Are zoom eyepieces better than fixed focal length eyepieces?

In this video I’m comparing variable focal length eyepieces aka Zoom eyepieces with fixed focal length eyepieces. I’m looking at their strengths and weaknesses and giving you guys some use case examples where zoom eyepieces make sense to buy and when not to. I’m also making some recommendations based on budget and quality.
Zoom eyepieces shown in this video:
Baader Planetarium Hyperion Mark IV Zoom
Review: • Can it replace all my ...
Svbony SV171 Zoom
Review: • Should you buy it? - S...
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3T8qpgX
Svbony SV215 Zoom
Review: • Svbony 3-8mm Planetary...
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3STc86f
Fixed focal length eyepieces shown in this video:
Baader Planetarium Hyperion 7mm
Review: • Worthy of your Eyepiec...
Explore Scientific 82° 14mm
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3kQTfnu
Review: • Should you consider it...
TS-Optics UWA 6mm
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3F4u2MU
Review: • TS-Optics UWA 6mm - Pl...
Celestron X-Cel LX 7mm
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3XEUAMs
Review: • Celestron X-Cel LX 7mm...
Tele Vue DeLite 9mm
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3Re9APe
Review: • Why buy this eyepiece?...
Tele Vue Panoptic 24mm
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3HaOpJe
Review: • Is it really that good...
Tele Vue 2x Barlow
Buy here (affl): amzn.to/3wxhdX8
Review: • It's like it's not eve...
Omegon SWAN 32mm
Review: • Omegon/Apertura 32mm S...
Eyepiece buying guide: • Great Eyepieces and Ac...
Understanding eyepieces: • Understanding Eyepiece...
Thank you for your support!

[@100amps]

Another great, informative and really well produced video, Bogdan. Thank you.

[@alexrichardson9125]

Thank you for a very clear and professionally produced talk. A lot of bits of information has come together in one viewing.

[@user-sz2hn3cr2q]

I use 2 zoom for my Dobson. It's so easy. 3-8mm and 8-24mm. It's fantastic!!!

[@MarkMphonoman]

Just realized you just posted this video. Nice. I prefer fixed focal lengths as well. High end like TeleVue only. However, for community outreach I will use an adjustable zoom ocular.

[@bill5982]

Another use of a zoom eyepiece is when kids and/or neighbors are looking. You have one eyepiece which isn't coming out of the scope and you don't have to fumble in the dark with a bunch of different eyepieces. Of course a good (emphasis on good) fixed eyepiece will outperform a zoom at the same focal length.

[@tuunaes]

While Naglers are optically top level performers (like all TeleVues) they have one thing making them not universal choise for everyone, or when showing sky to many people: Shortish eye relief incompatible with glasses. Though (just like in ES82) that's actually part of keeping high optical quality for wide AFOV in small size&weight: Making eye relief longer than focal length needs using retrofocus design, which adds optical complexity and the bigger retrofocality is, the bigger the increase in complexity. In comparison Baader Morpheus, which is one of the few long eye relief wider AFOV eyepiece lines, keeps its size also at shorter focal length.

[@michaeloppenheimer2582]

As the focal length gets longer, so does the apparent field of view.This is primarily used in Newtonian telescopes for deep sky viewing of Galaxy's and nebulas.We are lost globular clusters open clusters. And does our deep sky objects.

[@Crispy_Bee]

For me the narrow field of view of zoom eyepieces are reason enough to avoid them - I really don't like the feeling of looking into a tunnel while observing. There's nothing like an immersive wide angle view you can get lost in :)

[@joeimbesi99]

The baader haa been tested at over 70° at 8mm ar 12mm about 60 plus!!! But I prefer my Takahashi eps though TAK TOEs have enough QUALITY FIRST width second!

[@bill5982]

FOV is why I bought the SvBONY SV191 7.2 to 21.6mm instead of the SV171 8-24mm as it has a FOV of 42-65 vs. 38-56. It is more expensive but I felt it was worth extra dozen or so dollars.

[@MountainFisher]

Just tonight I was searching for Comet ZTF under Bortle 7 city skies. I used a 64 degree 25m ED eyepiece to search for the Comet I couldn't see. I switched to a 60 degree 32mm lens in my 102mm Maksutov because I couldn't find it and the 32mm found it. After finding the Comet I switched to the zoom and watched it at 12mm or close to 100x. I'm going out to dark skies this weekend. It is cold so dress up.

[@BogdanDamian]

@Mountain Fisher Great that you were able to find the comet under Bortle 7 skies with the 102. Even under Bortle 4 skies it's a bit of a challenge.

[@MountainFisher]

@@BogdanDamian Used binoculars to find it, 7x50mm and an angle finder on my scope at the same altitude as Stellarium said the comet was.

