Dealing with eyepieces...

This may sound pretty basic to most folks, but I have not been able to figure out the best way to bring along and juggle eyepieces without it being a hassle. I don't want to drag a case of eyepieces outside, but I don't like eyepieces rolling around in the bottom of my backpack of other stuff...and keeping up with the caps in the dark (leave 'em off, cap/uncap constantly?). I like those nifty platforms with holes for eyepieces that you can use to accessorize a mount, but then I figure dew will be gathering on all my eyepieces sitting out. What have you found to work best for you?

Walt

Walt Soderman said:

This may sound pretty basic to most folks, but I have not been able to figure out the best way to bring along and juggle eyepieces without it being a hassle. I don't want to drag a case of eyepieces outside, but I don't like eyepieces rolling around in the bottom of my backpack of other stuff...and keeping up with the caps in the dark (leave 'em off, cap/uncap constantly?). I like those nifty platforms with holes for eyepieces that you can use to accessorize a mount, but then I figure dew will be gathering on all my eyepieces sitting out. What have you found to work best for you?

Walt

Walt: A great question, everyone has their own way of doing this, a good deal of this depends on your local climate and your own preferences.

In the past, I preferred eyepiece racks mounted directly to the scope base or an eyepiece tray in mounted to the tripod and I still use these at times.

But with more larger eyepieces and having converted to truss scopes without racks, I have finally decided that a sturdy observing table is best. I take out the eyepiece case and put it on the table and keep it closed to keep the eyepieces free from dew. It's been working...

JOn

I use a camera case I got on eBay for ~$30 and keep my eyepieces in bolt cases. Those eps which have a lense near the case get a cap on that end only. Eps with reccessed glass don't have or need caps.





Filters go in the end pouches.
It has a strap and goes over my shoulder, leaves both hands free for my TV-76 on a Voyager mount 8)

-Joe

I found this on a CloudyNights.com review and have been using it ever since.

A six pack size cooler from Walmart ($4.97 at the time). He used foam with holes cut in it, I used model airplane plywood to make a little cutout shelf. It holds two 2" eyepieces and six 1.25 inch eyepieces with a space on the side for my rigel finder and two filters in their cases. I put covers on the top element, not on the bottom of the eyepieces.

It just sits on the ground, waterproof, well insulated, the lid just pops down to keep out dust and whatever. I observe alone mostly, so the box on the ground is not a problem, and the white top is pretty visible. It could sit on a chart table as well, but then one of those custom cases in cocbola wood for $400 starts to looks pretty trick.

Walt Soderman said:

This may sound pretty basic to most folks, but I have not been able to figure out the best way to bring along and juggle eyepieces without it being a hassle. I don't want to drag a case of eyepieces outside, but I don't like eyepieces rolling around in the bottom of my backpack of other stuff...and keeping up with the caps in the dark (leave 'em off, cap/uncap constantly?). I like those nifty platforms with holes for eyepieces that you can use to accessorize a mount, but then I figure dew will be gathering on all my eyepieces sitting out. What have you found to work best for you?

Walt

Walt,

I've been using an Orion eyepiece fanny pack--I don't have as many eyepieces to use as many astro-marters, nor do I generally use my 2inch EPs anymore (too dam big and bulky) Don't have the budget for Naglers and such so I don't miss the wide views. I've got a low power, a medium, a zoom to cover everything else, and a barlow for when I get greedy for power! I put foam spacers to fit the various EP lengths. It works ok.

I've been considering a fishing vest someday. You might look into that. Here's an example with nice mesh for when it's hot out.

--http://www.cabelas.com/ssubcat-1/cat601044.shtml

Gerald

Uncapped eps in cargo pockets when at the scope. I only use a few ep's at a time.
I spent some time looking at sporting goods and army surplus stores for vests or jackets. Found one with large pockets I've been using for years.

You know, for any given telescope, you only need about three eyepieces. THese can usually fit pretty easily in the same case you fit your tube into. Just have a little piece of foam cut out in such a way to accommodate the eyepieces that fits in some wasted space of the telescope (or mount) carrying case.
(unless, of course, you don't carry the tube in a case, either.)

Alex

Stop your collecting at Orion Explorer IIs and .965 eyepieces from the internet for $4.00 a piece. Then, you can use your shirt pockets!

On a serious note, if you are down to just a few eyepieces, you could get a small case. I've got a small silver one from Orion. It's a nice size for holding just a few EPs.

Dave,

I really like the idea of your lightweight carrying bag sitting on top of a washing machine. But doesn't it defeat the purpose of the carrying bag when you have to tote the washing machine out to the observing site?

DP

Walt Soderman said:

This may sound pretty basic to most folks, but I have not been able to figure out the best way to bring along and juggle eyepieces without it being a hassle. I don't want to drag a case of eyepieces outside, but I don't like eyepieces rolling around in the bottom of my backpack of other stuff...and keeping up with the caps in the dark (leave 'em off, cap/uncap constantly?). I like those nifty platforms with holes for eyepieces that you can use to accessorize a mount, but then I figure dew will be gathering on all my eyepieces sitting out. What have you found to work best for you?

Walt

I bought a Meade LX-10 on eBay about five years ago; haven't used it much until this year. I found the foam cutouts in the Celestron hardcase which came with the 'scope falling apart and doing a good job of holding only the 'scope...all the little parts were basically loose. What to do? Well, since it all sat unused for five years, it didn't really matter.

Time to fix that problem...I looked around the house to see what I might have that could fit the bill. Amateur Radio and electronics are my other hobbies; and I live on my computer; so there surely had to be something here.

Sure enough...

What I found was an old iomega Zip Drive case. Small (about 11" x 11"), lightweight, and mesh pockets in the top to hold papers, hex keys, etc.

I have some surplus closed-cell foam which is used for shipping defective equipment back to my employer's warehouse...now don't get ahead of me!

If I end up with more EPs, I suppose a different solution will be necessary; but this seems to be a fair grab-n-go with the basic two Plössls, one camera adapter, one Barlow, one 45º, one illuminated reticle, one Lumicon Easy-Guider with T-Ring, one Nikon camera T-Adapter, and all three Equatorial Mount bolts.

The mesh has a set of hex keys, one T-handle 9/32" hex key, one small adjustable wrench, and will soon have a red LED flashlight.

All that in one place, and I'm still new at this!

Here's a picture of the arrangement I came up with:

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