rguasto
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
#4219494 - 11/30/10 05:33 PM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Anyone have experience with the Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces - looking at the 17mm.
Thanks,
-Rob
|
Lane
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/19/07
Loc: Frisco, Texas
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4219762 - 11/30/10 07:42 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Very few of the Astro-Tech eyepieces are mentioned out here. I would really like to read some reports on them, so if you eventually buy one then tell us what you think after you try it out.
|
Jerry Hyman
sage
Reged: 03/29/07
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Lane]
#4219777 - 11/30/10 07:50 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I have the 22mm and 13mm on the way. After I have used them I will give a report.
I posted a similar question here recently and one person suggested that they are the same as the Celestron LX series repackaged. After comparing the specs he may be correct.
Right now they are on sale for $99.00 each!
~jerry
|
rguasto
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Jerry Hyman]
#4219812 - 11/30/10 08:12 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Thanks,
That's what I thought. Probably why I can't find any reviews, anywhere.
-Rob
|
David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Loc: North Carolina
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Jerry Hyman]
#4221768 - 12/01/10 05:57 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Jerry, looking forward to your report here. Just a hunch but looking at the eyepieces on Astronomic's website and comparing their focal lengths I'd say they would perform on par with the Baader Hyperion/Orion Stratus lines. If so, they'd be a really nice eyepiece for a great price. 
|
Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Loc: Canton, OH
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: David E]
#4221866 - 12/01/10 06:38 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
The AF-70's appear to be clones of the unfortunately bulky Celestron Ultima LX series. So if you can find a review of the 17mm Celestron Ultima LX, you'll probably have a good idea of what to expect with the 17mm AF-70.
I haven't tried the 17mm, but I did have the 22mm and the 13mm, both tested with an f/5 achromatic refractor and an f/4.9 dob.
The 13mm is sharp out to about 75%-80% from center, where a combination of lateral color, off-axis astigmatism and field curvature starts to deform the stars towards the edge of the FOV.
The 22mm AF-70, though, is one of the best-kept secrets among mid-range eyepieces. It's sharp to about 85-90% from center (again, these are fast scopes I tested them in). Lateral color, off-axis astigmatism and field curvature soften the edges, but noticeably less than the 13mm. The 22mm AF-70 also has a field stop of about 28mm, which is far more than a similar-priced 21mm Hyperion. Edge correction in the 22AF-70 is *much* better than a 21mm Hyperion.
A Paracorr sharpens the 13mm noticeably, but not greatly. The 22mm, though, is very sharp with a Paracorr, as it takes care of most of the field curvature at the edge. It's a beautiful combo.
If you're using any scope of f/6 or slower or a Paracorr with a Newtonian, the AF-70s will work fine.
Clear Skies,
Phil
Edited by Phillip Creed (12/01/10 06:42 PM)
|
Djarum
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/12/09
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Phillip Creed]
#4223203 - 12/02/10 11:36 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I was thinking about getting a 13mm. I wonder if the 17mm is sharper than the 13mm.
|
rguasto
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Djarum]
#4223254 - 12/02/10 12:05 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I have the 17 on order. Will let you know how it is in my 8" F8 Newt. I see you have a paradigm 25mm - like it?
|
russell23
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/31/09
Loc: Upstate NY
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4223290 - 12/02/10 12:23 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
They are on sale for $99.95 right now.
|
dscarpa
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/15/08
Loc: San Diego Ca.
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4223307 - 12/02/10 12:29 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
If you don't mind paying twice as much the WO 16 UWAN is a excellent eyepiece, I traded my Hyperion 17 and 24 for one a couple of weeks ago. It's performance is very similar to my Nagler T6s for both lunar-planetary and DSOs. The UWAN gives me more power than the 17 Hyperion and the true FOV of the 24. David
Edited by dscarpa (12/02/10 12:32 PM)
|
rguasto
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: dscarpa]
#4223357 - 12/02/10 01:01 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Not really in the budget - I'll get (need) 2 ep's and a full tank of gas in the car for that! Maybe someday. I have been attracted to that ep though!
|
dscarpa
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/15/08
Loc: San Diego Ca.
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4223679 - 12/02/10 03:24 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
It wasn't really in my budget either nor was the T6 I bought used in October. If I didn't have the Hyperions to trade I wouldn't have gotten it. I bought it at OPT on their no sales tax or 10% off weekend for $220. There was a post on C.N. here about 6 months ago from someone who got the AFs to use as second string to his premium eyepieces. He like them a lot except for a optical issue with the 8. I think he had the 17. David
Edited by dscarpa (12/02/10 03:30 PM)
|
Djarum
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/12/09
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4223766 - 12/02/10 04:03 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
I have the 17 on order. Will let you know how it is in my 8" F8 Newt. I see you have a paradigm 25mm - like it?
Sharper than a plossl, but my 24mm meade is much sharper toward the edge. It has good eye relief and seems like it has slightly higher transmission than the meade.
|
Jerry Hyman
sage
Reged: 03/29/07
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Djarum]
#4235166 - 12/07/10 11:02 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Well they finally arrived and I should be able to test them this week. I will be comparing the 22mm to my Panoptic 22mm, and a Denk 21mm. The 13mm will be pitted against my 14mm ES100, 12.5 flat field, and 12.5 Sterling. I will be using a 8" f10 EdgeHD and f5.6 10" Dob.
~jerry
|
cheapersleeper
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/22/10
Loc: Sachse TX
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Jerry Hyman]
#4235234 - 12/07/10 11:26 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Hey, Jerry, I am really looking forward to seeing what you think. I need an eyepiece somewhere around that focal length and am not sure what to get.
Regards,
Brad
|
rguasto
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4238168 - 12/09/10 10:40 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Received the 17mm 3 days ago. Cannot review the eyepiece in a technical fashion, but I can tell you that the views are fantastic. this is my best EP, image quality is equal to my TV 11mm Plossl. The wide FOV is amazing, Saturn, Jupiter, Orion and Andromeda are impressive. Barlow's very well for a mag of ~188x in my criterion 8" F8. Excellent detail on planets. $107 delivered is unbeatable! I'm not really a fan of long eye relief, I actually like the 8mm of relief the TV Plossl provides - it's nice to have to rest your orbit on the rubber eyecup (my wife agrees) This was money well spent!
|
scott m
sage
Reged: 12/06/07
Loc: Hatfield Pa
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4238477 - 12/09/10 01:03 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
What telescope did you use this in?
|
rguasto
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/18/10
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: scott m]
#4238522 - 12/09/10 01:26 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
What telescope did you use this in?
criterion 8" f8 dynascope
|
Feidb
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/09
Loc: Nevada
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: rguasto]
#4238748 - 12/09/10 03:26 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Ah, now that's a classic scope. Not many of the 8's around. I used the old RV-6 for a while when I was a kid. Wasn't mine. Sorry to get off topic.
|
Scanning4Comets
Markus
Reged: 12/26/04
Loc: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
|
Re: Astro Tech AF 70 eyepieces?
[Re: Feidb]
#5143270 - 03/27/12 01:39 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
What is the 17mm like in a short FL scope? What about the 22mm in a short FL scope?
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
