Eyepiece Advice

What are the best eyepieces to complement an 8" f/4 Schmidt-Newtonian? I know the fast f/ratio is a big factor...

If you want wide field eyepieces, you just gotta cough up the dough for Panoptic/Nagler/Pentax etc. Even Panoptics are stressed at f4, according to some reports. Cheaper wide field eyepieces are miserable at f4, without exception as far as I can tell - based on their miserable performance in f4.5 instruments I've seen. If widefield isn't so much an issue, high quality plossls or ultima/ultrascopics should be pretty good, although I haven't seen such eyepieces at f4.

A good barlow or a Powermate (highly recommended by me) would be a wise choice, actually. This will effectively make your scope f8 (for a 2x barlow) or f10 (2.5x powermate), and will let you use less-expensive eyepieces with better results.

So, I'd spend big money on a low power eyepiece for use on its own, (24 Panoptic would be a nice choice, IMO), then a Powermate to use with cheaper eyepieces for higher powers. Assuming you aren't made of money and want to go premium all the way.

Brian- a 24mm panoptic and 2.5x powermate would give you a great base. Working effectively at f/10, if cost is a factor you might add a uo12.5mm ortho for planets, and something like a 16mm uo konig, 18mm meade swa or 19mm televue widefield. All can be found on astromart, easily except for the televue, for around $45/60/100/110 respectively. If the seeing and your optics permit, the addition of a 5x powermate would bring the uo12.5 to 50 power per inch of aperture and give you nice views in a very broad range of powers. Hope your skies are clear.