stock Plossls

I'm getting an 8" NewStar (Synta) dob. The standard eyepieces it comes
with are Super MA (Kellner?) 10 and 25mm. For $40 CDN more I can
upgrade to Plossls instead. Are the Plossls worth the extra $, or are
they only barely better?

On 29 Nov 2003 16:49:39 -0800, (Patrick) wrote:

I'm getting an 8" NewStar (Synta) dob. The standard eyepieces it comes
with are Super MA (Kellner?) 10 and 25mm. For $40 CDN more I can
upgrade to Plossls instead. Are the Plossls worth the extra $, or are
they only barely better?

Without knowing the make of the Plossls, it is hard to make a complete
judgement. However, a 25mm Plossl is generally a very useful eyepiece
and will see use often, especially when searching for objects. It is
an improvement over the MAs due to the increased field of view.

A 10mm Plossl is close to useless for me as the pinhole lense and poor
eye relief make it difficult to use.

I assume your upgrade price includes both? A good 25mm Plossl alone
will cost you around $45 USD minimum unless you find one on Astromart.

A good budget EP instead of the 10mm Plossl would be the Orion Expanse
9mm or Scopestuff.com Ultrawide 9mm (same EP). It is a good performer
for the price.

---
Michael McCulloch

A good budget EP instead of the 10mm Plossl would be the Orion Expanse
9mm or Scopestuff.com Ultrawide 9mm (same EP). It is a good performer
for the price.

A good performer at f/5 ?


john

On 30 Nov 2003 08:07:11 GMT, otnow (Jskies187)
wrote:

A good budget EP instead of the 10mm Plossl would be the Orion Expanse
9mm or Scopestuff.com Ultrawide 9mm (same EP). It is a good performer
for the price.

A good performer at f/5 ?

Yes, for the price I stand by the statement. The alternatives that
offer better edge-to-edge sharpness with similar eye relief and afov
are 4 to 5 times the cost.

---
Michael McCulloch

A good performer at f/5 ?

Yes, for the price I stand by the statement. The alternatives that
offer better edge-to-edge sharpness with similar eye relief and afov
are 4 to 5 times the cost.


Respectfully, having done that experiment of budget widefield eps with fast
optics, I pass. Better edge sharpness for me. Be it with modest field ep's, or
premium wide fields.

john

On 30 Nov 2003 17:06:13 GMT, otnow (Jskies187)
wrote:

A good performer at f/5 ?

Yes, for the price I stand by the statement. The alternatives that
offer better edge-to-edge sharpness with similar eye relief and afov
are 4 to 5 times the cost.

Respectfully, having done that experiment of budget widefield eps with fast
optics, I pass. Better edge sharpness for me. Be it with modest field ep's, or
premium wide fields.

Noted. Let's hear the budget alternatives in the 10mm range?

---
Michael McCulloch

(Patrick) wrote in message . com...

I'm getting an 8" NewStar (Synta) dob. The standard eyepieces it comes
with are Super MA (Kellner?) 10 and 25mm. For $40 CDN more I can
upgrade to Plossls instead. Are the Plossls worth the extra $, or are
they only barely better?

If it was me, I would stick with the Kellners for a start. You will
eventually want to upgrade, but I would rather pick the improved EPs
based on careful research rather than just accepting whatever falls
in my lap as part of the package deal. Meanwhile, the Kellners will
certainly work, and some of them are actually quite respectable.

On the other hand, some of the cheap Plossls are really quite
good, so who knows -- you might just luck out on the package
deal, which really isn't all that expensive.

FWIW, I would choose a 32mm Plossl in preference to a 25mm Plossl,
and in the 10mm range, I would prefer some different design, as the
eye relief on a 10mm Plossl (or Kellner!) is fairly tight. Other
people will no doubt have other opinions. Eyepiece preferences
are highly individual, and only you can judge your own.

- Tony Flanders

Patrick wrote:
I'm getting an 8" NewStar (Synta) dob. The standard eyepieces it comes
with are Super MA (Kellner?) 10 and 25mm. For $40 CDN more I can
upgrade to Plossls instead. Are the Plossls worth the extra $, or are
they only barely better?

Astronomics www.astronomics.com has several Celestron E-LUX Plossls
for $29.95.

Dale

"Patrick" wrote in message
om...
I'm getting an 8" NewStar (Synta) dob. The standard eyepieces it comes
with are Super MA (Kellner?) 10 and 25mm. For $40 CDN more I can
upgrade to Plossls instead. Are the Plossls worth the extra $, or are
they only barely better?

MA's are good. Try Antares ultra plossl 15mm. for the price.
www.islandeyepiece.com