I have seen wider-field Plossls. The category is over $300 and some of these are way over $300. FOR SALE! Kellner vs Plossl - Comparison table. In simple terms, high focal ratio scopes, say those over F6, tend to be less demanding on eyepieces than those below F6. This gives us more flexibility at the low end of the magnification range. Combining a cheap eyepiece with a cheap barlow isn't a elegant solution. If we look at the range I provided above, we see that we could replace several eyepieces with one zoom. If you want to observe the fine details of a specimen, Plossl eyepiece has a higher magnification than an ocular with lower lenses. However, some lateral color error is apparent when looking at bright subjects, such as Jupiter or Venus, against a dark sky. All focal lengths offer 50 field-of-view except the 40mm which offers 42 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). Conclusion. Again, this is more noticeable in lower focal ratio scopes. The tradeoff was that each lens surface added another internal reflection, reducing contrast and adding glare. They also offer a generous 16 mm of eye relief which is most important in the shorter focal lengths. Here we focus on becoming a knowledge hub for astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. Also worth mentioning i wear glasses which I will wear while observing. Can you suggest the total . The design uses a planoconvex, two cemented-element eye lens and a large convex field lens. How you divide up your magnification range is up to you. So you ended up with: Most people will be fairly comfortable with eye relief of 12 mm or higher. Regular Plossl eyepieces with maybe just a slightly better coating or build quality. Great article on eyepieces but I am still undecided exactly what eyepiece & Barlow to buy and from where since some buying sites dont provide all the info you cite in your article. I havent been into the hobby for long but my experience is in line with whats been said. I am considering buying another eyepiece, maybe 6mm, and a Barlow, maybe 2x, to give me a wider and higher range of magnification. I usually recommend a 32 mm Plossl type eyepiece as that provides about the widest view you can achieve with a 1.25 focuser. Other brands have joined and have used the Super Plossl label, but they all keep the original 4-piece design. 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. The Plossl is a good all-around eyepiece design, is well suited for generic use and is relatively inexpensive to make. 130 mm scope will have a max of 260X for planning purposes. Best suited for telescopes with f-ratios f6 or slower. As a result, this can cause aberrations in the image as you move from the center of the view toward the edges. So plan this into such a purchase. Kellner eyepieces have 3 lenses cemented together and have a 35-50 degree field of view. My Meade 4000 56 and 60 degree Meade Plossls are pretty sharp to my eyes and do pretty well for me. All are good eyepieces and diagonals, and would be excellent for star party use. 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. I recommend it often to beginners on a tight budget. I think some of these kits even include 4mm eyepieces, and thats ridiculous! They have a narrow AFOV but have a reputation for being very sharp.. These eyepieces are technically called Symmetrics, since Plossls can have different focal lengths for each doublet, but they are always marketed as Plossl. You can use the same eyepiece on planets and deep-sky objects (DSOs). The views through it are very impressive, and it always amazes me when I get that one out. 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. But the longer FL units are certainly useful. 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.) As we go up in price range, we gain capabilities that may not be immediately obvious. 6mm Kellner eyepiece that I enjoyed a lot. A zoom eyepiece works like the zoom lens on a camera. Good value. 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. Warranty Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. I once had to use a 6mm Plossl to attempt to perform a star-test collimation for a telescope at the observatory. 600 mm / 200X = 3 mm This will be the focal length of our highest power eyepiece. But what are the other differences? As we continue, what would you recommend adding first? i still use the binos. I am going to use 6. Quality this good usually costs a lot more. I also really liked my E-Lux 32mm, a Kellner. 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. a breath of fresh air! If you go this route, you can always add single focal length eyepieces along the way to serve specialized purposes. The downside to this type of lens is that they can cause chromatic aberration which creates colored spots around bright objects such as planets or stars due to the different wavelengths not going through equally. I beleive this is the same as they ones you asked about. What diameter eyepieces will my telescope accept? thanks for all your help. Such eyepieces are able to offer great performance, i.e., satisfactory degrees of deviations, to about a 50.degree field. No surprise there. In general terms, the higher the AFOV number, the more the eyepiece will cost. 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. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. 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. There are three types of Plossl eyepiece: the regular, Super, and Orthoscopic. On the inside, they are exactly the same design. A 6mm Plossl has a tiny eye lens. 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. 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. Free shipping for many products! We enjoy binoculars for the moon, but having never looked through another telescope, my kids and I do not know what internal reflection, ghosting, vignettes, or diffraction spikes look like! You can accomplish a longer eye relief by barlowing a longer f/l plossl, so that is something to think about as well. Then set your maximum based on your aperture and split it up. I have personally tested a few Super Plossl and compared them to their regular counterparts by the same brand. 