Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I find myself leaning more and more to total use of my UO volcano tops vs my Pentax XW's.
I seem to prefer them, despite the narrower FoV. They just seem to have a little something extra to me. Can't explain why that is, but I am now contemplating selling the two XW's I have, the 7mm & 10mm.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with them, and they are near perfect ep's in every way.
Any idea what the value of a near perfect XW is?
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction 
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russell23
sage
Reged: 05/31/09
Posts: 427
Loc: Upstate NY
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They typically sell for about $250 on A-mart if that is what you are asking.
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Lane
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1515
Loc: Frisco, Texas
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Doug the 7mm is only worth about $20 so send me the eyepiece and I will cut you a check 
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Mounts: CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager/motorized
SCTs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11,
Refractors: TV Pronto, Orion ED80
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 2096
Loc: Union,NJ
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Doug,
$25 and I will even include 3% for pay pal.
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C9.25 ASGT 9*50 MM Finder,FT Focuser & 2" Diagonal
Meade LXD 75 6 Inch SNT w 9*50 MM Finder
5,6,9,14.5 MM Zhummel Planetary EPs
13,17,21,24,31,36 MM Baader Hyperion
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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7331Peg
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 733
Loc: North coast of Oregon
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Well the 10mm is more valuable - I'll take it for fifty bucks! 
John
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orveko
sage
Reged: 02/04/09
Posts: 207
Loc: Chicago
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What is this, an auction? I bid $75 on the 10mm 
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Zhumell Z10 Dobsonian: 1250mm x 250mm (ƒ/5)
- Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas
- Smart Astronomy Sterling Plössl: 40mm
- Antares Elite Plössls: 25mm, 15mm, 10mm, 7.5mm
- Siebert Optics Star Splitters: 7.5mm, 6mm, 5mm
- Russell Optics König and modular Barlow combination
Oberwerk 15x70 Binoculars on a Manfrotto 055XB tripod and 128LP head
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Peter9
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/30/08
Posts: 810
Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred
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I, feel a Mod coming on
It's a happy and glorious ....................
Peter.
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------------------------------------------------
Some of the pleasure I get from life I owe to Astronomy.
Astronomy does not owe me a thing.
-------------------------------------------------
Nexstar 8se
150mm Helios Newton Reflector EQ 3 G.E.M.
6.3mm 10mm Plossls. Celestron 25mm & 40mm E.Ps. 8mm x 24mm Baader Hyperion Zoom. 2x Barlow. 9x50 R.A.C.I Finderscope. G.L.P and Bracket. Dew Shield. Home made Solar filter. Home made H.C Holder.(Great Asset). Maplin's 12V 17ah Auto Start Unit.
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40307
Loc: montana
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Doug; unless you need the funds, I'd suggest holding off selling them for a while, to be absolutely positive you won't want to use them. It would be costly to replace them. I've seen too many members sell eyepieces that they "won't use", then later realize how much they did like them.
Just a thought.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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ibase
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 1564
Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N
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Umm $100 for the 7? If yes, I'll take both.
Best,
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Hernando
Nexstar 8/CG-5 ASGT; WO Megrez 102ED SV; Antares 6" 1529; WO ZS66SD; Orion ST80
TV Naglers 5T6, 9T1, 12T2; Panoptic27; Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom,21mm; WO 7.5-22.5mm
BO/TMB 2.5/3.2/4/6mm;UO HD 5;BGO 6;Meade-RGO 7;UO-V 9/12.5;Brandon 16mm;Ultima18
TV 2x,3x barlow&8/11/15/20/32plossl; Aspheric31;Siebert36-OB;Paragon40;Meade56Smoothie
C-f/6.3FR;OIII,UHC,SkyGlow,U-block,8"S-flter;GLP/Telrad/MRF/9x50RACI; NexImge;Canon RebelXS
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Lane
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1515
Loc: Frisco, Texas
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I find it hard to even imagine someone parting with the 10mm XW. To me it is probably the finest most abberation free eyepiece you can buy that also has a wide field of view. For light transmission and sharpness it is definitely equal to my orthos. I can't make the same claim for the 14mm or the 40mm but from what I have read the 7mm and 5mm are suppose to be just as good as the 10mm. So why get rid of them, especially when you consider that they might stop making those eyepieces. Ever since Pentax was bought out we have seen their refractor line bite the dust and now the XO eyepieces are on the way out. Who knows if the XW line will be next. If for no other reason, I would keep them just because if they do go the way of the dinosaur their value will increase by a significant amount.
