The Houdini Family Has Grown
We are pleased to introduce two new additions to the series: the Houdini 30 mm and Houdini 9 mm, both available for preorder now, with delivery expected by the end of June.
The Houdini 30 is our widest-field eyepiece, designed for sweeping through rich star fields, framing large deep-sky objects, and making the most of your telescope’s field of view.
The Houdini 9 fills the gap between the 12 mm and 7 mm, providing a versatile magnification that many observers will find themselves reaching for night after night.
To celebrate the launch, both eyepieces are currently available in our store at a special introductory discount until June 20. After that date, they will return to their regular retail prices.
Retainer Ring for Houdini 20 Eyecup
The Houdini 20 is an exceptional eyepiece with one flaw: the eyecup is too loose and can fall off too easily. Very annoying when this happens in the dark!
We previously proposed a 3D-printed replacement eyecup in TPU, which we liked, but it apparently did not work well for everyone. It also could not be folded down, as the TPU was not flexible enough.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are best. Recently, we’ve been experimenting with a new idea: a 3D-printed retainer ring.
It’s very simple and works really well. With the retainer ring in place, you can grab the eyecup and lift the eyepiece. When folding the eyecup up or down, it is impossible for the eyecup to pop off. The ring is completely hidden when the eyecup is folded down and remains compatible with the original cap.
This is illustrated in the pictures below. For clarity, the retainer ring has been printed in blue PETG.
We intend to include a retainer ring with all future orders and to provide it free of charge to all existing Houdini 20 users. We will also publish the 3D model for users who have access to a 3D printer.
Clear skies!
Robert
