1. Final Announcement: We're Saying Goodbye to AstronomyConnect. Read Our Closing Notice.
Dismiss Notice
New Cookie Policy
On May 24, 2018, we published revised versions of our Terms and Rules and Cookie Policy. Your use of AstronomyConnect.com’s services is subject to these revised terms.

Solomark 6mm Plossl ‘Blue film Fully Coated’

Discussion in 'Eyepieces, Barlows, and Filters' started by Mak the Night, May 5, 2017.

Solomark 6mm Plossl ‘Blue film Fully Coated’

Started by Mak the Night on May 5, 2017 at 10:43 AM

16 Replies 2773 Views 2 Likes

Reply to Thread Post New Thread
  1. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 5, 2017
    #1
    The Solomark 6mm Plossl ‘Blue film Fully Coated’ eyepiece is a well made Plossl with a smooth brass drawtube and rubber eyecup. The drawtube baffling is nicely done and the eyepiece is aesthetically easy to use. The filter thread accepted anything I threaded into it including Baader and TS Optics/GSO filters with M28.5 x 0.6 threads. I have no figures on the actual eye relief but it seems very similar to the 5mm of my 6mm Celestron Omni Plossl. This is 2mm longer than the 6mm Vixen NPL which only has 3mm. It cost £22.99 (Sterling) making it a couple of quid cheaper than a 6mm Celestron Omni.

    Solomark 6mm Plossl.jpg

    Stripped down it reveals a nicely engineered housing with no plastic parts and decently made lens groups. The eyecup is the soft rubber type very similar to those found on Meade, Bresser and GSO rather than the stiffer rubber eyecups usually used on Celestron, Sky-Watcher and Orion Sirius (which are probably all Barsta made) Plossls.

    IMG_20170505_124609.jpg

    In use it gives a sharp, clear image every bit as good as the 6mm Omni and GSO Plossls. I didn’t detect any light scatter or ghosting. It has a quite defined field stop like the Omni and unlike the GSO’s rather undefined field stop. It focused well in my 130mm, f/6.9 Newtonian when using a Baader helical focuser. Although the Omni does the same the 6mm GSO Plossl will only achieve focus without the helical focuser. This suggests that the ray paths for the Solomark are more similar to the Omni than the GSO Plossl (Celestron/Synta advise that the Omni Plossls are best used with scopes of f/6 or slower).

    Solomark 6mm Plossl 1.jpg

    The Solomark is advertised as ‘Blue film Fully Coated’ (sic) and this coating is quite noticeable when observed with as it tends to add a slight blue tint. I used the Solomark on the Moon and Jupiter at 150x and then went back to viewing the Moon at 300x combined with a TeleVue 2x Barlow. I could easily see Jovian and lunar detail at 150x. The images it gave at 300x were sharp and clear. I discovered that the coating seems to act not unlike a neodymium or moon and skyglow filter in a way. I was impressed with viewing the crater Eratosthenes and the Montes Apenninus with the 6mm Solomark at 300x.
     
    Ed D and george like this.
  2. Ed D

    Ed D Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2017
    Posts:
    855
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sunny South Florida
    Ed D, May 6, 2017
    #2
    From your report these seem like very nice Plossls at reasonable prices. What I really like is the smooth chromed barrel without 'safety' cuts. That would definitely be a big selling point to me.

    Ed D
     
  3. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 6, 2017
    #3
    Yes, it is a decently made eyepiece, every bit as good as Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Orion, GSO or Meade Plossls. The smooth chromed brass drawtube is a bonus. I much prefer these to the aluminium tubes, even those without undercuts.

    I'm pretty convinced many of the Synta eyepieces are made by Barsta (BST). The Celestron Omni series could be actually manufactured by Synta themselves though.

    I think these Solomark Plossls, which have no brand name on them, may also be marketed as 'Gosky'.

    As far as I can determine SOLOMARK is a trademark of Yuyao Qihang Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province, China. http://www.trademarkia.com/solomark-86424057.html

    I'm guessing by trading them under the 'Solomark' or possibly 'Gosky' name they are cutting out the middle man and the consumer isn't paying extra for an established brand name.

    As an example; in the UK Orion Sirius Plossls are twice the price of the Celestron Omni and Sky-Watcher series, and they don't even have brass drawtubes. The Sky-Watcher Plossls have identical housings and focal lengths to the Orion Sirius series. The only difference I can see is that the aluminium drawtubes differ as Orion seem to be phasing out undercuts. They are both identical to the Barsta Plossl series.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2017
  4. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, May 6, 2017
    #4
    Me too! I am quite intrigued - quality gear for those who can't toss 'bundles-o'-bucks' for the green-lettered squad!

