I thought I'd share an observation from this past weekend, when I had the chance to use the 31 nag alongside my 35pan in a 16" f/4.5. I remember seeing the 31 a couple years ago, since its memorable balloon shape stuck in my head. I've changed eyepieces many times over the years, but the 35 Pan has had a place of honor in my case--never to be replaced.
I compared views of the 31 to the 35 while looking at M31 and its companions, and the Double Cluster. I did find that the 31 nag did frame the objects better, and there was indeed a slightly better contrast and sharpness to it. However, given the cost, I don't think I'd ever be upgrading my 35 pan simply to view three or four objects in a slightly larger fov. It was nice, mind you, very nice...but not worth another 300 dollars. So my old friend stays in his case, waiting to be called upon again....
On another note, I'm wondering what others find are their most common magnifications? I have 24.5 Meade SWA's (old, old style) in a Denk bino with a dual and a single power switch, so that one pair gives me 6 different mags. I really noticed how introducing the single element for more power darkened things up. There was a time when the transparency and seeing allowed real power on Saturday night, and I tried to keep track mentally which two powers I was using the most. Turns out, it was the middle setting when the single power switch was not engaged, and when it was in. That meant that I was looking at the globs and nebulae at 150X and 349X most of the time. Crunching the numbers on what a pair of 16t5 nags would do, I get 149X and 390X, however, the apparent field is much greater of course. That means my 24.5's will retire to their cases to be called upon for low power views, otherwise I think the 16's will be the main eyepieces. That got me thinking what other people like, and is why I'm asking that now.
Cheers,
Guy
I compared views of the 31 to the 35 while looking at M31 and its companions, and the Double Cluster. I did find that the 31 nag did frame the objects better, and there was indeed a slightly better contrast and sharpness to it. However, given the cost, I don't think I'd ever be upgrading my 35 pan simply to view three or four objects in a slightly larger fov. It was nice, mind you, very nice...but not worth another 300 dollars. So my old friend stays in his case, waiting to be called upon again....
On another note, I'm wondering what others find are their most common magnifications? I have 24.5 Meade SWA's (old, old style) in a Denk bino with a dual and a single power switch, so that one pair gives me 6 different mags. I really noticed how introducing the single element for more power darkened things up. There was a time when the transparency and seeing allowed real power on Saturday night, and I tried to keep track mentally which two powers I was using the most. Turns out, it was the middle setting when the single power switch was not engaged, and when it was in. That meant that I was looking at the globs and nebulae at 150X and 349X most of the time. Crunching the numbers on what a pair of 16t5 nags would do, I get 149X and 390X, however, the apparent field is much greater of course. That means my 24.5's will retire to their cases to be called upon for low power views, otherwise I think the 16's will be the main eyepieces. That got me thinking what other people like, and is why I'm asking that now.
Cheers,
Guy
16" f/4.52 ATM Truss Dob, Discovery Mirror
Denk II w/nags junkie
