view and short eye relief, it showed shockingly good views of Saturn, Jupiter, and even the Moon. Imagine you are looking at the moon with each of these eyepieces and consider what you would see. the reality is that today's eyepieces are all quite good, particulalarly in an f/10 telescope. Yes, eyepieces is a large and complex topic. While it covers the same range as the Celestron zoom, it offers better optics, better mechanical operation, and a wider field of view. With regards to budget, whatever works well and is on par with the quality & capability of the telescope. Kellners tend to have narrower apparent fields of view (40 degrees rather than 50 or 52 degrees in a Plossl), and in short focal length telescopes (focal ratio f/5 or shorter) they can have more false color fringing, but for the most part it is hard to notice the difference between a well-made Kellner and a well-made Plossl in terms of image quality. We may earn commissions by recommending products on this website. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-telescope-eyepieces/. Interesting points Philip. Also worth mentioning i wear glasses which I will wear while observing. Ive read reviews about my scope. I just added the 4.7 mm. By default, expect a 40-degree field of view in a Kellner and a 50-52 degree field of view in a Plossl. Orion 12 mm Sirius Super Wide Angle Correct Image Eyepiece has a rubber eyecup that holds in light, which enables you to enjoy this powerful telescope eyepiece at night without glare or reflections from any external sources. Super Plossls offer a smaller field of view, which makes them good for close-up views and examining small objects. Customer reviews Average Rating (16 Reviews): Write a Review and share your opinions! I often recommend the 2 in this series as excellent low-power wide view eyepieces, especially in scopes at focal ratios below F8. The quality of a Plossl eyepiece completely depends on the brand and model, so be very careful in our selection. If we want to get VERY specific to a combination then inherent aberrations of this scope and that eyepiece could produce a unique result. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. And, in general terms, the higher the AFOV, the harder it is to make an eyepiece that will present a good image all across the field of view, which also drives up the cost. Why not go back to the people who sold you the scope and get their help. And you don't even have to get the full set if you don't want to. 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. 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. However, for your extra money you get the finest manufacture, the best polish and coatings available. The design of a Plossl eyepiece consists of an objective lens with one side that is convex (wider than its length) while the other side is plano-convex or flat in shape. In that respect, they are similar to the Explore Scientific 82 degree mentioned earlier. As we continue, what would you recommend adding first? Thanks, Angelo M. You picked a great first scope. In the world of eyepieces, when you want the very best, turn to Tele Vue, but be prepared to pay a truly premium price. That's hard to beat IMO. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. . Can You See The ISS With A Telescope? (often referred to as Pseudo Masuyama). Or we say that F10 would be easier or less demanding on the eyepiece than the F5. The larger barrel allows them to create an eyepiece with a higher AFOV. In my opinion, there are no wrong exit pupils. If you were considering a Meade Super Plossl, in that case just get the regular one also by Meade. Though not the Meade. Of course, the entire eyepiece must be manufactured and finished correctly to realize the design's full potential. The Plossl's are very easy to modify, allowing me to use the bino-viewer on, all my refracting telescopes without having to cut down the tube length, p.s. Sony A7III vs A7RIII Astrophotography: Which One to Shoot Infinity! 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. 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. I must also warn you that some of these bad Plossls may actually turn out to be worse than any run-of-the-mill Kellner. And since this article is intended as an aid to beginners rather than a rigorous optics lesson, I think the context I provided works well enough. We have compared Plossl against Kellner eyepieces in a previous article. Generally, dont mess around with solar projection unless youre okay with damaging the instrument. My own lineup (with a C8) is 32mm Plossl, 18.2mm DeLite, and 10.5mm Pentax (the last one not chosen to match, but rather because it belonged to a deceased friend). One learns by observing. 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. Kellner eyepieces work perfectly with small and medium-sized telescopes. 14 = 128 = .6 I have Celestron and the Baader Hyperion. A zoom eyepiece works like the zoom lens on a camera. A 10mm or shorter Plssl is probably not worth it unless you want to see how you personally cope with short eye relief. This design features 4 lenses that are paired in two close-set doublets for the eye lens and the field lens. It also gives the widest possible exit pupil in my dob and SCT, very handy when using nebula filters. 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. Their 50 to 52 degree AFOV is wide enough for general observing. As for Barlow Lenses, take a look at this article. 