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Mounts: CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager/motorized
SCTs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11,
Refractors: TV Pronto, Orion ED80
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russell23
sage
Reged: 05/31/09
Posts: 427
Loc: Upstate NY
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Quote:
I find it hard to even imagine someone parting with the 10mm XW. To me it is probably the finest most abberation free eyepiece you can buy that also has a wide field of view. For light transmission and sharpness it is definitely equal to my orthos. I can't make the same claim for the 14mm or the 40mm but from what I have read the 7mm and 5mm are suppose to be just as good as the 10mm. So why get rid of them, especially when you consider that they might stop making those eyepieces. Ever since Pentax was bought out we have seen their refractor line bite the dust and now the XO eyepieces are on the way out. Who knows if the XW line will be next. If for no other reason, I would keep them just because if they do go the way of the dinosaur their value will increase by a significant amount.
I agree -- I've owned the 10mm, 14mm, 20mm, 30mm, and 40mm XW's. Without question the 10mm is the best of those FL. It is absolutely sharp to the edge, has the easiest eye placement - just a fantastic EP.
My only regret is that with my 120mm f/8.3 refractor, the exit pupil is just a little small and deep sky views a little too dim for my tastes.
Dave
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6592
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Hey guys everyone knows that eyepieces are EXTREMELY subjective and can only be judged by ourselves with our own eyes in our own scopes on the targets we use them on...
If Doug feels he prefers something "better" then his XW's that fine with me...only he can be the judge of what works for him...
Having said that..."Me Thinks" Doug has been parked for to many hours while waiting to be unloaded at some loading dock and is already behind schedule ...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2928
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Quote:
I find myself leaning more and more to total use of my UO volcano tops vs my Pentax XW's.
I seem to prefer them, despite the narrower FoV. They just seem to have a little something extra to me. Can't explain why that is, but I am now contemplating selling the two XW's I have, the 7mm & 10mm.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with them, and they are near perfect ep's in every way.
Any idea what the value of a near perfect XW is?
Isn't it weird? I spent what is for me a good deal of cash on a complete set of UWAs - and I never use them unless I have to, in my fast reflectors! It seems I don't really care about the field of view any more. I prefer eye comfort and there is just something intangible about Orthos - I'm sure it's the lack of SA in the exit pupil but can't prove it.
I tried to get behind my 18mm UWA the other night in my small refractor - the eye relief on that one is horrible but the view is great - but I just ended up punting ("To h___ with this!") after my closeness to the eye lens fogged it up - and went inside and fished out the cheaper 20mm QX 
-drl
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Rick Woods
Postmaster
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 5684
Loc: Inner Solar System
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I've been leaning the same way since I got a set of Brandons. But Carol's right - don't get rid of anything. Just put them in the closet for a while, you may change your viewpoint again.
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
Dyslexics Untie!
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Doug Culbertson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/06/05
Posts: 1353
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Quote:
I've been leaning the same way since I got a set of Brandons. But Carol's right - don't get rid of anything. Just put them in the closet for a while, you may change your viewpoint again.
What Rick said. Although I haven't used my Series 4000 UWAs since I picked up my Brandons, I still have no intention of selling them. Who knows? I may decide to pick up a non-tracking dob some day. 
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Doug
Midway, FL
NS11GPS/Feathertouch/Starizona Virtual View
100ED/Giro II
Some eyepieces and a barlow
1 Thermacell®
Life's too short to drink cheap beer
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Sean Cunneen
Let Me Think
Reged: 08/01/07
Posts: 1229
Loc: Blue Island Illinois
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I feel the exact same way except I don't think about selling my XW's. I love the fact that with a small sacrifice in ergonomics, I can offer someone I don't know a really good view with my Orthos. I think the XW's are a tad sharper though. If you don't NEED to sell it, I would hold on to that xw, no doubt they will be worth a bit more if they are in fact discontinued.
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Sean Cunneen
Blue Island, IL
12.5" Ultralight Strut Dob
127mm f/9 refractor
35Pan, 10XW, 5XO
Member of the Calumet Astronomical Society
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
Doug the 7mm is only worth about $20 so send me the eyepiece and I will cut you a check
Funny funny!
And you are correct, it is indeed the sharpest at that wide of field. But wide field isn't my forte, and most of my scopes don't provide it anyway.
Carol, I am still thinking about it, and am in no rush.
As for the rest of you, $100 or less, indeed! HAH!!!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
Hey guys everyone knows that eyepieces are EXTREMELY subjective and can only be judged by ourselves with our own eyes in our own scopes on the targets we use them on...
