are plossl eyepieces good are plossl eyepieces good

I have used both Kellner & Plossl eyepieces and a few others, and I can tell you that they all are quite different from each other in terms of the quality of the image that they produce. A Kellner eyepiece has 3 lenses, while a Plossl has 4. I need some eyepieces with long FL for low magnifications. Are plossl eyepieces still worth it? All registered. I owned an XT8 Intelliscope which is the same optical tube on a PushTo mount. Since each eye has a different focal point, I suspect pulling the eyepiece out until reaching focus and then tightening the set screw. You probably dont need to worry about upgrading them as soon as you get your telescope, unless you can see an optical problem in the one youre using or you find the short eye relief for the short-focus eyepiece uncomfortable. When I started, I purchased less expensive eyepieces to learn about them and how I would use them. Some will offer longer eye relief which can be important to eyeglass wearers. If you just want a quick answer, skip to the conclusion at the end of the article. A Plossl eyepiece lens provides more eye relief than anything else out there! Also, as the apparent field of view gets wider, the image will require more correction. As a kid, I loved looking at the moon (which can be seen any time of day, regardless of ones bedtime) so make sure that the field of view is wide enough to see the whole shebang. If you were considering a Super Plossl made by an entry-level brand, just use those extra funds to instead get a regular Plossl made by a more reputable manufacturer. Kellner eyepieces work perfectly with small and medium-sized telescopes. Or is this overkill and am I better off saving money and going forward something like the Celestron Zoom? Thanks for a very helpful guide. Our previous exchange convinced me to start out with an 80mm refractor. However the package includes a 1.25 to 2 adapter so if you have a 2 focuser you can treat this like a 2 eyepiece leaving the adapter normally included with the scope for use with other 1.25 eyepieces. Recall that your lowestpower eyepiece's exit pupil should not exceed 6mm. But dont fear that you will waste your investment as eyepieces are standard sizes. The first group is made up of a convex lens and concave lens, while the second one has four small cylindrical lenses that work together to magnify what you see through them for your viewing pleasure. Thanks, Angelo M. You picked a great first scope. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8829-Wide-Field-Telescope-Eyepiece/dp/B000M89H7C/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Orion+Q70&qid=1606584502&sr=8-2, The Explore Scientific 68 degree series would be better but at a much higher price. Best eyepieces for telescopes 2023 | Space Despite this, I also have some Plossls which are indispensable. Interesting points Philip. Kellner eyepieces were first designed by Carl Kellner in 1849. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Meade 32mm 2" 5-element Super Plossl Wide Field Eyepiece at the best online prices at eBay! Omni 56mm Eyepiece - 2" Learn More. Are Plossl eyepieces any good? This series of eyepieces may provide better value in this price range. Conclusion. Astromania 1.25" 4mm Plossl Telescope Eyepiece - amazon.com If you don't like the reflections, there really aren't many other budget options at its focal length beside a Plossl which will be super uncomfortable to use, or spending over $100 for something like a Meade UWA. . This type of design also helps provide for eye relief; its a better experience if your eyes. I have not had an opportunity to test it yet but the general discussions have favorable. Celestron's 4-element Plossl eyepiece features include blackened lens edges to minimize internal reflection and maximize contrast, fully multi-coated optics for maximum light transmission. SVBONY Telescope Eyepiece Set Telescope Accessory Kit with 2x Barlow Lens 4 Element Plossl Design 6.3mm 32mm 40mm for Astronomical Telescopes. Those are significantly more expensive than the 1.25 focal lengths. I tested out my BH zoom yesterday for the first time and it is a great eyepiece so thank you for the recommendation! If one Super Plossl specifies it uses a 5 lens design, then you can definitely consider it a true Super Plossl that might offer better performance, but no brand has released any of those for decades. A Televue Plssl may be better than a generic one, but the difference is probably not worth the additional cost. I possess an embarrassing array of fine eyepieces with names like Ethos and Nagler and Delos. As said, they are cheap to compare. (Focal ratio is a term that refers to the telescopes focal length divided by its aperture. For that purpose it is probably easier to find one to borrow. Generally, to maximize the number of stars you see in an eyepiece with a given telescope, both the magnification and field of view should be maximized. Your email address will not be published. Also, atmospheric conditions can limit how much magnification you can use on a given night. You can buy eyepieces specifically focused on a particular scope or you can buy eyepieces that you expect to use with this and all future scopes. You can still get