Quality EP's

OK...for years I've used Meade stock Plossls and also the stock Plossls from Orion.

I've come to the conclusion that my view for the past 10 years has basically sucked because of my cheap eyepieces. My Meade Plossls were alright I guess...nothing to brag about, but usable (I sold them off along with a ton of other accessories), a mistake on my part, as my current stock Orion Plossls are downright terrible.

I've got a wide field scope and an 8" SCT. I feel they are both decent scopes but since the OTA itself is meant for collecting light, the "business" end of the scope (the EP's) seem to be the one place where one should not scrimp on quality.

I feel that the EP's are where I should really be sticking my money so I'm wondering...If I could have only 2 EP's and only two (with a barlow)...Which ones are the BEST EP's one could get for around $100-$150 each?

I'm mainly looking into getting one around 25mm and one around 10mm. With a Barlow (and what would be the best barlow as well???) I would effectively be getting 4 quality EP's (25mm, 12.5mm, 10mm, and 5mm).

What are the best two EP's on the market for around $100-$150 each? I'm tired of my view suffering from "average" EP's.

I've looked into Televues...and I've seen the Televue Plossl's for around $100. I can't afford the Panoptics or the Radians (although I'd love to have them).

If you could only have two, which ones are "must have"???

Hi Mark --
You're right to go after better quality eyepieces. I regularly use a Meade 24.5 SWA and a Nagler 9mm (type 1) and enjoy the views every time. Used but in very good condition each would be close to your upper end dollars.
Good luck. Persevere.

Bob Polcyn

Hey Mark;

Before spending more $$ and finding you were close to there already. I would strongly urge you attend a local star party (if they are available to you). With Mars mania they have some momentum and seasoned users I would hope would let you observe thru various brands. You might be surprised how much you do have to spend to see an overwhelming difference.

Good luck!

WHY do you feel your view has sucked? WHY do you think the eyepieces are to blame? What scenario(s) and/or experience(s) led you to believe this?

Not doubting you -- just wondering about the basis of your conclusion.

Best wishes.
-Dan

Can you join a club nearby? Using an ep before you guy it can be sxtremely enlightening. Eyepieces are much more subjective than I had ever thought. Figured I could just buy it on the specs. Not. Also, what one guy likes, another may hate. UO orthos are always near the top of many planetary observers list, so I snagged a pair for my binoviewers. I never thought that the 45 deg AFOV could be so clinical. I feel as though I am completely detached from the object. For me, that is a show stopper.

So, try before you buy will save you a lot money.

Clear skies,

Tom

I don't know which Meade plossls you had, but I'll say that in direct comparisons, I've found the orig. Japanese Meade Series 4000 plossls to be the best bang for the buck in the 32mm-12.4mm range. When I started in this hobby I thought I wanted the best plossls I could get, and so I got a collection of TV Plossls. Then, one night, I got to try some Meade Super Plossls and was totally convinced that they were both brighter and offered better eye relief than the comparable TV plossls. So, I sold off all the TV plossls and have been buying Japanese Meade Super Plossls ever since. Currently, I've got them in 32mm, 26mm, 15mm, 12.4mm and soon 9.7mm. Because the Japanese version of these was replaced on the market with the slightly less desireable Chinese or Taiwanese versions, you've got to hunt for the Japanese ones used. That usually means you can get them for around $50/ea. (except for the 32mm, which is usually a bit higher at around $65 or so.) These are in a whole different performance category than the series 3000 and lesser plossls. Technically, the Meade Super Plossls aren't really plossls, but are 4-5 element e.p.s that border on "designer glass" territory.

Mark, you don't mention the focal length of your scope, but a couple of Japanese Super Plossls in 26mm & 15mm & a 2.8x Klee barlow, or perhaps the 26mm & 12.4mm & Orion Shorty Plus 2x barlow would fit my idea of a good starting point (& perhaps ending point!). Personally, I prefer barlowed combinations like that to the UO orthos & their clones. I used to have a few of those, but didn't care for the short eyerelief and narrow FOVs.

IMO, to really substantially improve on the Meade S.P.s one has to get into the designer glass category, which doesn't seem to even start until one is well over your $150 mark.

Mike Swaim