If Doug feels he prefers something "better" then his XW's that fine with me...only he can be the judge of what works for him...
Having said that..."Me Thinks" Doug has been parked for to many hours while waiting to be unloaded at some loading dock and is already behind schedule ...
Bob G.
Aw Bob!
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Quote:
It seems I don't really care about the field of view any more. I prefer eye comfort and there is just something intangible about Orthos - I'm sure it's the lack of SA in the exit pupil but can't prove it.
-drl
That's it in a nutshell. I can't explain it either, but it's so.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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BTW, even in this economy I don't need the funds, although of course they could be put to good use. But I hate for something to lie around unused, especially when I know there are many who would put them to good use. But I'm in no rush, and am still contemplating on it.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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gnowellsct
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/24/09
Posts: 733
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Quote:
My only regret is that with my 120mm f/8.3 refractor, the exit pupil is just a little small and deep sky views a little too dim for my tastes.
Dave
(Swelling disney music) The wonderfullll world of refractor ownershippppp! Where people complain about 99x being too high. Signed, C14 owner (minimum achievable magnification 98x). (actually I own refractors too, and it is true, I seldom use my 4 inch over about 60x)
Greg N
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"Aperture will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no aperture."
featuring selected astrojunk:
bunch o' widefield eyepieces
bunch o' narrowfield eyepieces
couple o' Barlows
couple o' scopes
couple o' mounts
couple o' tripods
and a pier 'n' stuff
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russell23
sage
Reged: 05/31/09
Posts: 427
Loc: Upstate NY
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Quote:
Quote:
My only regret is that with my 120mm f/8.3 refractor, the exit pupil is just a little small and deep sky views a little too dim for my tastes.
Dave
(Swelling disney music) The wonderfullll world of refractor ownershippppp! Where people complain about 99x being too high. Signed, C14 owner (minimum achievable magnification 98x). (actually I own refractors too, and it is true, I seldom use my 4 inch over about 60x)
Greg N
Yes -- I am not unhappy with the 120mm aperature, but it is more about the fact that I think the 10mm XW is probably the best EP I have and unfortunately deep sky views are just a bit too dim with that EP at f/8.3.
But it is great for the Moon!
I guess if I get a 120mm f/7.5 ED scope it might improve a little bit.
Dave
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chuckscap
sage
Reged: 07/18/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO USA
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I hear you Doug, I'm feeling the same way these days. I still like my 35mm and 22mm Pan for wider field views but after that I go right to my Zeiss Jena Orthos. I'm selling my 14mm Radian.... It goes right along with my Ethos thread ...
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3300609/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1/vc/1
Chuck
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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 2139
Loc: The TV/SV Wolfpack
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Truckstop Doug, just set your Pentax EPs aside for a month or two and then see how you feel about them.
I seem to go through periods like you're experiencing as well. Sometimes a month or two of ignoring an eyepiece enhances your appreciation for the goodness it brings.
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Kit
'Don’t worry about what telescope you own, or its quality. Just get out under the night sky, and enjoy God’s wondrous universe.' - Thomas M Back
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chuckscap
sage
Reged: 07/18/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO USA
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I agree with Kit, don't sell them. If you find them gathering dust a year from now and have an idea what you want to replace them with, do it then....
Chuck
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Well, it would be awfully hard to part with the 10mm. And frankly, the 7mm is just as good.
Let me add more to this. This isn't a hasty conclusion. Over the months of using both the XW's and the UO's, I consistently find, despite the massive difference in FoV, the UO's just seem a bit more "real", as it were. Almost like they aren't there, and magical magnification just appears in my scopes. All my scopes, not just one or a few, all.
Absolutely, the XW's are finest kind, and have much to recommend them, but the Ortho's, in my eyes, are just beating them by a small, but noticeable amount.
Different design, number of elements, type of glass, coatings, I don't know. But something is making the difference.
Sometimes I wish I had never been turned on to these $60 ep's, 'cause they make me feel foolish spending $300 for each of the XW's.
I'm thinking on this really hard, and as is my habit, I will decide within the next two weeks whether they go or not. If they do go, I am only going to post them on CN. If I let them go, I would want them in the hands of one or two of those whose company have enlightened and entertained me for the last two years.
