Improving Celestrom Ultima spotting scopes

[Nalawod]

Ok, I received my Baader Hyperion Mark III Clickstop 8 - 24mm Eyepiece Thursday evening. It installed pretty easily on the Celestron Ultima 80. I've done a bit of experimentation browsing off into the distance around my neighborhood, and I've compared it to the Celestron's original eyepiece. At 100yds, there didn't appear to be too much difference. At 200yds, the I began to see more detail and greater color. At 300yds, the sharpness of the lens and the color and detail was far superior when looking through the Baader eyepiece. I've also done some viewing at greater distances in the area of 1000yds plus and I'm very happy with the amount of detail I see. I even did some moon watching, and the view was quite impressive, so much so, that I'm in the process of acquiring the adapters I need to connect my Canon EOS 60d Camera to it.

As some have commented within this thread, I don't anticipate seeing bullet holes on standard paper at distances over 300 yds, but I'm pretty confident the picture will be sharper, and certainly be helpful when evaluating mirages, like Norm mentioned. I did make it out to my local 100yd range today, and the bullet holes at that distance were very visible, even on the black part of the non-splatter target.

Once I eventually make it out to a longer distance range, I'll keep everyone posted as to my experience with bullet holes at distance.

Attached are a few pics of the original and upgraded eyepieces.



Adrian

Hey Adrian, I could only get the Baader Hyperion Mark IV now instead of Mark III - but it looks to be the same components/threads. I'm trying to figure out how to connect this to the Celestron Ultima 80 and am still not getting it. Can you show a little diagram or photo arrangement of the way you connect it? Much appreciated...

 

[sfldiver]

Hey Adrian, I could only get the Baader Hyperion Mark IV now instead of Mark III - but it looks to be the same components/threads. I'm trying to figure out how to connect this to the Celestron Ultima 80 and am still not getting it. Can you show a little diagram or photo arrangement of the way you connect it? Much appreciated...

Hi Nalawod,

I'm at the office, so I don't have the scope on hands. However, I do remember having to remove at least a couple pre-installed adapters off the Baader in order to make it fit on the Celestron. I didn't realize they were adapters at first, buy eventuality figured out how to unscrew or remove in order to make the eyepiece small enough to screw into the Celestron.

I hope that helps for now. If not, I'm happy to look at mine layer, once I'm home.

 

[Hollywood]

Hey Adrian, I could only get the Baader Hyperion Mark IV now instead of Mark III - but it looks to be the same components/threads. I'm trying to figure out how to connect this to the Celestron Ultima 80 and am still not getting it. Can you show a little diagram or photo arrangement of the way you connect it? Much appreciated...

Here is the mark 3. Hope this helps.

 

[sfldiver]

Here is the mark 3. Hope this helps. View attachment 1011173 View attachment 1011174 View attachment 1011175 View attachment 1011176 View attachment 1011177

I just checked, and mine is identical to the pictures Hollywood posted.

 

[Nalawod]

Thanks Hollywood, sfldiver -- the adapters in the package worked exactly as you described. I love the this new Mark III on my Celestron. Especially the fact I don't have to be looking dead center through it to see perfectly.

 

[paulT]

Has anyone fitted a baader hyperion MKIV zoom Lens to a Kowa TSN-2 Scope does one of the baader addaptors that come with this eyepiece fit the kowa tsn2.

 

[paulT]

Anyone?

 

[BSJ]

Does the TSN use a threaded eye piece, or a bayonet style? The Hyperion has threads. I don't know what threads the Kowa might have. Hyperion specs are here https://www.baader-planetarium.com/...rk-iv-8-24mm-eyepiece-(1¼"--2").html?___SID=U

Edited to add better link. Looks like they have various adapters now. I've got no direct knowledge of whether or not it fits a TSN. An email to them might be best...

 

[paulT]

Does the TSN use a threaded eye piece, or a bayonet style? The Hyperion has threads. I don't know what threads the Kowa might have. Hyperion specs are here https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/accessories/optical-accessories/baader-hyperion-universal-zoom-mark-iv-8-24mm-eyepiece-(1¼"--2").html?___SID=U

Edited to add better link. Looks like they have various adapters now. I've got no direct knowledge of whether or not it fits a TSN. An email to them might be best...

Thanks BSJ email sent to Baader.

 

[Bart B.]

