Ultima 80ED eyepiece upgrade (1 Viewer)

Hi - I know the scope is 'old' now - but I'm sure it's worth trying to improve on its standard zoom eyepiece. As the Ultimas don't accept 1.25 eyepieces, my only alternatives appear to be a Baader Hyperion zoom at about £190 or 2 or 3 fixed eyepieces at about £30 each (see http://shop.northernoptics.co.uk/re...or-celestron-ultima-spotting-scopes-617-p.asp)

The Baader gets good reviews on this forum & elsewhere (but should at that price!) - and I have no idea what quality those fixed EPs are. I have scoured the forums but short of drastic re-engineering I appear to have no other choice (I believe there may be an adapter that converts the Ultima to 1.25" - but it's then very difficult to achieve focus over the desired range).

We use the scope mainly for birding but also planet/nebula spotting.

Any help/advice welcome

Dave

Those eyepieces are very basic ... i dont think they cant match the Baader even at the highest mags, and you will missing the confort and the range of mags of a zoom. Hyperion has 68 degree at 8mm ... that eyepieces im pretty sure are 60 as much

Is it just the Baader Hyperion zoom that will fit the Ultima, or will it take other Baader Hyperion eyepieces?

`will it take other Baader Hyperion eyepieces?`

sadly no. I dont rate them anyway. Ive bought them second hand before from an astro site for between 50-60 quid; too heavy and lack of twist up eyecup is major design flaw.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BFB-1-25-...male-Thread-T2-Visual-Back-E-10-/121235524513

worth looking at adapters like this......this one is overpriced, but gives you the idea.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agena-1-25-Starguider-Dual-ED-Eyepiece-60-deg-AFOV-FMC-12mm-/111289570326

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bresser-1-25-70-deg-Series-Eyepiece-15mm-EP7015-0B-/141192283282

worth looking at.

possibly this too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agena-1-25-66-deg-Enhanced-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece-9mm-EWA9-/111159996992

if you want an image with very low chromatic aberation, then you need to find one with high quality lenses. eg lanthanum or similar quality.......most of those are probly too tall to come to focus in tis scope. IF your spending more than 50 quid, really need to try before you buy on this one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baader-1-25-T-2-Budget-Eyepiece-Holder-EYEHOLD-1-2458120-/111264523626

may fit....

Thanks for the advice & suggestions. I'll see if there's anywhere locally (Bristol/Bath) I can try things out.

cheers

bluemarvin, did you get sorted with a new EP?

I have the Ultima 80ED and upgraded it with a Baader Hyperion MK3 zoom a few years ago

I know they are expensive new but they occasionally come up on auction sites secondhand, which is where mine came from

A really good upgrade, it will transform your scope if you can find one

Sandy