[@edf2953]

Excellent video Bogdan. I always learn so much from your productions. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have a Celestron 8 to 24 zoom lense. One thing I don’t like is that it does not “click”when you move from one focal length to another. This makes it very hard to know when I am at the next focal length when using at night in the dark. Do the better zoom lenses make an audible noise when changing the optical length? Keep up the great work! Thanks. Ed

[@BogdanDamian]

@Ed F Hi Ed! Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my videos. There are a few zoom eyepieces out there that have a click stop mechanism. Here the Baader Hyperion Mark IV and the SV215 from Svbony come to mind. I do believe that such a click stop mechanism, where you can feel and hear the click is an underrated feature. It should be present on all zoom eyepieces. Clear skies!

[@oninoyakamo]

My home and away scopes have f-ratios that divide into each other so I get by on 2 eyepieces and a Barlow: One EP for the widest field possible and a Zoom/Zoom+Barlow combo for close up

[@BogdanDamian]

@oninoyakamo That's clever. I am a big fan of taking as few items as possible when traveling and still have everything I need to allow for a reasonably complete observing session.

[@oninoyakamo]

​@@BogdanDamian Thanks! it simplified everything plus I could afford higher quality components as I was buying fewer

[@cattaraugustonawanda4426]

I'm old enough to remember when consumer grade zoom lenses became available for cameras. They were OK but not great and got a lot of bad press at the time. Today zoom photographic lenses are both common and accepted. I wonder if we will see big improvements in astronomical zoom lenses in coming years? I have a zoom lens I wish I hadn't bought mainly because of the narrow FOV and stiffness of the mechanical parts. Beginner trying to save $. Another thing to consider is if your zoom is the only EP at hand and something happens to it, it could end the fun until you get another EP.

[@MountainFisher]

"wish I hadn't bought mainly because of the narrow FOV and stiffness of the mechanical parts" You must have the Celestron 8mm to 24mm zoom? That thing is stiff, I put some super lube micro bead oil on mine and it fixed it, but I had to be careful to not get any on the glass, but it smoothed it out or I would have sent it back without ever using it. All zoom EPs have the field of view issues at the lower power F-Ls I'm afraid.

[@cattaraugustonawanda4426]

@@MountainFisher I have a few EPs for loaners and the zoom will go in with them along with some plossel EPs that came with a scope. Sticking with TV and maybe one ES.

[@MountainFisher]

@@cattaraugustonawanda4426 I'm the same way. I bought a C6-N at a pawn shop and he bundled a 2x Tele Vue and and three Fujiyama orthos, a 12.5mm, a 18mm and a 25mm. Easy to figure out last owner's reason for the Barlow. I have an ES 32mm 62° and a 8mm & 25mm ED 60° EPs which are really decent for my Maksutov. Oh, a Celestron Omni Barlow for the lens, why TV's screws off, but doesn't fit anything is beyond me.

[@martinyokhanis90]

If I could afford the Leica ASPH 9-18 with APM adaptor then basically reduce the EP collection by a few

[@palmereldrich]

Hi Bogdan, my eyepiece philosophy is strickly determined by my telescopes performance. Bought the Baader Mk. IV zoom as my very first upgrade then in tandem with 2XBarlow is my lunar explorer then T2 Naglers 20 & 12mm and some XWs 30 & 3.5mm and after confirming figure a 6.5Morpheus (as 6.7) and bought a 4 TOE and splurged on a another Morph the 17.5mm. Will pay the pain for the absolute king of oculars, the 6mm Ethos also. Good tips as always !!!

[@BogdanDamian]

@Lance Doherty Thank you! That is an excellent eyepiece collection you have there. How does the Morpheus compare to the Ethos in terms of imagine quality? Big difference?

[@palmereldrich]

@@BogdanDamian Hey! Ya still waiting on TV to deliver new stock; but I DID have a VERY poor TV experience the 4.5Delos was ?defective ? The 3.5XW mopped the floor with it so returned it. REALLY hoping that the 6Ethos performs EXACTLY like my 6.5Morph. That ones outstanding (which does 135X which is IMO minimum high power). I very slowly got the oculars, after getting, now get this Bogdan, a power BOOSTED (by extending the Mk. IV) on the Alpine valley rille, at an estimated 750X i canvassed the rille at leisure, every nuance etched. My scope which normally for ¼wave optics ia at 200X ceiling. Mine is just getting warmed up past 250X !!! Well anyways I am expecting ALOT from the 6Ethos as it will finally cap off my system 150X @.66degrees- the moon !!. NOT an eyepiece collector!! as every purchase was scrutinized extensively for aberration control at F/4 and I lucked into the T2s new and value priced. Outstsnding oculars -YOU must FIND !! I am TRULY blessed to have found this scope and when or if i should photograph through it on the moon (my fav !!!) I will blow people away -a normal ¼wave does maybe 6/7 craterlets in Plato i counted past a dozen easily. I could go on and on the colours the contrast the purest blacks and whites.. Mars at 273X perfect seeing- on approach view. Blessed !!! I Will keep on watching you !! Keep up the good work !!

