Best Contrast Eyepieces

What's are my best choices for eyepieces in the CONTRAST department?

It probably depends on what you are using them with Some optics complement the total "train" better than others. However, some factors that influence diffusion are: the number of lens to air surfaces; and, the effect of the coating on each of these surfaces. So in general less lens elements and/or superior coatings help make high contrast. Also lens surface quality. I put this in a seperate category as some manufactures produce such a fine glass finish (leitz ans some zeiss to name a few) that they don't use normal coatings as they can't get the same quality surface. So what does it all mean. The old standby ortho has few glass to air surfaces and if produced by a quality manufacture and/or with good coatings will have great contrast. Personally My opinion is that Erfles produce the best contrast even though they have one extra interface, however, I primairly use them with long focal length scopes. Erfles tend to have coma distortion at the edges although the newer designs have overcome this. Vernon Scope (Brandon) EP are high quailty Erfles and have super conrtast qualities. There are gives and gets to every design and it would take a book to get into everything to consider. My $.02

Michael, please keep a watchful eye on Astrophysics, TMB and TEC. They're all slated to introduce finest planetary eyepiece to the marketplace, hopefully in time for Mars. I believe the goals of each of this effort is to best today's very best!

Ron B[ee]

Take a look at this article by Roland Cristen

http://voltaire.csun.edu/roland/coating.html

The best that I've ever used are the Zeiss Abbe orthos but we all know that story I suppose.

Dave Mitsky