BST Explorer Dual ED 12 mm test drive (1 Viewer)

[looksharp65]

Today, I've exchanged emails with Mr. Alan Willison at Sky's the Limit.

As you may remember, I have found the performance and value of the BST Explorer Dual ED 12 mm amazing. My scope is the Pentax PF-65 ED A II.

I gave Alan (very nice chap, btw) a proposal that the BF members could test drive this e/p for free, and he kindly agreed. (I also mentioned the possibility to do the same in the Cloudy Nights forum).

So I contacted Mr. Martin Fagg of England and asked him to be the premier recipient, and he was happy to receive the offer.

To be the second recipient, send Martin a PM with your address.

While this e/p is getting increasingly famous among astronomers, very few birders have tried it. So we are happy to know how it performs in real birding, for instance color accuracy.
I would personally be happy to know how it performs with a Celestron Regal scope, but anyone with a scope that accepts 1,25" e/ps is invited to try it.

Keep the e/p busy on the scopes and the roads/air!

 

[soultime]

The 12mm BST is a fantastic eyepiece for the price. I use it as my main eyepiece on my Celestron Regal 65ED with great results. If there's a downside over the zoom, it is that getting on to the subject is a bit more difficult sometimes due to the FOV, though it is a quite good 60 degrees. (I can use the zoom at 16X to scan and then zoom in)
The image from the BST is bright, very sharp to the edge and CA only appears at the edge in extreme situations. On the 65mm it gives a mag of 32X.
I also use the 15mm giving a mag of just under 26X which produces an equally good image.

 

[woodhornbirder]

I would like to try one.

HOw long is the test period?

 

[looksharp65]

I would like to try one.

HOw long is the test period?

Actually, Alan and I never discussed this, but of course every tester should keep the e/p as long as he/she needs for the testing, and when there seems to be no more interest to try it, we'll contact Alan about its future destiny.

/L

EDIT: Alan says that about two weeks should be sufficient, but if an individual tester needs to keep it a little longer, this is no problem.
He also mentions that there are other focal lengths available for trial. Maybe the 15 mm that soultime owns is worth to try?

/L

 

[Martin Fagg]

Unfortunately, due to short e/r, as I suspected, I can see less than half the view at best so I don't feel I can do the e/p justice.

From what I can see it looks very good especially for the price but I'm not going to comment further because I don't feel I can judge it properly.

I am going to use it again at the weekend for curiosity's sake and then send it on to the next tester.

Any takers?

PM me if your interested. I'll need your address to send it to and you'll have to pay the postage to whoever comes after you. We've agreed a two week maximum keep time to ensure it keeps moving.

 

[Martin Fagg]

Anyone want to try this next?

PM me.

Thanks

 

[Martin Fagg]

Anyone want to try this next?

PM me.

Thanks

Bump

If nobody speaks up by Friday, I'm sending them back to the supplier.

Go on, it's a good eyepiece despite its very low price. I just can't get on with it because of the short eye-relief.

 

[deltahogfan]

The 12mm BST is a fantastic eyepiece for the price. I use it as my main eyepiece on my Celestron Regal 65ED with great results. If there's a downside over the zoom, it is that getting on to the subject is a bit more difficult sometimes due to the FOV, though it is a quite good 60 degrees. (I can use the zoom at 16X to scan and then zoom in)
The image from the BST is bright, very sharp to the edge and CA only appears at the edge in extreme situations. On the 65mm it gives a mag of 32X.
I also use the 15mm giving a mag of just under 26X which produces an equally good image.

How much improvement over the factory zoom?

 

[Martin Fagg]

Hi folks,

the BST 12mm has now gone to John Fleet.

PM him if you want to try it next.

He hasn't hasd it long though so give him a chance to give it a propery try out.

Best wishes

 

[woodhornbirder]

martin, can i suggest you hassle alan about the 70deg eps that astro tech do.

he said he was gonna get some test models in, and they look a VERY intersting ep.

Probably worth doing a round robin with one of those too.

 

[Martin Fagg]

martin, can i suggest you hassle alan about the 70deg eps that astro tech do.

he said he was gonna get some test models in, and they look a VERY intersting ep.

Probably worth doing a round robin with one of those too.

Hi,

I think you need to tell Looksharp65 rather than me. He instigated this round robin.

Are you going to have a turn with the BST?

Best wishes
Martin

 

[looksharp65]

Hi,

I think you need to tell Looksharp65 rather than me. He instigated this round robin.

Are you going to have a turn with the BST?

Best wishes
Martin

I dare not try another e/p. Brain might get overheated if I find I need to change another part of my gear.
Woody, try the Explorer, it's awesome!

//L