Baader Hyperion Zoom

Hi there

I am giving some serious consideration to purchasing one of these. I have used fixed focal length Hyperions in the past and found them excellent, but there is something attractive about having a single eyepiece in the scope.

Can anyone give me their experiences with this eyepiece, good or bad.

Thanks.

Paul

Got one 18 mounths ago and have been a happpy user since then. Used with a C9.25 at F10 and an Orion SPX200 at F4.5 on a SXW mount. No issues.
I like balancing the system at the start of the night on a GOTO mount and not having to switch anything and rebalance etc as the night gpes on. Usually the DSO object is in the wider field and just zoom down until the view is nice. Dont have problems on planets either.
Cant compare to other Zooms.
Check Cloudy Nights. Its getting lots of good reviews there now.
Donal

What's the eye relief like on the zoom?

Paul

Hi Paul,
Eye relief is OK for me and I dont wear glasses.
However I do ont have many other EP's for comparision except the one that came with the scope. Maybe others can comment.
Donal

Can one of these zoom eyepieces be a good choice for casual observing? Say for instance if I bring the scope out to the garden for an hour to have a look at something, it'd be handier than taking out my ep set and switching each time.

Are there disadvantages to these zoom EP's?

Thanks!

I think one of the main advantages to a zoom eyepiece is that you have a number of different focal lengths in one package and you are not fumbling around in the dark for a variety of eyepieces. One great selling point, IMHO, is for events such as star parties where the public want to view through your scope and you have a wide range of magnifications to hand to get closer, or widen out.

Reading reports about the Baader zoom there seems to be very little wrong with it, owners expressing their delight at the purchase. One thing is that the fov is 50 degrees at 24mm, but that's the same as a plossl so I can't see it being a hassle.

I didn't go for one myself in the end, I got a Televue 32mm plossl and a 8mm Radian, as I already had focal lengths of 12.5, 18 & 25mm so I only needed the two.

Paul