[@BogdanDamian]

@Lance Doherty That's too bad about the Delos. Maybe it really was defective. Usually it's an outstanding eyepiece. The 6mm Ethos should be amazing on the moon though. Let me know how it compares to the 6.5 Morpheus. I haven't had the chance to test a T2 Nagler yet, but now it's definitely on my list. Btw, great setup for Moon observations. Clear skies and thanks for your support! 🙂

[@palmereldrich]

@@BogdanDamian Hi Bogdan! Sorry to praddle on but as i was contemplating my low/med. power quandry vis a vis getting a 17.5Morph and the expensive and quite frankly redundant ethos ocular i realized, an epiphany really, is what I REALLY need is a grab n go kit as my F/9 be so ultra precious i decided, just last night, and running all the numbers with what i have -a 62mm Evolux has my name on it. Right between the ethos and the morph pricewise. Now I am excited !! Really desired a good mini and a few astrobin images sealed the deal. Will report back with an observational impression IF it meets my minimums. Wish my good figure !! Clear and steady skies my friend. P.s i count the interaction with you as a good omen that i realized my solution before getting an unnecessary eyepiece, i really hate that !! P.p.s. still WANT the 6ethos, but now its a later purchase. P.p.p.s. Solar !!!

[@BogdanDamian]

@Lance Doherty Well in this case, good luck my friend 🙂 I'm very interested in how this new project of yours will turn out!

[@joeimbesi99]

The Televue and Vixen 2x are fabulous...Celestron lx 2x Apo is very good

[@HoutmeyersP]

Hi all reading this comment. I am a complete novice but want to invest in some decent eyepieces for future use. I allready bought and use the Baader IV 8-24 zoom eyepiece for months. That allready was an enourmous step forward from the eyepiece that was shipped with my telescope. Its very sharp and bright from 24 down to 16...and it has a good range. However at higher magnification the view gets a lot darker and definitely also less crisp/sharp. Would investing in fixed focal eyepieces from the Baader hyperion series ( like a 5 , 12mm) get me improved sharpness and clarity compared to the zoom eyepiece at those magnifications......or is it better to wait longer, save more money and go directly to the much more expensive Tele Vue fixed eyepieces in the same range. I need some help here....i dont have an enormous budget. Thanks for your thoughts and input

[@rajamanohar8004]

👏👏👏Excellent sir

[@petrustoian5270]

Hello Bogdan! An excellent video with really good points and recommendations. I'd like to ask you for a 200/1200 Dob with f.5.9 , which low power eyepiece would make more sense , the Omegon SWAN 32 degrees or the 38 degrees one ? I' m afraid that the 38 degrees might turn the sky too bright so the contrast will suffer. What's your recommendation from your viewing experience ? Thank you and have an amazing day!

[@BogdanDamian]

@petrustoian5270 Hi Petru! Thank you! Regarding your question, both versions should work very well with you telescope and offer similarly good images. In my opinion it's just a question of preference for magnification - 37x vs 31x. Depending on the amount of light pollution at your location, the 38mm might even show you (very) slightly more details on the larger DSOs like m42 or m45. Also think about the weight of the eyepiece as the 38mm weights almost 700g.

[@Frenky666]

Hello,Bogdan,i bought a 7-21 mm zoom eyepiece from TS Optics,in your opinion,wast it a bad choice?

[@namewitheld]

Thanks!

[@nisios]

It would be great if you could do some shots instead of stelarium :/

[@linou1968]

Hello bog.it s me from France!!can u tell which eyepiece u recommand me for my skywatcher 120 600 apo ?thx

[@BogdanDamian]

@linou1968 Hi! Sure, but can you first give me some more details on what eyepieces you already have and what do you want to observe with the new eyepiece?

[@linou1968]

@@BogdanDamian hello usally i watch moon saturn Jupiter pléiade orion .i have à explorer scientifique 20mm 52 ".i have also a skywatcher focuser 2" and i would like à panorama II 15mm 2"

[@linou1968]

Can you observe the asteroid Last night?

[@BogdanDamian]

@linou1968 Okay, then for planets I would recommend the DeLite series from Tele Vue. Maybe the 4 or 5mm. The 7mm + a good 2x Barlow would also make sense. Alternatively you could go for one of the Explore Scientific 62° or 82° series. For wide field views you could go for a 30+mm Nagler from Tele Vue or 82° from ES.

[@BogdanDamian]

@linou1968 No, I unfriended didn't had the chance.

[@MarkMphonoman]

DeLites = perfect.

[@GuybrushThriftweed]

That's a matter of taste. I have Naglers, Explore Scientific, APM,....and I all like them. Is there a perfect eyepiece? Maybe the very expensive Ethos :)

[@MarkMphonoman]

@@GuybrushThriftweed Sure thing I also have others I enjoy. Probably shouldn’t have said “perfect.” However, for their price they give much bang for the buck. Very sharp, bright oculars. Have a good day.

[@GuybrushThriftweed]

@@MarkMphonoman You too :)

[@mad_clown475]

they are hilariously and stupidly expensive

[@tuunaes]

@@MarkMphonoman While TeleVues are top performers, you can get very good eyepieces at wider AFOV for significantly less. And considering single eyepiece (/magnification) doesn't cover all objects and seeings getting two eyepieces for same has significant advantages. Though for glasses friendly eye relief number of choises crashes down. Still there's for example Baader Morpheus, which is ~60% of DeLite's price in Europe.