Eyepiece purchase - any thoughts?

[Minorblues]

Hello - let me ask your opinion.

I'm wanting to get a more powerful eye piece for a 10" dob (1250 mm focal.) Currently my main eyepiece is the Celestron 8-24 zoom. I would like to see more of planets so I was thinking a 2 or 3 mm ep would be cool.

Celestron has a 2.3 mm in the [Registered users can see links. ] and Zhumell has a 3 mm in the [Registered users can see links. ]. I'm looking on telescopes.com for something in the $50-$75 range that will give me more power for looking at planets. Anybody have any experience with this kind of setup? Are these the best choice or even good for what I am looking for?

Regards,
Jim

[Minorblues]

Just to make things interesting, let me put out another option: What about a 5 mm in that price range. Is that a better way to go, in my situation?

and to further complicate it... if it matters... fyi I do wear glasses. I saw a review for the Zhumell series who said they were nice for people who wear glasses.

[WWPierre]

If you are near or far sighted, you can view with your glasses off. Astigmatics, such as myself need the glasses.

If you are comfortable viewing through your Celestron zoom, it barlows nicely to 4mm, and you retain the eye relief.

[Minorblues]

For some reason I have yet to get my Barlow into focus at that 8 mm setting. Is a Zhumell 2x and there is always a ghost just a little off center when it use it.

[WWPierre]

Originally Posted by Minorblues

For some reason I have yet to get my Barlow into focus at that 8 mm setting. Is a Zhumell 2x and there is always a ghost just a little off center when it use it.

Interesting.... could be a dud. Never heard of that before.

[jrkirkham]

When I get down to around 6mm, there are so few nights that the atmosphere will allow me to see, that I don't even want a more powerful EP. I would almost rather have the 8mm in the first place. I use my 10mm a lot, and often with my 2X barlow, but I don't use my 6.3 as often. On nights when the 6.3 is clear, the 10MM with barlow is usually clear, and better. On my scope it yields a pleasing 240X. The 6.3 is too powerful to function well with the barlow. Once in awhile it fills the nitch, but not most of the time. On your scope a 3mm EP will offer 417X and a 2mm EP will offer 625X. I don't think you will be able to use the 3mm over a couple of times each year, and I don't think you will ever get a clear view with the 2 or 2.3 mm. Even if you can focus, at that magnification a dob will have to slew with the speed of a pair of binoculars.

If you are not going to use a barlow, the 5mm will give 250X power. That seems more reasonable to me. It can't be used every session, but it can be used often enough to be interesting, and that 200X seems to be a magic mark for seeing planetary detail.

[Bob327]

2 or 3 mm eyepiece ????? You WILL NEVER EVER get to use such a high powered eyepiece ....ok maybe once every 3-4 years....

a 5 mm eyepiece should work for you on good nights.......

The vast majority of my viewing is between 40x and 250x...rare for me (here in Maryland) to go up above 300x because of the skies...
and I do not care what Telescope I am using....

Bob G

[Minorblues]

Fair enough - so probably a 5 or 6 then is the way to go. And as far as which one to get, has anybody tried either of the series I mentioned above... the Zhumell Z Series or the Celestron X-cel?

[Minorblues]

Thanks again for the thoughts you guys. It surely saved me from buying the wrong ep.

Fyi, I decided to try another Barlow. If it works better than the other one, I'll be in good shape. I went with a [Registered users can see links. ] so I'll let you know how it goes whenever I get to use it.

Regards,