SteveM's Stats
- Review Count4
- Helpfulness Votes7
- First ReviewNovember 3, 2011
- Last ReviewNovember 3, 2011
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.3
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First Review CommentNone
- Last Review CommentNone
- Featured Review Comments0
SteveM's Reviews
The 3.5mm Orion Stratus Wide-Field Eyepiece is a high powered eyepiece that is great for viewing details of the planets and moon. With its wide field of view and fully multi-coated optics you get large, bright, high-contrast images.
Rating
great eyepiece for the money
PostedNovember 3, 2011
Optical Quality
5
/
5
Mechanical Quality
4
/
5
Ease of Use
3
/
5
Value
5
/
5
In all fairness, I am using a refractor the this eyepiece pushed beyond its limits. However, even with a magnification of close to 300x (useful is stated to be 240x), one could still clearly make out the bands of Jupiter as well as the red spot. The rings of Saturn were clear enough to easily see the Cassini division. For grins, I added a 2x barlow lens and pushed the magnification over 580x. Yes it was a bit fuzzy, but still viewable. When this eyepiece was placed into the 180mm Mak-Cass from Orion (770x), Saturn looked amazing.
This eyepiece definitely benefits from larger apertures. A 120mm refractor made things a bit dim but not bad. One could still make out the Ring nebula.
Pros: sharp clear views, solid feeling
Cons: a bit too much for smaller scopes
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
This 2" Orion eyepiece Extension tube provides extra focuser back travel often needed to achieve focus for short-range terrestrial viewing. It includes two locking thumbscrews, is threaded for filters, and fits 2" eyepieces or focusers.
Rating
a needed item
PostedNovember 3, 2011
Quality
4
/
5
Image Quality
4
/
5
Value
3
/
5
Ease of Use
5
/
5
good quality extension tube that is a must when photographing through a refractor. I have found that the tube is actually a little too short when using a 2x barlow and the DSLR camera. I still have to go through the diagonal to get in focus. I have not tried this with other cameras.
Instead of a simple screw to tighten the camera onto the tube, a compression ring would be really nice.
Yes, I recommend this product!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
The Sky Atlas for Small Telescopes and Binoculars is a great companion guide for the beginner astronomer. Includes 8 two-color charts of the entire sky down to 6th magnitude stars, with dozens of interesting objects plotted on each page.
Rating
great little sky map for the casual observer
PostedNovember 3, 2011
Content Quality
5
/
5
Value
5
/
5
Although not as detailed as some high dollar maps, this sky atlas is a great little map for quick reference. It contains good information for quickly determining what can be seen when you're looking up. It gives short descriptions of visible items as well. My only suggestion would be to have a little heavier duty, plastic coated pages to make it more robust.
Pros: perfect detail for quick star gazing., light and compact
Yes, I recommend this product!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
8x40 Orion Illuminated Finder Scope with Bracket
Are you having trouble seeing the crosshairs in your finder at night? By using an adjustable-intensity red LED, the Orion 8x40 Illuminated Finder Scope with Bracket makes it easy. Features multi-coated achromatic optics and adjustable focus
Rating
good optics, electronics need help
PostedNovember 3, 2011
Optical Quality
5
/
5
Ease of Use
3
/
5
Value
4
/
5
As a view finder, this unit exceeded my expectations. The view through this viewfinder as great. One can easily make out fainter objects in the sky and center the telescope on them. M31 was clear and bring. Aligning the finder scope is easy and quick with the adjustment screws. It is not uncommon for me to bump into the finder scope and I have found that minor bumps do not adversely affect the alignment with the main telescope.
As good as this viewfinder is with the optics, the illuminator leaves things to be desired. The on-off switch is supposed to be dim-able. However, I havd found that using it in the low light output settings, it will not stay on reliably. I usually have to turn it up pretty bright or hold the dial just right.
Overall, I do like the unit and would recommend it to someone needing a finder scope.
Pros: good optics
Cons: unreliable low power setting
Yes, I recommend this product!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
SteveM's Review Comments
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