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. Kellner eyepieces were first designed by Carl Kellner in 1849. Between $100 and $250, I will call it mid-range. is pretty forgiving of eyepiece faults and a wide variety of eyepiece designs will work just fine in it. For what it is worth, a slow scope like your CPC9.25 (f/10?) I havent addressed .965 eyepieces in the recommendations. Now we have a maximum established. If you want to buy him $200 eyepieces so he can grow into them, that works. https://telescopicwatch.com/best-barlow-lens-and-how-to/, Celestron 8-24 Zoom Review In this article, we will only focus on the differences between Plossl and Kellner eyepieces. A long eye relief is also important for those who wear eyeglasses at the eyepiece, whether thats a member of the general public at a star party or an astronomer with astigmatism, which, unlike near- or far-sightedness, cannot be corrected with the telescopes own focuser. It also gives the widest possible exit pupil in my dob and SCT, very handy when using nebula filters. For example, if you put a 30 mm eyepiece in a 3X Barlow, it will triple the magnification you get from that eyepiece. 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. Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. It is pretty much worth it for everyone that has a telescope with a 1.25 inch focuser to have a 32mm Plssl. So, I am going to organize the guide around five questions and four formulas. I think you will love it! I already got the 10mm super wide because of the added eye relief but at 15mm both have the same eye relief. 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. https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-8-24mm-zoom-eyepiece-review/. This eyepiece was even better at correcting false color fringing, but because of internal reflections, the glare was even worse. To get the best performance, you have to be willing to pay the price. Well-made lenses are expensive though, so in general the more lenses, the higher the price of the eyepiece. In the world of eyepieces, when you want the very best, turn to Tele Vue, but be prepared to pay a truly premium price. Nice, thank you again for the additional inputs. When a beginner is choosing eyepieces on a budget, there are a number of possible designs they may choose between. Hi Ed, Any 1.25 eyepiece will work with the BH Zoom 2 adapter. The only reason it's in this list because of its price and a long focal point. If your focuser/diagonal only accepts 1.25 eyepieces, I would recommend you use a 32mm as your longest focal length, lowest power eyepiece. However, the BH Zoom is by far my most used eyepiece. With an f/10 telescope, Plossls are as sharp as any other kind of eyepiece of the same focal length. SV207 30mm Super Plossl Eyepiece. Because some objects look better at low power, some at medium power, some at high power, and some at very high power. You can enjoy wide-angle views without giving up any of the clarity or sharpness when using Plossl eyepiece while Kellner will give you more magnified views but at less than half the brightness levels in comparison to other lens designs on this list if light pollution was involved. Goldline series of eyepieces provides the best value in this price range, better than Plossls. I wont go into all the types of aberrations that can be there. Whether it is cars or telescope eyepieces, there are inexpensive ones, upgraded models, and very expensive ones. 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. A couple of them felt fancier, but the jump in performance was either insignificant or non-existent. Plossl eyepiece is one of the reasonable options when it comes to telescope eyepieces for stargazing or astronomy. If you stumble the first few uses, dont be discouraged. Your email address will not be published. You can find the eyepieces I use and recommend in this article. but the meat of the article is about understanding the considerations and specifications to know when selecting eyepieces. Read our full affiliate disclosure here. Most of Celestrons entry-level telescopes are sold with Kellners (and other cheap but reasonable-quality designs like RKEs or Konigs), whereas their more expensive SCTs tend to come with a single 25mm Plossl. At shorter focal lengths they have less eye relief, and at all focal lengths they have a narrower field of view, than newer types. 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. Its quite long but that is what we are aiming for and hopefully, it was useful to you. Be aware of the focal ratio of your scope. Also, children do not often have highly developed motor skillsso I would avoid the frustration of switching out eyepieces, and consider a zoom lens. Disclosure - If you buy something via our link, we may earn a commission with no additional expense to you. As you learn more about astronomy and you gain more experience with time, you may want to move to Plossls or even higher-quality eyepieces. I often recommend it. As to a more immersive experience, yes, I would say a wider FOV does provide a more immersive experience. For planetary viewing, comfort is essential in helping to increase viewing time . In stargazing, eyepieces are as important as telescopes are. I do not miss beating my eyelashes against a 9.7mm Meade Plossl that I used to own. . At this point, a Plossl and a Kellner are so close in price and performance that you may as well get the Plossl. I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. Another really helpful article, Ed. 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. These are often compared to the higher priced offerings. Thus the 30 mm eyepiece in a 600 mm telescope produces 600/30 = 20X magnification while with the Barlow, we have 1800/30 = 60X. Again, does it create a more immersive viewing experience? There is one aspect in which a Kellner can actually outperform a Plossl: eye relief. 