Are zoom eyepieces worth it?

Are zoom eyepieces worth it?

They tend to occupy the middle ground of focal length/magnification, so you may still need a very high and low magnification eyepieces (short and long focal length, respectively), but a zoom could handle everything in between for you. On the face of it, they are a fantastic tool, but nothing is perfect.

How do zoom eyepieces work?

Zoom eyepieces provide the ability to obtain a range of focal lengths from a single eyepiece. It’s basically a regular eyepiece with a moveable Barlow lens, though some of the eyepiece elements may also move. By varying the distance between the eyepiece and Barlow, you change the magnification.

Which eyepiece is best for viewing stars?

Aspherical eyepieces are better in almost all cases while stargazing than other cheaper designs. Ethos, Nagler, Delos – These are the eyepieces to own; these are the eyepieces to save money for. Their superior design, image quality, and large apparent field of view make them superior to the rest.

What magnification will a 25mm eyepiece give you?

The eyepiece with the longer focal length say 25mm (low power) used on a telescope with a 1000mm focal length will produce a magnification of 1000 ÷ 25 = 40x.

Can you use a zoom eyepiece with a Barlow?

Basically, any eyepiece can be used with a barlow provided the the combination doesn’t exceed the useful magnification. There are certain other benefits of using a barlow with the main one for me is that they preserve eye relief.

What magnification do you need to see Saturn rings?

The rings of Saturn should be visible in even the smallest telescope at 25x [magnified by 25 times]. A good 3-inch scope at 50x [magnified by 50 times] can show them as a separate structure detached on all sides from the ball of the planet. Want to see Saturn’s rings? First, you need to find Saturn in the sky.

Is 6mm eyepiece good?

From my observing experience, the 6-mm Super Monocentric will be the best high definition eyepiece for critical observing one can find. On the other end of complexity, but still providing wonderful contrast, is the 6-mm Ethos. One sharp eyepiece for so many lenses grouped in one eyepiece.

Should I use Barlow lens?

One reason to use a Barlow lens is to take advantage of the longer eye relief typically found in longer focal length, lower power eyepieces. Eye relief defines the distance you have to place your eyeball from the top lens in order to see the full field of view. Short eye relief can make eyepieces uncomfortable to use.

Do I need a Barlow lens?

A cost effective way to increase the magnification of your eyepieces. An extremely useful tool every amateur astronomer should have is a Barlow Lens. If you attach a 2x Barlow lens to that eyepiece you will double the effective magnification of that eyepiece to 100x. …

Which eyepiece is best for viewing Saturn?

It is said that any small telescope is capable of viewing Saturn’s rings at 25X magnification. I suggest using a 15mm eyepiece through a Dobsonian telescope (here is the one I own and recommend) for the best chances of success.

Which is better a zoom eyepiece or fixed eyepiece?

You can set it for the best view allowed by the observing conditions of the moment, an advantage over fixed focal length oculars. A zoom eyepiece does not, however, make fixed focal length oculars in its focal length range redundant, as some inexperienced buyers assume.

Are there Zoom eyepieces for an astronomical telescope?

It is not surprising that zoom oculars for astronomical telescopes are becoming increasingly popular. Zooms are hot sellers. They are affordable, convenient and tremendously improved from the bad old days when serious amateur astronomers would not be caught dead with one. Most major ocular brands now offer a 3:1 ratio, mid-range zoom eyepiece.

How much does a Meade 8-24mm zoom eyepiece weigh?

All have chrome-plated 1.25″ diameter mounting barrels that incorporate wide safety grooves. The Celestron 8-24mm zoom weighs 7.9 ounces, as does the Vixen NLV 8-24mm Click-Stop zoom, while the Tele Vue 8-24mm Click-Stop Zoom weighs 7.6 ounces and the Meade 8-24mm weighs 7.0 ounces.

How much does a Celestron Meade zoom eyepiece cost?

Typical 2009 online discount prices of the (discontinued) Tele Vue Click-Stop Zoom is $210-$240 and the (currently manufactured) Vixen NLV Click-Stop Zoom is $189-$220. The Meade Series 4000 Zoom runs $125-$130 and the Celestron Zoom is only $60-$65.