Quillon Saltire 30 mm wide-field eyepiece, with soft pouch

Specifications

Description

The Saltire 30 mm is a six-element wide-field eyepiece with a 72-degree apparent field and a 2 in barrel. Its 36 mm field stop sets a true field that uses the full aperture of a 2 in focuser. At this focal length, the eyepiece gives low power in most telescopes: 28x in an 840 mm refractor, 40x in a 1,200 mm Dobsonian, and 68x in a 2,032 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain.

Low power and a wide apparent field combine to give a large true field. In a 1,200 mm telescope, the 72-degree apparent field spans a true field of 1.8 degrees, which holds the Double Cluster in Perseus within a single view with space around it. The same field frames the full Moon with room to spare at 40x. Because the image is bright at low power, you can use this eyepiece to locate extended objects before you switch to a higher magnification.

The eyepiece uses six elements with fully multi-coated surfaces and blackened edges to limit internal reflections. The 20 mm of eye relief lets you keep the full field in view while wearing glasses, and the rubber eyecup folds down for that purpose. The 2 in barrel requires a 2 in focuser or diagonal, so check your holder before purchase.

Sharpness across the field depends on the focal ratio of the telescope. At f/6 and slower, stars stay sharp to the field edge. In faster Newtonians near f/4.5, you will see some softening at the outer edge, which is typical for wide-field designs at that speed. At 420 g, the eyepiece is heavier than a typical 1.25 in design, so confirm that your focuser's load rating is adequate.

About this configuration

This listing covers one configuration of the Quillon Saltire 30 mm wide-field eyepiece, defined by its case, eyecup, finish, and edition year. The soft pouch keeps dust off the eyepiece and fits in a jacket pocket during a session. A soft pouch protects the lenses from scratches when you carry the eyepiece between the car and the telescope. A fold-down eyecup is simple and has no moving parts that can loosen in cold weather.

The black anodized barrel and body resist scratches and do not reflect light into the eyepiece. This is the 2024 edition, which revised the undercut on the barrel and the grip rings of the Saltire line. Check the barrel size in the specifications against your focuser or star diagonal before you choose a configuration.

What's in the box

• Eyepiece with fold-down rubber eyecup
• Top and bottom dust caps
• Padded storage case
• Soft padded pouch

Compatibility notes

• Requires a 2 in focuser or diagonal; it does not fit 1.25 in holders.
• Sharp to the field edge at f/6 and slower; softer at the edge in faster Newtonians.
• The 2 in barrel accepts 2 in filters that use the standard 2 in thread.