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rocco13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 1546
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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Although many of you are not fans of zoom EP's, I like the convenience factor. I'm curious to know if there are dramatic differences between brands.
I have a $60 Celestron 8-24mm zoom, and would like to know if buying the $240 TeleVue or $190 Vixen (both are 8-24 also) will really improve what I'm seeing.
The FOV's are all the same, 40-60 degrees. In my f/4.9, I get some blurred edges at 24mm, but that disappears when I zoom in to 20mm and lower.
Can I expect better views from the higher-end zooms?
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Rocco
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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havane45
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/28/06
Posts: 627
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You can find nice planetary TV plossl, Antares ortho and so on at a low price.
You can find WA and UWA at a reasonable price ; WO for exemple.
Zooms are, IMO, the only kind of eyepieces where you get exactly what you pay for.
I am a "zoom-lover" as I am fed up with the eyepiece-hunting. 8-24 Vixen zoom and clones have a poor image between 8 and 12 (I have one).
I use the TV 3-6 and Leica 7-21 ; I would not say you can expect a better view with a high-end zoom : I would say you will have a very good view.
FOV is the main issue but the TV is 50° and the Leica reaches quite 70° at 7mm (a poor 40° at 21)
Those two eyepieces can replace my full set ot Vixen from 4 to 25, with the same FOV, and in fact are less expensive with a much better quality.
Have a look at Nikon, Zeiss, Leica, TV and Pentax. There are interesting reviews about them.
Obviously, you'll need WA.
I think that the 16mm UWAN will soon (around 25th of december) come into my eyepiece box.
At this time, 3 eyepieces will fulfill 95% of what I need ; the 28mm UWAN will come one day for the 5% missing.
Just my opinion with my eyes.
Laurent
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andydj5xp
sage
Reged: 05/27/04
Posts: 384
Loc: 52.269 N/10.571 E
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Quote:
Have a look at Nikon, Zeiss, Leica, TV and Pentax. There are interesting reviews about them.
Obviously, you'll need WA.
I think that the 16mm UWAN will soon (around 25th of december) come into my eyepiece box.
At this time, 3 eyepieces will fulfill 95% of what I need ; the 28mm UWAN will come one day for the 5% missing.
Just my opinion with my eyes.
Laurent
I'll second that quite firmly.
For high power viewing (solar system) with my TEC 140 I mainly use my Leica zoom 22...7.3 mm (mostly barlowed 1.75x with Baader-Zeiss variable barlow) to give 12.6...4.2 mm.
For deep sky I love my WO UWAN16, either solo or barlowed also (1.85x = 8.6 mm or even 2.7x = 5.9 mm) and - same as you - for the "last 5%" my UWAN28.
Andreas
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TEC140 (#216)
Leica 22...7.3mm zoom, barlowed 1.75x (12.6...4.2mm)
Zeiss AbbeII set with Barlow 2x
WO UWAN16, also barlowed 1.78x (9mm)
WO UWAN28
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4419
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I agree with Laurent-I also have the Leica 22-7 and TV 6-3 zooms and they are excellent eps. The TV 24-8 is not near the quality, the others reportly less.
The quality zooms are fun, but you do not save much money over the alternativies.
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 5248
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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I have a 400 dollar Zeiss Zoom wow clear crisp contrast 
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Lunt H-alpha LS200THaDS with 3200 blocker (Pre- ordered)Xmas Maybe?
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club(Greenbank NRAO)
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A 500mm FL 1200 blocker
14.5 inch f 3.74 Starmaster Zambuto Dob
2 inch APM Herschel wedge LUNT Cal K Module in a80mm Brandon 500mm FL 2.4A 1200 blocker...
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DanJ
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/01/04
Posts: 1026
Loc: Youngsville, NC
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My Orion Premium is pretty nice. It shows just a little CA at the edge. I use it mainly on lunar, globs and in my PST. I also use it when showing objects to friends.
My SW 5-8 zoom is a winner 
Cheers,
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Dan J.
XT8i
ETX 90
PST
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hoof
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 1424
Loc: Irvine, CA
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Quote:
I am a "zoom-lover" as I am fed up with the eyepiece-hunting. 8-24 Vixen zoom and clones have a poor image between 8 and 12 (I have one).
I've heard different reports on this eyepiece, and others noticing that they vary in image quality. My Vixen 8-24mm is very good from 8mm to 12mm. It's not as good as my 9mm B/TMB Planetary at 9mm, but it's still a very sharp image. My zoom's primary "problem" is subjective, since it shows the same image while you're looking at it as you change magnification, it shows you how images degrade as you increase magnification. Direct comparison with known good single-focus eyepieces confirmed this for me.
As you increase magnification, images get darker and less contrasty. In addition, unless seeing is very good and your 'scope is fast, 8mm will be pushing either the diffraction limit, or the seeing limit, or both.
I own lots of eyepieces, ranging from TMB Supermonos to TV Naglers to the Antares variable-focus eyepiece. I've owned the TV 3-6mm Nagler zoom, and had a 'scope where it worked on (an F/5 12.5" truss dob with a Discovery mirror). To my experience, the Vixen zoom does a very good job vs dedicated focus eyepieces. It's primary problem at low power is restricted field of view, and at high power, the dedicated eyepieces tend to be more contrasty (esp. the Supermonos). But for general purpose, the zoom is very nice, and with it's good eye relief, I often use it for public star parties as it means I can show many different targets w/o having to have my eyepiece case out.
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Jonathan Hoof
15" F/4.14 Discovery Truss
8" F/5.9 Orion XT8i
6" F/6 Intes-Micro MN66
4.5" F/4 Orion Starblast
80mm F/7.5 Orion 80ED
18x50 IS Canon binoculars
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havane45
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/28/06
Posts: 627
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Quote:
I've heard different reports on this eyepiece, and others noticing that they vary in image quality. My Vixen 8-24mm is very good from 8mm to 12mm.
You said it. It seems some are correct for a middle priced zoom and some are not. The QC is certainly responsable for that. How can you buy it if you know it is something like a lottery ?
Comparing the vixen 8-24 side by side with my set of vixen LV eyepieces, there is no doubt, my 8-24 zoom is not a good one. despite this, it was my most used eyepiece especialy for day time till I got the Leica.
Laurent
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rocco13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 1546
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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Ok, it seems the Leica gets pretty high marks.
Who sells them here in the States? Not Orion, OPT, Agena, Starizona....
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Rocco
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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