dobsonian telescope kit
Should I buy a Eyepiece and Filter Kit for a Celestron StarHopper 6?
I just purchased a Celestron StarHopper 6'' Dobsonian Telescope and should receive it any day now. I think the only eyepiece that comes with it is a 25mm Plössl eyepiece. So I was wondering if I should buy a Celestron Eyepiece and Filter Kit http://www.celestron.com/c2/product.php?CatID=42&ProdID=271 Would it be worth it and will it fit it?
Hi Dolphins -
Actually your scope comes with a 2 in focuser and a 32 mm 2 in. eyepiece. (ADDED: I'm properly embarassed - I was looking at the Celestron site and it only shows the Starhopper 12, which in turn lists the 2 inch focuser with the 32mm eyepiece. However, the gist of my comments remains unchanged. My recommendation is still quality, not quantity, but I do apologize for my error). I think it would not be a good idea to step down to a 1.25 in kit, since the 4mm eyepiece in that kit would be useless at 375X (ADDED: still true) and the 6 mm would only be used on rare occasions at 250X. Also, a 52 degree apparent field of view is not that terrific. The filters will be used rarely, and the one that you would use most (a nebula filter of some kind) is not included.
If you go with the 2 in. kit, then one of the eyepieces is one that you already own (the 32 mm). The same story holds for the filters, and again, the 56 degree AFoV is not that superb.
I have found from some painful experience that a premium eyepiece is worth every penny, but a low end eyepiece is one that you will sell / trade when you finally get a good one, because you'll never go back. If you have the money for this kit that includes a whole bunch of inexpensive stuff, I think you may have the money for a single 2 inch Televue Nagler eyepiece at say, 20 mm. (ADDED: maybe a 17mm - 18mm or so with the 6 inch) That would give you a superb 82 degree AFoV at 70X magnification. This would be a good complement to your 32 mm until you are ready to replace it with a premium eyepiece as well. You would use it ALL THE TIME. When you look through it, you will immediately notice the difference. You will feel like holding on to something to keep from falling into your telescope.
My advice is - buy quality, not quantity. I spend 90% of my scope time (no exaggeration) with two excellent low mag eyepieces - one at 82X and one at 127X. You will keep such an eyepiece for your next telescope and the one after that. The eyepiece is the heart of your scope, so don't step down in quality there, step up. You will not regret it.
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