[LVAS] Zoom Eyepiece?

[Rob Lambert]

I have a TeleVue 8-24mm zoom. It was one of my first supplemental  
eyepieces that quickly replaced all of the standard plossl eyepieces  
that came with my Intelliscope.  It doesn't compare with the field  
size and quality of a Nagler, but it did a very good job for me. It  
was convenient not to have to change eyepieces when wanting more or  
less magnification. It isn't parfocal but only took small focus  
adjustments to bring it back to focus after changing focal lengths.   
It has click stops at 8, 12, 16, and 24mm, but is infinitely variable  
in between those stops.  Stars were pinpoint sharp across the FOV  
across the entire range of the eyepiece. I could tell no difference in  
the contrast provided by the zoom when compared with Naglers. IMO the  
only difference was in the apparent FOV.

If you like Naglers, you probably won't like this eyepiece, but IMO it  
is a giant step above Plossls because of it's 40-55 degree apparent  
FOV.  It's 15-20mm eye relief made it easy to use wearing my glasses.   
I still use it in my 10-inch dob.  It provides me with the mid-range  
of eyepieces. On either side of the zoom I have a Meade 4000 QX 36mm  
(70 degree) and a Pentax XW 5mm. Of these three eyepieces, the TeleVue  
zoom was and is the most used.

I think the TeleVue 8-24 would be ideal for use in a bino viewer,  
especially with it's click stops to help you set the FL for both eyes  
without moving your eyes away from the eyepieces.

For the money, this zoom gives you a pocket full of eyepieces and much  
more convenience than  a pocket full of eyepieces.

Hope this helps.

Rob

Sent from Rob's iPhone!

On Mar 2, 2010, at 5:07, roger ivester <drivester at hotmail.com> wrote:

> All,
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> I have always been curious about the quality of a zoom EP. Any  
> experience with one? Do they work to a satisfactory level?
>
> Roger
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>     The moon and stars to govern the night.....   Psalm 136:9
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