Edited by Doug76 (10/27/09 10:15 PM)
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dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 257
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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Since I got my Hyperion and SA zooms a couple of months ago they've been just about the only eyepieces I've used. My Radians, Naglers, TV Plossl and even Ethos have stayed in the case, it's not really a eyepiece case but a 12 pack beer box. I've got no intention of selling them however, I know at some point they'll be back in favor. I would keep the Pentax for the wider FOV if nothing else. David
Edited by dscarpa (10/28/09 10:35 AM)
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Mike Hosea
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/24/03
Posts: 3957
Loc: "Metrowest" Boston
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Quote:
I'm thinking on this really hard, and as is my habit, I will decide within the next two weeks whether they go or not.
I almost decided to sell my 40mm XW because the exit pupil is so large...until I had a night with excellent transparency at home. I changed my mind because I absolutely loved it that night. Note the strong feeling, not just a slight swing in its favor. This is the exception rather than the rule. Basically, after I develop the intention to sell an eyepiece, I put it on probation. It gets another chance or two. In the vast majority of cases it just continues to show me why I got the idea to sell it in the first place, and off it goes. After doing this with hundreds of eyepieces, I have frequently experienced feelings of regret, but is it really regret if you could get another one and choose not to? Except for my 1.25" 2x Tele Vue Barlow, which I did replace (multiple times) and still have, every time I have gone back to an eyepiece that I "regretted" selling, I ended up selling it again, and then regretting it less.
Ironically, you're making me miss my UO circle-T orthos.
--------------------
Mike
Stuff that I use:
- 7" f/6.7 home-built Newt and equatorial platform
- 6 eyepieces and a Barlow
- 120mm f/8.3 home-built grab-n-go Newt
- Canon 15x50 IS and Eagle Optics 12x50 Ranger binoculars
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mapofthedead
super member
Reged: 06/01/06
Posts: 148
Loc: Cambs, UK
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I absolutely understand where you are coming from Doug.
When I think of the money I have spent on eyepieces over the years I have been involved in Amateur Astronomy, and considering how much I enjoy the views through the UO Orthos I have, I wish I could have bought the whole set of focal lengths and called it a day.
Not to say I don't enjoy the views with the eyepieces I do have, but if I were to start over, I'd know what the first things on my list would be
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You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself.
-- Galileo Galilei
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SteveG
sage
Reged: 09/27/06
Posts: 238
Loc: Seattle, WA
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FWIW, I recently picked up a perfect XW7 for $230.00 (local purchase).
--------------------
WO Megrez 110 ED on SP Mount
10" Meade LightBridge
Orion ED 100 on Polaris Mount
6" f8 Edmonds reflector on GP Mount
4.5" F8 Orion EQ Reflector
Astroscan
Meade 226 2.4" f11.7
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deSitter
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2928
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Best reason to keep them is for use in very fast scopes, when you can put up with the discomfort to get the good field correction.
-drl
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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Only have one sort of fast scope now, the AT90EDT, at f/6.7. Everything else is f/10 to f/16.7.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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Richard Low
super member
Reged: 11/27/05
Posts: 130
Loc: Singapore
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I will hold onto my set of XWs for life; will not consider to sell. These are my workhorse wide-field eps which work well in all my scopes with minimal edge aberration. I have compared XWs with circle-T orthos and I have sold off my set of circle-Ts. I don't miss them as I have replaced them with better planetary eps like the supermonos, XOs, XPs and ZAO-IIs. If in future you are going to use a non-tracking fast-focal-ratio scopes like a f/5 dob, you will find your XWs very useful for that.
--------------------
Richard Low
Minolta Activa7x35w, Pentax8x40PCFwp2, Nikon Monarch10x42, VixenBT80M-A, DenkII-PxS
PST, SV-F80, 4.5"Starblast, C5, 6"f/8 refractor, Mewlon210, 11"f/5AstroSky, 15"f/4.5dob(building)
XWs, XPs, XOs, ZAO-IIs, Supermonos, TV nag/pan/rad/plos
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I am for sure going to let the 7mm go. Haven't yet decided on the 10mm. I really do like it.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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7mm and a Stellarvue binoviewer (SV3) with ep's listed in S&S, 7mm in Eyepieces, the BV in Misc.
Gonna keep the 10mm. Hard to part with it.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
Edited by Doug76 (10/31/09 07:04 PM)
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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The 7mm XW & the Stellarvue binoviewer with accessories is now listed in the Classifieds also.
Definitely keeping the 10mm XW.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors, 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor, 90mm
1 SCT, 8 inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
Carton 100mm f/13 under construction
|
Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5574
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
|
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Things change, and I have in the end decided to let the 10mm go too.
Posted in S&S and Classifieds.
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