Help on buying set of Eyepieces for DSO

I need the opinion of those who know.I also hope that someone will be able to help me decide and enlighten about which ser to buy. Being 49 and starting seriously with astronomy at this age has its problems, one of them being afraid of making the wrong choice.

I'm planning on buying a set of 2 or 3 DSO parafocal eyepieces. I don't want to buy junk but because of some financial difficulties I can only buy between the brackets of €100 and €200 in Portugal. I'm portuguese. If the price goes just a little higher it's ok, but i'd rather it not. I'll buy one at a time and it is very important to me that their field of view is 68º or higher.

I also have to say that I'm planning on changing ny 8" newtonian for a 10" or for the new Mak-Newt from Skywatcher (if I have the €€€). I will always keep to the relatively medium/high apertures (8"/10" - maybe one day 12"). I can't find a 10" Schmidt- Newt OTA anywhere. All of them come with a Meade mount. I have a EQ6 Goto from Skywatcher and I first tried to get a 12" OTA with short focal length (1200mm) but the only one on the market is from the excellent Brittish Orion Optics - 12"/1200mm/f4 - but it is a bit too pricey and I heard that they take a long time to deliver. It as also a problem to ship to Portugal. (very expensive and if there is some problem you have to ship back or waito months for the repair) a pity.

I also want to keep a fast focal ratio so that later on I can do some astrophotography with a modified Canon 40D... much later on...

These are the 2" eyepieces that I've been looking at and I'm full of doubts. So that's why I'm asking the specialists opinions (I believe they're all parafocal but I'm not sure):

-Skywatcher PanaView 2" - (26mm + 32mm + 38mm)

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=Skywatcher_PanaView

-Skywatcher Aero ED SWA 2" - (30mm + 35mm + 40mm)

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=sw_aero_eyepiece

-William Optics SWAN Rich-Field - (25mm + 33mm + 40mm)

http://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/Catalogue/William_Optics_SWAN_Eyepieces.html

-Orion Q70 2" Super-Wide Angle - (26mm + 32mm + 38mm)

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=eyepieces/~pcategory=accessories/~product_id=E0072

-Meade QX Wide Angle Série 4000 - (26mm + 30mm + 36mm)

http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-qx-epcs.html

-Baader Hyperion - (31mm + 36mm)

http://www.telescope-service.com/baader/eyepieces/eyepieces.html#hyp2z

I Know that with f4 or f6 my telescope will have coma with these eyepieces, and especially with a newt. That's why a bit further down I mention the intention of buying a Baader MPCC so that I can correct the coma on my newt. I also know that with 36mm/40mm eyepieces my 8" newt might not grab the whole field. But since I'm planning on changing to a 10"...maybe it's ok.

This is my gear:
- Newtonian OTA from Skywatcher - 8"/1000mm/F5
- Skywatcher EQ6 Pro Goto mount
- Baader Hyperion eyepiece - 1.25" - 8mm
- Baader Hyperion eyepiece - 1.25" - 13mm
- Baader 14mm ring (changes each Hyperion into 3)
- Baader 28mm ring (changes each Hyperion into 3)

Note 1: these rings by themselves or together change my 2 Hyperion eyepieces into:
-8mm (6mm - 5mm - 4.3mm)
-13mm (10.8mm - 9.2mm - 8.1mm - this last one is redundant with my 8mm)

Note 2: With these 2 Hyperion, if I unatatch the 1.25" part and just put the 2" section into the focuser 2" I also get (with more coma):
-8mm (21.8mm)
-13mm (22.9mm)

I'm still planning on buying:
- MPCC from Baader - coma corrector for visual and astrophotography
- Baader Hyperion 21mm eyepiece (I don't know if the MPCC corrects coma on the 2" section by itself on the 8 mm and 13mm eyepieces. If it did I'd have approximately 22mm e 23mm and wouldn't need the 21mm.)
The only remaining advantage I see with the 21mm is that with the 14mm and 28mm rings I'd also have 17.6mm/15.5mm and 14mm.

I sincerely hope tha someone can help me with information and feedback on their own
experiences. And I anticipatedly thank everyone for their help. I just need to know which of these 6 sets are best for DSO and why.

Thank you for your patience and sorry for any mistake with my english.

Best regards

Paulo Mesquita

Paulo: This is my suggestion: Rather than buying three moderate quality widefield eyepieces, consider one very good one instead. I find that it is important to have a close spacing between eyepieces at high magnifications but at low magnifications, one is better off having just one top notch eyepiece, there really isn't a value in having a good 30mm and a good 40mm, a great ~30mm is much more useful.

I do have a couple but I find the step from either a 35mm Panoptic or the 28Uwan to a 16mm Nagler sufficient, I don't need anything in between.

In general of all the eyepieces, the differences between moderately priced and expensive are most noticeable in long focal length 2 inch Widefields in a fast Newtonian. A great one can knock your eyes out, a "decent" one will make a reasonable finder.

Jon

Too complex of a question, but I will give a simple answer.

I agree with others that the EP is an important part of the optical system, not to be overlooked.

But, I believe that three quality EPs will do, at least in the beginning. I have one friend that only has three EPs and that is all he found that he needed. You can get a low, mid and high power EP and do just fine. Then later if you wish you can fill in the gaps. But if you start with just three quality EPs you will find that you will have an EP for most every object.

If you shopped for used EPs you might be able to get a set of the following for the total price you wished to pay. $130 to $270 each. The good thing would be that you will keep these EPs forever. If you are trying to spend $130 to $270 for a set, this will be very difficult.

(one of each category )

Low) 35 Panoptic or 31mm Nagler __ 26mm Nagler 27mm Panoptic
Med) 17mm Nagler or 16mm Nagler __ 19mm Panoptic
High)9mm Nagler or 7mm Nagler

Now there are other EPs that are comparable to these and would also work well, depending on the focal ratio of the scope you use. But, you would want to get the best of those choices in those as well. Best to not cut cost on EPs, you will end up replacing them until you finally buy a good set is what I found.

My $.02 worth.