eyepieces, but there are few choices. (Compare, for instance, 20mm of each type, or 10mm of each type.) However, your budget must guide your purchases. They are also good for those who have astigmatism because they are designed to be more forgiving with eye placement. They are also good for those who have astigmatism because they are designed to be more forgiving with eye placement. If you just want eyepiece recommendations and dont care about the details, Im adding that section right below before we go into the specifications that answer the above questions and make use of the formulas. The three-lens eyepiece that came out of this was much better at controlling false color fringing and other distortions, even in telescopes with short focal lengths. The ocular for your highest visual acuity - for viewing deep-sky objects and the like - should have an exit pupil around . We can see that 2 eyepieces have an advantage over 1.25 eyepieces when designers are making wide-view eyepieces. I have to say that your questions are answered in the article. If your telescopes focal length is different, just change the focal length in the formula. The tradeoff was that each lens surface added another internal reflection, reducing contrast and adding glare. I hope I can say that someday. As Im sure you know, a Barlow actually narrows the cone of light that enters the eyepiece, hence it affects the apparent focal length and thus the f/ratio of the telescope objective. Now here is something that some of us classic scope nuts know - there are plossls, and there are plossls. Both will provide the same magnification. Each eyepiece gives you a unique magnification based on the formula listed at the start: Why do you need more than two eyepieces? https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Orion+Q70&ref=nb_sb_noss_2, Understanding Telescope Eyepieces- There are recommendations, based on budget, 17mm Plossl, unbranded, used, no caps, in bolt case; previous owner said it was a very good EP; $18 25mm Plossl, Orion Sirius, fully MgF2 coated on every air-to-glass surface; used; $23 (these are a step up from . Below 20 however, the eye relief makes it difficult for me and my glasses so Ive been replacing my 5-15 EPs with 82 degree EPs with more relief. I do not miss beating my eyelashes against a 9.7mm Meade Plossl that I used to own. Now looking for a couple of decent eyepieces. Their 50 to 52 degree AFOV is wide enough for general observing. If that is the case, it will give me another reasonably good, inexpensive zoom to recommend to beginners. Because of this setup, you might also hear a Plossl eyepiece referred to as a symmetrical eyepiece. Note that as we get into the higher magnifications, the millimeter jumps between eyepiece focal lengths gets smaller. I must also warn you that some of these bad Plossls may actually turn out to be worse than any run-of-the-mill Kellner. https://www.amazon.com/Explore-Scientific-68%C2%B0-40mm-Eyepiece/dp/B007LMG3F6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=explore+scientific+68&qid=1606584676&sr=8-1, Thanks for your reply, I think I will go for the Orion Q70 . condition as described, a good transaction. There are some very good choices in this range. If the above guide has helped you understand the terms and workings of eyepieces, scroll up and make a selection from our recommendation list. So your 600 mm example (f/6) becomes, in effect, an 1800 mm focal length, f/18 but it does not change the focal length of the eyepiece. To achieve a maximum of 200X (2X the aperture of 100 mm), we solve for the focal length. The 50 apparent field of view is plenty for me. So, basically a Plossl eyepiece is a type of eyepiece that enables the viewer to see a wider field of view than would normally be the case, but at the cost of him/her having to physically put his eye very close to the lens of the eyepiece. I see that there are some optical limits to how wide an FOV a 1.25 EP can manage at bigger (like 32mm) focal lengths. Yes, the wider field of view of a Plossl is very helpful, but 40 degrees of Kellners isnt a soda straw (unless you are used to looking through very wide field eyepiece. So, I think it worth your while to try the Plssls. For planetary viewing, comfort is essential in helping to increase viewing time . In simple terms, high focal ratio scopes, say those over F6, tend to be less demanding on eyepieces than those below F6. Kellner and Plossl- both are two different types of eyepieces for telescopes. I consider the Plossl to be the minimum standard for a good eyepiece. Since it's such a popular eyepiece and allows for quality, planet-viewing, that makes it a great instrument for attracting newcomers to the hobby, especially children. This is not a hard and fast rule, just a cautionary note. At shorter focal lengths they have less eye relief, and at all focal lengths they have a narrower field of view, than newer types. As we continue, what would you recommend adding first? 