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. Pentax 10.5mm Eye Piece Excellent Condition (#314374986239) r***d (1910 . And new proprietary designs come out from time to time. In terms of eyepieces, my best advice is provided in the article. Kellner and Plossl- both are two different types of eyepieces for telescopes. You are talking about the technical details of how a Barlow works, and I agree. A 32mm plossl eyepiece and a 2x barlow lens should be enough to give you a good range of eyepieces for every use case. And remember, when all else fails, read the instructions. 5-Minute Read, How To Increase The Magnification Of A Telescope; 5-Minute Read. Stargazing Help is a participant in Amazon Associates program. About Us | Privacy Policy | ContactLittle Astronomy 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. I want these as possible as wide, magnification and astrophotography purpose. These eyepieces have about 35 to 50 degrees apparent fields of view and reasonable eye relief, though quite short for high magnifications. As the clear cut worlds best eyepiece manufacturer, their name should at least be mentioned in an article like this. These tend to run toward the more expensive price range. In 1849, Carl Kellner invented the Kellner eyepiece, which is essentially a Ramsden eyepiece where one lens has been replaced with an achromatic doublet made of two different types of glass. I really like the simplicity and compactness of these simpler designs (ie: Plssls, Orthos, Kellners, etc). There are some very good choices in this range. We often end up spending more on eyepieces than we did on the telescope. Brilliant article and I thank you for it, I was literally really confused prior to reading it. It includes two high-magnification Plossl eyepieces and five lower magnification zoom oculars with an adjustable focus in the kit. The Plossl has good color correction plus is free of the ghost images that plague the Kellner. No results, please adjust your filters. I would recommend the Baader Hyperion Zoom for any telescope. 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. 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. 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. Are there any good low-cost 2 EPS out there? 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. Non-eyeglass wearers can usually tolerate Plossls as short as about 10-12mm before their eyelashes start brushing the ocular lens. What focal length eyepieces should I buy? Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? A 15mm Plssl might be worth it, if you dont wear glasses. I often recommend the use of a barlow to achieve the higher range of magnifications. 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. For the $66/$42 of these kits, you can get one or two decent eyepieces (depending on where you buy). The atmosphere is typically the limiting factor as we get to higher magnifications. These and the essentially identical AT Paradigm are universally praised as good quality eyepieces with a wider 60-degree apparent field of view. There are so many others at comparable or higher prices, many of which are quite good and some rather poor. 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. You can do the calculation which will show that the 70 will have a significantly wider field of view as compared to the 52. This is where the second formula comes into play. Better edge correction with a short-focus telescope is one of the things you pay extra money for, and sophisticated eyepiece designs have as many as eight elements. However, I have eyepieces with much smaller exit pupils and they work fine. 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. Stargazinghelp.com is a knowledge hub for professional and amateur astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. The Wiki article(s) were very good if anyone else is confused. It is all about your budget, your goals, and your objectives, as outlined in the article. However, some eyepieces have an eye relief as short as 5 mm. Apparent Field of View: This is a measure of how wide a view the eyepiece will provide as compared to alternate eyepieces. Offering a wide 43 apparent field of view, this 40mm Orion Sirius Plossl Telescope Eyepiece provides extremely sharp images of impressively high contrast. The Plossl optical design is very good for long and medium focal length eyepieces, delivering a sharp, flat field and an apochromatic image. 2. This also makes them more resistant to any form of dust getting inside the eyepiece. For that purpose it is probably easier to find one to borrow. Omni 12mm Eyepiece - 1.25" Learn More. I also just bought the Celestron Starsense 102mm refractor (650mm focal length, f/6.5) as a first scope for me and my kids. Am I correct? Plus the FOV expands as you zoom to the higher powers. Some brands will add better lens coating, darker edges, or a higher quality case to their Super Plossl products, but strictly for performance, there isnt a difference between the two. A 32mm Plssl is worth it. I dont think so. Hello sir, thanks for your article its realy helpful. Many approach the quality of the premium brands. Good 32mm Plssls run around $30-$40. I am looking for as much as best I can buy. The larger barrel allows them to create an eyepiece with a higher AFOV. I can recommend these with confidence. that I could slide into my telescope and look at. Lets just say that once you get below F5, it is really hard for the eyepiece to deliver a clean image to the edge. Le migliori offerte per Celestron 1,25 pollici Omni Plossl telescopio astronomico britannico 32 mm J8R6 sono su eBay Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati Molti articoli con consegna gratis! This is not a hard and fast rule, just a cautionary note. I agree. Note that as we get into the higher magnifications, the millimeter jumps between eyepiece focal lengths gets smaller.