Thank you so much for taking the time to provide all this information! Us big kids like zooms too. This might contain more of what you need. Correct image diagonals are easier for beginners and they are great for using the scope during the day, but experience people dont use them for astronomy. It may very well last you a lifetime and in the long term, you will definitely consider it to be a worthwhile investment. Their 50 to 52 degree AFOV is wide enough for general observing. While it covers the same range as the Celestron zoom, it offers better optics, better mechanical operation, and a wider field of view. I have owned wider eyepieces, but ultimately I just prefer the Plssls (must be a mental defect). 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. I would suggest you also get a 2 low power wide view. 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. The Plossl eyepiece has 4 lenses, consisting of 2 identical double lenses. I often recommend it. Plossl eyepieces are perfect for astronomical viewing because the field of view is wider. You can read a thorough review of Goldline eyepieces here. 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. I agree with your comment on zooms for kids. The ES 82s are my favorite eyepieces, especially in the 1.25 format. But the difference in price to get to the next level is high, and the performance difference may be small. But for the targets requiring higher mag Im still undecided between: For your application and the eyepieces you have or are going to get, you really dont need anything else. Kellner eyepieces work perfectly with small and medium-sized telescopes. It costs three to four times as much as the Celestron Zoom, but if you have the budget, this is the one to get. Explore Scientific recently extended this offering by adding a series of 82 degree eyepieces labeled LER, or Long Eye Relief. I am looking for as much as best I can buy. As for tabletop scopes, dont forget that you need a table, stool, or bench to place them. There is always more to learn but it helps if you go in with a good base understanding, and that was my goal. the reality is that today's eyepieces are all quite good, particulalarly in an f/10 telescope. 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. Lets take a look. And, the quality of the eyepiece clearly comes into play here. All are good eyepieces and diagonals, and would be excellent for star party use. Many thanks. 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. Number of Lenses. Are Plossl eyepieces good? 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. Scott. This will give you a lower power and a medium to high power eyepiece, depending on the focal length of your scope. Plssl eyepieces are good all-around performers, producing sharp images at the center of the field, but they have only four lens elements. 2019-2023 Little Astronomy. Plossl eyepieces have wider fields of view than Kellners. I do not miss beating my eyelashes against a 9.7mm Meade Plossl that I used to own. These are the workhorse eyepieces of today. I did sell them all when I adopted Dioptrx, and the Naglers are amazing! Its made up of four lenses in two groups. This is my all-time favorite eyepiece and the one I use more than all the others put together. Not everything in the sky benefits from high magnification. The Big Bang Optics was started because of our love for astronomy and to help others like us find the best telescope and accessories. I really like the simplicity and compactness of these simpler designs (ie: Plssls, Orthos, Kellners, etc). It is all about your budget, your goals, and your objectives, as outlined in the article. Celestron 2026 Erecting Prism Barlow Lens Set is another great choice for those looking to get a variety of magnifications. For what it's worth: I believe the Omni 1.25 inch 2x Barlow is one of the Shorty Barlows manufactured by GSO. You can buy a range of these from Modern Astronomy. I have four telescopes, but I use the same eyepieces in all of them. However, some eyepieces have an eye relief as short as 5 mm. These "other" ones I speak of, aren't technically that, they are a 5 element eyepiece, of a different design. Understanding and using a Barlow Lens Jupiter and Saturn are low in the sky now. They are all 4-element Plossl eyepieces, and most have a 52-degree field of view that is common to the Plossl design. And of course, NEVER look through a telescope pointed at the sun that does not have a safe solar filter covering the front. Omni 32mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. If you were considering a Meade Super Plossl, in that case just get the regular one also by Meade. Why not go back to the people who sold you the scope and get their help. I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. The Big Bang Optics also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank and other sites. Note that many cheap eyepieces promise a wide AFOV but deliver a view with a lot of distortion or aberration as you move away from the center of the field of view. Most people prefer the wider TFOV. 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". The design uses a planoconvex, two cemented-element eye lens and a large convex field lens. Plossl eyepiece is good for astronomy and microscopy. But, if you have a plan, you can fill in those slots, working toward a well-balanced set of magnifications. 