75-225X, 1.5X Barlow We will now discuss the specifications of eye relief and apparent field of view. The downside to this type of lens is that they can cause chromatic aberration which creates colored spots around bright objects such as planets or stars due to the different wavelengths not going through equally. I think some of these kits even include 4mm eyepieces, and thats ridiculous! The Plossl eyepiece is a four-element design consisting of two doublets. I had a newer - purchased in 2016 Meade 32mm (white lettering) that was no better than the older 32mm 4000. In essence the design differences between Kellner and Plossl comes down to the number of lenses within the eyepiece barrel. A Televue Plssl may be better than a generic one, but the difference is probably not worth the additional cost. Plossl eyepieces have 4 lenses that are paired in two doublets. Plossls cost a bit more than the Kellners as Plossls are expensive to manufacture because they require good optical glass and precisely matched concave and convex doublet surfaces to prevent internal reflections. As we go up in price range, we gain capabilities that may not be immediately obvious. And, the quality of the eyepiece clearly comes into play here. Celestron Telescope Eyepieces - CHUCKHAWKS.COM My 20, 26, and 32mm Plossls will probably stay around. There are three types of Plossl eyepiece: the regular, Super, and Orthoscopic. Again, it only costs $30 to $40 to find out, so the education is not that expensive. Between $100 and $250, I will call it mid-range. So, even if you have a Maksutov-Cassegrain scope, you should get a good experience from this eyepiece. Astrophotography with Nikon D3200: Can It Be Better? I still use my 30mm Celestron Ultima fairly often with some of my telescopes. I havent been into the hobby for long but my experience is in line with whats been said. is pretty forgiving of eyepiece faults and a wide variety of eyepiece designs will work just fine in it. This is where the second formula comes into play. The only one not in the article is the Orion Q70 which is available in 38 mm, 32 mm and 26 mm. However, some lateral color error is apparent when looking at bright subjects, such as Jupiter or Venus, against a dark sky. There is always more to learn but it helps if you go in with a good base understanding, and that was my goal. Plossl eyepieces have wider fields of view than Kellners. I can say that most of my plossls have been replaced by other eyepieces for various reasons. How does that field of view impact the viewing experience? That said, I should also tell you that not all Plossls are created equal. So you would have to test the set to see the actual result. Hi - I bought these from another AM'er 1 year or so back, thinking I will get into visual astro, But never found the inclination, So here it is for sale 9mm Nagler type 6 mint with box and caps,16mm Nagler type 5,optics are exc. A good modern eyepiece like a BST starguider 12,8 and 5mm are excellent eyepieces. So, I am going to organize the guide around five questions and four formulas. So, if your scope is F6 or lower, you may want to consider some of the higher priced, better corrected eyepieces if you want the best image to the edge of the field. 1. Eyepiece Field of View Simulator astronomy.tools Field of View Simulator Change Telescope Reset Change Target Add Equipment It allows each eyepiece to provide two magnifications. Just start with 32 mm for your low-power eyepiece. They are a good brand with high-quality eyepieces, you just dont need to spend the extra money for almost no gain in performance. This is my all-time favorite eyepiece and the one I use more than all the others put together. The zoom can be used with any 1.25 focuser too. When you are shopping, if you need long eye relief, make sure you are selecting the correct ones. . I need your advice on it. That is a wonderful expression. We have compared Plossl against Kellner eyepieces in a previous article. there are of course options to plossls which are about the same prices as GSOs such as the BST Discoveries and TMB type eyepieces (new from Skies the Limit on Ebay) which have a wider field and better eye relief than plossls and are probably as good as most things non-premium. Remember that visual and AP have very different requirements, so plan on at least two different optical tubes. Lower power almost always looks better than higher power. Plossl eyepieces are very good and fairly inexpensive, typically between $25 and $50 each. Over $250, I will label premium eyepieces. These are the best in optical performance and build quality. Some reviews also suggest replacing the diagonal. Plossl eyepieces are often included in better telescope packages as the starter eyepieces. Orion Sirius Plossl eyepieces are ideal for any type of telescope; refractor, reflector, or catadioptic. thanks Ed. This determines how much light the telescope will gather. Plossls tend to come with large, ground-standing Dobsonians, whereas youre more likely to find a Kellner sold with a tabletop Dobsonian. These and the essentially identical AT Paradigm are universally praised as good quality eyepieces with a wider 60-degree apparent field of view. Typically a Barlow does not add or subtract from this, but there again we have bad Barlows and Good Barlows. Have Any Astronauts Been Lost in Space Forever. Thinking in a super ploss 32mm and maybe something between 9mm and 15mm . Field of view, is about finding, framing, drift time, and context. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Since 2011, we've published astronomy related content and reviews to help guide the community better. Does this sound like something you would recommend based on the telescope I have? Understanding and using a Barlow Lens For the $66/$42 of these kits, you can get one or two decent eyepieces (depending on where you buy). However, there can be a problem bringing the eyepiece into focus. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No price limit? Higher than 3X is usually reserved for astrophotography. Note that the Explore Scientific 68 and 82 degree eyepieces are also available in 2 size for your low power wide view requirements. (often referred to as Pseudo Masuyama). They have good center sharpness but exhibit some field curvature and astigmatism. If I had to give them all up and keep only one eyepiece, It would be the BH Zoom. When I was getting my start in the hobby, I bought an ultra-cheap ($15?) If you wish to find a short-focal length eyepiece with a longer, more comfortable eye relief, you could use a long-focus eyepiece with a separate, high-quality barlow lens (an achromatic or apochromatic fully multi-coated barlow would be necessary), or you could purchase one of the several designs incorporating a smyth/barlow lens into the eyepiece design. 100-300X, 2X Barlow. I think Id really enjoy a zoom for all the reasons you mention, But Im having a difficult time assessing how much weight to put on the field of view of given eyepieces. They are also really sharp. I am a BIG fan of zoom eyepieces, especially if you dont have many. One of the main drawbacks of this eyepiece, though, is the eye relief. Plossl vs Kellner Eyepieces: Which Is The Best? - The Big Bang Optics Plssl eyepieces are good all-around performers, producing sharp images at the center of the field, but they have only four lens elements. This might contain more of what you need. The TFOV will be as wide as your 40mm Plssl, but with greater magnification and a slightly darker sky background. The Plossl's are very easy to modify, allowing me to use the bino-viewer on, all my refracting telescopes without having to cut down the tube length, p.s. Kellners tend to have narrower apparent fields of view (40 degrees rather than 50 or 52 degrees in a Plossl), and in short focal length telescopes (focal ratio f/5 or shorter) they can have more false color fringing, but for the most part it is hard to notice the difference between a well-made Kellner and a well-made Plossl in terms of image quality. This will give you a maximum target for planning purposes. I have used these in my F6 and F5 Dobs and find them a good value for the price. Optics manufacturers began selling and popularizing Plossl eyepieces, albeit with a generally simplified design where each achromatic doublet had the same focal length. The Baader offers wider fov, but at quite the price premium. You will see these under many brands, including Orion, Celestron, GSO, and others. The Big Bang Optics participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Goldline Eyepieces - The Definitive Guide - Telescopic Watch Offered in both 2 and 1.25, these are excellent eyepieces. Sorry but I am not offering a configuration and pricing service. Note that the price categories are approximate, as prices can vary between retailers. A 10mm or shorter Plssl is probably not worth it unless you want to see how you personally cope with short eye relief. Your email address will not be published. However, you may see them at higher prices for the short term. It all comes down to cost-benefit. These have the advantage that the front section with the optics can be unthreaded and threaded on to the filter threads of a 1.25 inch eyepiece. The Big Bang Optics is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. As for Barlow Lenses, take a look at this article. Orion Sirius Plossl 10mm telescope eyepiece 1.25" in very good to excellent 185794462395 Read the full Earning Disclosure here. In the next section, we will talk about the AFOV of an eyepiece. If you are just testing the waters or on a tight budget, get the Celestron, which is still pretty good. By the 1980s, amateur astronomy equipment suppliers were still selling new telescopes with Huygens and Ramsden eyepieces, not merely because they were cheap but because they lacked internal reflections. Le migliori offerte per Celestron 1,25 pollici Omni Plossl telescopio astronomico britannico 32 mm J8R6 sono su eBay Confronta prezzi e caratteristiche di prodotti nuovi e usati Molti articoli con consegna gratis! still, i somehow managed to avoid the eyepiece pitfalls when buying used off ebay. These sport a 60-degree apparent field of view, about a 20% wider apparent field of view than Plossl eyepieces. The difference in TFOV will be significant at this focal length. 600 mm / 200X = 3 mm This will be the focal length of our highest power eyepiece. If you look up transparency and seeing in the context of telescopes you can learn more about how atmospheric conditions will affect what magnifications you will choose on any given night. But will the Baader CO with 1.5-2-3x Barlows deliver a visibly sharper and more contrast view of the Moon and planets than the zoom lens with a 2x Barlow, to compensate for the zooms convenience that is the question!