I bought a Celestron Ultima 80 spotting scope a number of years ago when I started shooting long range BR. I haven't been too impressed with the lack of ability to see bullet holes at 300yd and beyond.

I have one of those and its standard 20X-60X zoom eyepiece resolves bullet holes easily at 300 yards plus at 20X. Higher powers makes the image degrade. This is in clear weather and no mirage. Two others I checked had less sharp details.

It's as good at 20X as my 25X 77mm Kowa TSN1.

 

[paulT]

I have one of those and its standard 20X-60X zoom eyepiece resolves bullet holes easily at 300 yards plus at 20X. Higher powers makes the image degrade. This is in clear weather and no mirage. Two others I checked had less sharp details.

It's as good at 20X as my 25X 77mm Kowa TSN1.

Hi Bart Wondering if buying a fixed wide angle Lens for my TSN-2 For reading mirage for 800y-1200y would offer best results than a zoom eyepiece whats you view Thanks.

 

[Bart B.]

Hi Bart Wondering if buying a fixed wide angle Lens for my TSN-2 For reading mirage for 800y-1200y would offer best results than a zoom eyepiece whats you view Thanks.

Paul,

For me and in my experiences, fixed power optics always have best image quality. Subtle changes in mirage are more visible. Fewer compromises are made in the lens systems.

And wide angle eyepiece usually have less eye relief than standard ones; not good when a quick look at the target sometimes ends up bumping the scope. Besides, I don't need to see several targets when a few is enough. Like camera wide angle lenses, they're not as sharp as normal ones.

 

[paulT]

Paul,

For me and in my experiences, fixed power optics always have best image quality. Subtle changes in mirage are more visible. Fewer compromises are made in the lens systems.

And wide angle eyepiece usually have less eye relief than standard ones; not good when a quick look at the target sometimes ends up bumping the scope. Besides, I don't need to see several targets when a few is enough. Like camera wide angle lenses, they're not as sharp as normal ones.

Thanks Bart for your Reply currently concidering a 30x fixed wide kowa eyepiece and a opticron HDF eyepiece or a Baader Hyperion for my Kowa TSN-2 Spotting scope main use for trying to pick up changing conditions with mirage main problem is not been able to try thease lenses out before buying so will try and pick up as much info with each eyepiece before buying thanks for info.

 

[Paco]

Aquí está la marca 3. Espero que esto ayude.

View attachment 1011173 View attachment 1011174 View attachment 1011175 View attachment 1011176 View attachment 1011177

Aquí está la marca 3. Espero que esto ayude.

View attachment 1011173 View attachment 1011174 View attachment 1011175 View attachment 1011176 View attachment 1011177

Hola. Encontré este foro, y aunque lo escribiste en junio de 2018, y tal vez es un poco tarde, me parece muy interesante.
Quería preguntarte, Hollywood, si la lavadora de cambio que se muestra en tus fotos es la rosca M36.4. En cualquier caso, ¿podría decirme el nombre técnico para que pueda comprarlo? ¿Dónde lo compraste? Tengo el Celestron último 100 y quería actualizarlo con otro ocular o incluso con la lente de barlow. Como muy bien iniciado este hilo Sr. normmatzen es muy difícil actualizar estos Celestron Ultimas. Parece que las lentes corporales Celestron son muys y bien trabajadas, pero sus oculares lo estropean todo. Lo uso para ver y fotografiar pájaros.
Bueno, le agradezco de antemano sus instrucciones y espero tener noticias suyas.
Muchas gracias. Saludos desde Andalucía.

Traducido con www.DeepL.com/Translator (versión gratuita)

 

[D-4297]

Thanks Bart for your Reply currently concidering a 30x fixed wide kowa eyepiece and a opticron HDF eyepiece or a Baader Hyperion for my Kowa TSN-2 Spotting scope main use for trying to pick up changing conditions with mirage main problem is not been able to try thease lenses out before buying so will try and pick up as much info with each eyepiece before buying thanks for info.

@paulT , I changed out my 20-60-80 eyepiece for a 68 degree wide angle , Long Eye Relief . About $35.00 on eBay . I only use the scope for mirage . Works great , and shows even low level , soft mirage .

 

[paulT]

@paulT , I changed out my 20-60-80 eyepiece for a 68 degree wide angle , Long Eye Relief . About $35.00 on eBay . I only use the scope for mirage . Works great , and shows even low level , soft mirage .

Thanks for info.