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. That is up to you and your budget. Also, as the apparent field of view gets wider, the image will require more correction. 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. Generally, to maximize the number of stars you see in an eyepiece with a given telescope, both the magnification and field of view should be maximized. Super Plossls offer a smaller field of view, which makes them good for close-up views and examining small objects. (Svbonys Plossls, for example, are optically identical to Orions Sirius Plossls). We may earn commissions by recommending products on this website. They are also good for those who have astigmatism because they are designed to be more forgiving with eye placement. They are just OK, but I dont recommend them, especially in a low focal ratio scope. Orion SkyQuest XT8 Intelliscope Review I have Celestron and the Baader Hyperion. Ideally, you want a minimum of three eyepieces for (1) low power (2) peak visual acuity and (3) high-power viewing. 1200 mm FL scope / 10 mm FL eyepiece = 120X, 40 degree AFOV / 120X = .33 degrees (less than 1 full moon wide), 60 degree AFOV / 120X = .5 degree FOV (about one full moon with no space around it), 82 degree AFOV / 120X = .68 degree FOV (about one full moon with a star field around it to frame it). I took notes and now can shop with confidence Not really. Lets illustrate with an example using a 1200 mm FL telescope. This number can range from 30 degrees to 120 degrees. I can say that most of my plossls have been replaced by other eyepieces for various reasons. So its best for use during duller times when there isnt much brightness visible. While I also have the Baader Hyperion Zoom, mentioned later, I continue to make use of the Celestron, especially in my smaller scopes. Plossl eyepiece is one of the reasonable options when it comes to telescope eyepieces for stargazing or astronomy. Be aware of the focal ratio of your scope. short answer: yes. I have used both Kellner & Plossl eyepieces and a few others, and I can tell you that they all are quite different from each other in terms of the quality of the image that they produce. The field of view of a p Plossl eyepiece is typically 60 to 120 degrees. But are they really? Field of view, is about finding, framing, drift time, and context. Would a higher magnification eyepiece help do you think or am I already pushing my telescope (XT8) to highest sensible magnification I can with BH zoom on setting 8mm and 2x Barlow? I am going to use 6. There are three types of Plossl eyepiece: the regular, Super, and Orthoscopic. As new anti-reflection coatings were developed, it became possible to actually make use of complex lens arrangements (not just in relatively simple 4-element systems but also in convoluted, extreme wide-field eyepieces such as the TeleVue Nagler). They have decent eye relief and little curvature of field. Sorry but I am not offering a configuration and pricing service. With your glasses on, you simply cant get your eye close enough to an eyepiece that only has 10 mm of eye relief. However, the BH Zoom is by far my most used eyepiece. This eyepiece was even better at correcting false color fringing, but because of internal reflections, the glare was even worse. There are inexpensive adapters that will let you use standard 1.25 eyepieces in a .965 focuser/diagonal. 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. This eye piece provides the maximum true field of view in the 1.25 inch format. The Hexagon Zoom Eyepiece is made from durable plastic material that resists scratching and it has an eye relief distance of 15mm. . As the clear cut worlds best eyepiece manufacturer, their name should at least be mentioned in an article like this. Optics manufacturers began selling and popularizing Plossl eyepieces, albeit with a generally simplified design where each achromatic doublet had the same focal length. You can accomplish a longer eye relief by barlowing a longer f/l plossl, so that is something to think about as well. If you have a longer focal length telescope, your shortest focal length eyepiece will be a higher number than what I have shown here. You can email me also. It also was considerably more expensive. I really enjoy usingPlssls. I just ordered Hyperion 13mm and 21mm but I really like how sharp and crisp view is in plossl 40mm. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. If you are on a strict budget, this is a good choice as a zoom eyepiece. And you don't even have to get the full set if you don't want to. But, at least get the 32mm Plssl. Some include: Parks Gold Series, Celestron Ultima's, Meade Series 4000 Super Plssls (depending on year / origin / style) and a few others that I don't remember. The "sharpness" you are seeing may well be better explained by the focal length of the ep than the quality of Plossls in general. It has made learning the Constellations and star-hopping more fun and engaging for my whole family exactly what I was hoping for. For visual use, 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X Barlow lenses are common. This is a fairly inexpensive zoom that I wanted to try. 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. Tip Its almost always cheaper to buy directly from Agena Astro. You use the 8-24 zoom for the midrange. 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. All the rest will likely be 1.25. But for AP you should really start your planning with the mount.