ES 82° 6.7mm ?

[DM1975]

So I have this 10" dob with the 30mm and 9mm eyepieces it came with. I can see well out of both of them but I want to expand my collection. I have decided on ES as the brand I want to invest in and want a good, higher magnification eyepiece to use for planetary viewing and smaller nebulas and galaxies and such. I have relatively dark skies out in the country I can use whenever I want.

My question is would the 6.7mm be a good choice for my first addition to the family or should I consider another focal length? Thanks in advance.

[Ozman13]

The 6.7mm ES 82 is a great EP and I use mine quite a lot. It is the shortest focal length EP I own and does a great job on the planets. If I try for more power I barlow an EP which is very rare except on my short refractors. My 18mm ES 82 is my most used EP and I highly recommend them all. I do not however have the 4.7mm because I don't believe I would use it much but am sure it is excellent as well.

[bladekeeper]

The 6.7mm is the only one I don't have, but do plan on acquiring one as soon as funds allow. Sometimes my 8.8mm needs a bit more oomph on some faint fuzzy stuff, so the 6.7mm fits that bill. Plus, it would be great for planets, planetary nebulae, etc.

I too have the same 30mm and 9mm that you have. If it were me, I'd try to go somewhere in the middle and go for the 18mm. Like Oz, it is my most utilized eyepiece, followed in short order by the 11mm. Those work the best for my eyes, my scope, my sky, and my observing habits, though. You choose what will fit your particular bill the best.

I think the 6.7mm will be a fine eyepiece. Just consider what fits the best in your present focal length ranges and what you enjoy observing the most.

[DM1975]

Thanks, I want the 18 and 11 as well, just trying to figure what would be best to get at the moment. I may reconsider and go with the 18 first instead. I don't think I'll venture any more powerful than the 6.7mm. I feel that either way I go between the 6.7, 11, and 18 that I'll have an equal regret and satisfaction level with choosing that certain power over the others.

[Skyscanner]

To get the best range in magnifications the ES 82° 14 or 18mm would work best.

Having said that: I LOVE my 6.7 mm.
In your typical 10" dob this hits the sweet spot for exit pupil size and as such works great on the small faint objects.

BTW: I have all three of them

[DM1975]

Well I can't get the 18 this month as I have to get a telrad as well and only have about $200 to spend so it's the 11 or 6.7 and both appear to be in stock at astronomics. I'm not very vendor savvy in this hobby so not sure if I can get them cheaper elsewhere or what-not.

[Ozman13]

All the various vendors usually have the same price on them. Rarely one of them may have a slightly better price but the sales usually are given by all. Look for free shipping, that is your best bet for saving a little.

[bladekeeper]

Well I can't get the 18 this month as I have to get a telrad as well and only have about $200 to spend so it's the 11 or 6.7 and both appear to be in stock at astronomics. I'm not very vendor savvy in this hobby so not sure if I can get them cheaper elsewhere or what-not.

Typically the vendors have a common pricing on these. They tend to follow the price that ES sets and they all adjust accordingly when ES announces a sale.

Check the ES website, Highpoint Scientific, Agena Astro, Astronomics, OPT, etc, and see who has the best price on both the eyepiece and the telrad. You'll get equally excellent service from any of those guys. Watch for free shipping too, as that will save.

You can also call ES and ask if they have any on their Silver Grade program. These have a slight blemish somewhere on the housing, but are optically wonderful, and would be discounted accordingly. Just a potential money saver there.

This stuff is pricey, and you gotta get any edge you can.

EDIT: And what Oz said.

[Lowjiber]

The 6.7mm is a fine eyepiece. You can't go wrong.

However, if God were to reach a gnarly finger from the heavens and declare, "John, from this moment forth you may only have ONE eyepiece!", I'd pick the 18mm 82 degree ES.

[omeek]

The ES 6.7mm is definitely the next EP I am going to get! Until then I'll just barlow my 16mm and 10mm but, I really want a dedicated EP at that focal length. I don't mind using the barlow but, I am at that point where I dont want to add anymore glass to the light path than necessary. I need all the help I can get on those dim galaxies!

That said, for what it's worth, if I had your current EP selection, I would probably opt for the 18mm. I was in a similar situation when I got my first scope. At the time, I ended up picking up the ES68 24mm to fill in the range between my 2 stock EP's. I then picked up the Orion Shorty Barlow ($40). Another great thing is that you can unscrew the lens from the barlow and add it to your EP (screws on just like a filter). That will give you 1.5x instead of the full 2x.

With that setup, and if you got the ES 18mm, for your 2 1.25" EP's (ES18mm & current 9mm), you would be able to have focal lengths of:

18mm (ES18 no barlow)
13.5mm (ES18 with 1.5x)
9mm (ES18 with 2x)
9mm (Stock EP)
6.75mm (Stock EP with 1.5x)
4.5mm (Stock EP with 2x)

If you did something like this it would only add an extra $40 for the barlow along with the price of the new EP. Just giving ideas...

[EDIT] Oh, and at optcorp.com, check out the "Used Eyepieces - Excellent condition" section. I have purchased a used filter and EP from them and they have been great! I see they have the ES68 16mm and ES82 4.7mm for $99 each but, no other ES EP's right now though.