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. I think some of these kits even include 4mm eyepieces, and thats ridiculous! I am a BIG fan of zoom eyepieces, especially if you dont have many. If you are a glasses wearer and plan to keep your glasses on while you are observing, then you will likely want eyepieces with at least 17 mm of eye relief, and some glasses wearers prefer at least 20 mm. Press Esc to cancel. Generally, Plssl eyepieces are best suited to Newtonian and fast telescopes. They are also really sharp. Most modern telescopes use a focuser, or diagonal, that accepts 1.25 eyepieces. They are all made by the same OEM manufacturer. I dont have a specific diagonal to recommend and I am not aware of any specific issues with the one that is included with the 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. To get the best performance, you have to be willing to pay the price. A Plossl eyepiece has a lens thats plano-convex, which means it is flat on one side and convex on the other. It was grueling, because I couldnt even get the entire field of viewI had to keep my eye hovering above the exit pupil. If well made, Plossls are bright, with good contrast, and a flat field, and excellent sharpness. The 66-degree AFOV of the Gold Line series provides a 32% wider field than Plossl eyepieces. But you may only be able to achieve that rarely. The category is over $300 and some of these are way over $300. Optics manufacturers began selling and popularizing Plossl eyepieces, albeit with a generally simplified design where each achromatic doublet had the same focal length. And, the quality of the eyepiece clearly comes into play here. Hi - I bought these from another AM'er 1 year or so back, thinking I will get into visual astro, But never found the inclination, So here it is for sale 9mm Nagler type 6 mint with box and caps,16mm Nagler type 5,optics are exc. I must say Im quite confused about eyepieces. There is the 56mm Meade Plossl which magically turns my short FL refractors into their own finder scopes. As we go along, I will refer back to these, so dont worry if you cant answer the questions or understand the formulas now. 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 . Omni 15mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. Aspheric eyepiece is a variation of Plossl design, it has an anti-reflection coating on the front glass surface to ensure maximum light transmission and will also provide your instrument with better quality images if you need higher magnification levels. Here we have very good eyepieces with some extra features. So, I think it worth your while to try the Plssls. Pentax K-70 Astrophotography: The Ultimate Camera on a Budget! Newer multi-coatings are better, I suppose, but newer does not always mean better in the ocular game. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase. The combination of high-quality optics and accessible prices have made them the favorite design for amateur astronomers and even professionals. Read our full affiliate disclosure here. Even if you did need a 4mm focal length (for high powers in an f/4 telescope, of course), neither a Kellner nor a Plossl would have long enough eye relief for that to be comfortably usable! 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. 2019-2023 Little Astronomy. By having a range of magnifications, you can optimize the image, which means you need more eyepieces. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Celestron 2026 Erecting Prism Barlow Lens Set is well suited as an astronomical viewing lens kit or for enjoying terrestrial sights like nature walks, sporting events, and more! In High School, they told me that F=MA In college I learned that F=dp/dt But F=MA works well enough for most situations and that is how I think of it. In the next section, we will talk about the AFOV of an eyepiece. 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. It sounds cool, they must be better than regular Plossls with that name, right? Plossl eyepieces have 4 lenses that are paired in two doublets. Typically a Barlow does not add or subtract from this, but there again we have bad Barlows and Good Barlows. Have Any Astronauts Been Lost in Space Forever. 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. They also improve a bit when it comes to eye relief. In the beginning, you are not going to know what the atmospheric conditions might be in your area. Skywatcher SP Plossl lenses - Discussions - Stargazers Lounge ES 82 degree series plus 1 meade uwa @20 mm with 1800 focal length optical tube lowest mag 51 x / highest mag 300. The Big Bang Optics is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Put the zoom on the Barlow for the high range. These are exceptional eyepieces, and only available on the used market nowadays. 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.) a Celestron 8-24 Zoom with a 2x Barlow The price ranges we show here are the typical prices. You can buy a range of these from Modern Astronomy. 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. I was looking on a OPT website and they have celestron 32mm and 15mm plossl. very happy. 1:10 . The views through it are very impressive, and it always amazes me when I get that one out. I have an SCT and my eyepiece case only hasPlssls (and one Ortho) in it. 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. They deliver sharp images in almost all telescopes. No surprise there. With a 130mm-F5 I would use a Plossl 32mm for its low-mag-wide-view. Orion SkyQuest XT8 Intelliscope Review I really enjoy usingPlssls. Note that the price categories are approximate, as prices can vary between retailers. New and used eyepieces + 2 diagonals - Updated However, Orion has managed to make one that is quite compatible with most styles of telescope. Come join the newest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors. In essence the design differences between Kellner and Plossl comes down to the number of lenses within the eyepiece barrel. 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. I have since moved up to a 12 Dob but I use the same eyepieces and the BH Zoom continues to be my most used. Some experience with Baader Aspheric 31mm/36mm? - Eyepieces - Cloudy Nights For what it's worth: I believe the Omni 1.25 inch 2x Barlow is one of the Shorty Barlows manufactured by GSO. What should one opt for a 2 EP over a 1.25? i dont have 1 of everything, and i bought the best i could afford on a low budget; meade and orion.