    Please do carry on -

    Dave
     
  5. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 6, 2017
    #5
    Now ... if TV made a 6mm Plossl ...

    Dear Al ....
     
  6. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, May 6, 2017
    #6
    I think he's still in his backyard - keeping busy with his hobbies.....

    AlNaglerAsAKid.png..png

    Dave
     
  7. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 6, 2017
    #7
    Hmmm ... I've often wondered why TV don't make 6 & 4mm Plossls. I'd buy them. But there again, I'm crazy. lol
     
  8. Ed D

    Ed D Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2017
    Posts:
    855
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sunny South Florida
    Ed D, May 6, 2017
    #8
    The only Tele-Vue Plossl I own is the 20mm that came with the TV-85. It is definitely a top notch eyepiece. I have used the TV Plossl along with my Vixen NPL Plossls (15mm, 10mm, 8mm, 6mm) and find the Vixens to be every bit as good as the 20mm Tele-Vue.

    BTW, the 'safety' cuts on my Televue and Vixen eyepieces are shallow with tapered edges and barely noticeable in use. Also, Vixen makes NPL Plossls in 6mm and 4mm. They come to focus a few mm further out than the TV Plossl I have.

    Ed D
     
  9. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 6, 2017
    #9
    I have all of the TV 1.25" Plossls and a few of the Vixen NPL's. Vixen undercuts are fine and the TV's have a tapered lower lip, so also work well. GSO Plossls have TV style lower lips. They are all no bother to use with a compression ring.
     
  10. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, May 6, 2017
    #10
    As to any cuts, Mak will not have it! And I don't blame him. Any cut/taper is an invitation for the barrel to get stuck in there. I don't like 'em either! Had one stick and I had to replace the whole assembly recently - and it was brand-new, fresh from the box. It ate itself and tried to kill my eyepiece in the bargain.

    I, too, own a TV 20mm Plössl. They must be contagious. It's my only TV Plössl. It's a nice eyepiece, but not worth the price-jump. I don't remember what got my buying it. Especially now in view of Mak's testing these 'bargain' branded ones. The only other Plössl EP's I have are either Antares and Meade one's. They're fine.

    Ack! More incoming. Catch on the next round -

    Dave

    P.S. - Oh! You will tolerate those you cited above. I forget which brand blew-up in my face the last time. I stand corrected! Perfect timing there!
     
  11. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 6, 2017
    #11
    Undercuts are OK if they aren't used with compression rings. Full tapered drawtubes are probably even worse as they can deform compression rings.

    The answer is probably for OEM's to stop putting compression rings into stuff and to put nylon tips on set screws.

    And pigs may fly lol.
     
  12. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, May 6, 2017
    #12
  13. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 7, 2017
    #13
    I don't think I can easily obtain them here. I've read where some people have removed the compression rings from everything they have and replaced the set screws with nylon ones.

    IMG_20170507_142532.jpg

    It sounds like a good solution but I doubt OEM's would supply stuff with nylon screws. My Celestron StarSense and illuminated RACI have several nylon tipped screws.

    IMG_20170507_142921.jpg
     
  14. Dave In Vermont

    Dave In Vermont Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2016
    Posts:
    3,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Dave In Vermont, May 7, 2017
    #14
    On our part over here, Mak, I've never laid eyes on a Nylon®-tipped bolt/screw. But whole Nylon-bolts are pretty common-place. They are standard & supplied equipment nowadays.

    For instance - the GSO 8 X 50mm RACI - Finders I often endorse come with:

    http://agenaastro.com/gso-8x50mm-right-angle-correct-image-finder.html

    Smooth adjustment can be made without adding vibrations to the main-scopes' views at night in the field.

    Dave
     
  15. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, May 8, 2017
    #15
    I've only seen these nylon tipped screws on the StarSense and my Celestron RACI.
     
  16. BillP

    BillP Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2015
    Posts:
    165
    Trophy Points:
    343
    Location:
    Vienna, VA
    BillP, Jul 26, 2017
    #16
    Seems like their characterization of "Blue film Fully Coated" is probably just marketing for simple single coated optics.
     
  17. Mak the Night

    Mak the Night Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Posts:
    4,926
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Mak the Night, Jul 26, 2017
    #17
    That would be my guess too.
     

Share This Page