Because the Pentax scopes are more or less unique in being able to accept generic 1.25 inch eyepieces it would be interesting to know what EP's others have tried to use on their Pentax scopes. Both those that have worked and those that have not. It would be especially interesting to know about low cost EP’s that give good results and those that have not.
For my part I’m using an Orion Stratus 17mm and 13mm and an Celestron X-cel 10mm. I have found the Orion’s to be excellent for general field birding-a wide clear field of view and just as important a very easy forgiving view. The Orions have a 1.25 inch eye lens so you have little problem with blackouts. Just get your eye near the eye piece and you will see something. The 10mm, while bright and sharp, blacks out and is not suited for field birding. Blackouts may not be such a big deal in Astronomy but when watching moving wildlife it’s a real pain in the a**.
Also I find my 80mm Pentax pretty much limited to 40x or below at least for really first rate viewing. Above 40x I think you are losing more in quality than you are gaining in magnification. This works out ok because in general a first rate 20-40x scope is all anyone needs for real world nature study.
Just one man’s opinion.
Any one else?
For my part I’m using an Orion Stratus 17mm and 13mm and an Celestron X-cel 10mm. I have found the Orion’s to be excellent for general field birding-a wide clear field of view and just as important a very easy forgiving view. The Orions have a 1.25 inch eye lens so you have little problem with blackouts. Just get your eye near the eye piece and you will see something. The 10mm, while bright and sharp, blacks out and is not suited for field birding. Blackouts may not be such a big deal in Astronomy but when watching moving wildlife it’s a real pain in the a**.
Also I find my 80mm Pentax pretty much limited to 40x or below at least for really first rate viewing. Above 40x I think you are losing more in quality than you are gaining in magnification. This works out ok because in general a first rate 20-40x scope is all anyone needs for real world nature study.
Just one man’s opinion.
Any one else?