Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/08/05
Posts: 855
Loc: Churchville, NY
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I got a chance to spend some quality time with my Tak LE 7.5mm eyepiece last night. I was blown away by the sharpness, neutral color "tone", and light throughput. The moon was as detailed & 3D looking as Ive ever seen it. Jupiter, even at just 75x was showing good steady detail. The 52 deg FOV was never an issue and the eye relief is just perfect for this focal length EP. I could take in the whole field with total comfort. No blackouts, glare, ghosting, NOTHING!
So, unless you really need a monster FOV, I highly recommend the 7.5mm Tak LE for medium/high power viewing. Its an eyepiece that truly "disappears" and it was almost like I wasnt using an eyepiece at all - like looking straight through the diagonal or something.
They can be had NEW for under $200 bucks so while not "cheap", they are well within reach for most users.
 
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Stellarvue NG 80mm ED
Meade 7x50 Binos
Pentax XW 5mm
Meade 5K UWA 8.8mm
Vixen LVW 13mm
Vixen LVW 22mm
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ryderc1
member
Reged: 04/15/06
Posts: 91
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I agree with your assessement. The LE's are wonderful eyepieces-very sharp, contrasty amd comfortable to use.
If anyone is interested, I have an extra 18 LE for sale. I bought it for binoviewing but never seem to use my binoviewer. The eyepiece is mint with Tak box. Price is $125 shipped in the US.
Charlie
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Alvin Huey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/18/05
Posts: 1529
Loc: NorCal
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Yeap. Tak LE's are my main eyepieces with my 22" reflector. I'm a DSO junkie.
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Clear Skies,
Alvin #26
22" f/4.1 reflector, Takahashi TOA-130S on AP1200GTO (just sold), 30" f/4.3 StarMaster and Antares 6" f/6.5 on Orion SVP
FaintFuzzies | TAC | TAC-Sac
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Doug D.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1299
Loc: Virginia
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I completely agree - they are also my favorite eyepieces for H-alpha solar viewing (i.e., 12.5 and 18 mm).
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Refractors mostly.... solar and dark sky.
Charlottesville
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28276
Loc: montana
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While I only have the 5mm, couldn't agree more! The 5mm also has no blackouts, etc., very user friendly!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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NickG
sage
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 423
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Completely agree too, very easy and comfortable to use with excellent optical quality. Don't get enough praise imho. You have to go to some really super stuff to (very) slightly exceed them, eg supermonos. But perform better than common orthos (not ZAO's).
I really think the build quality is superb too. They are built better than many other so called hi-end brands, save for Pentax. You do feel like you get something for your money, with the only down side being they don't supply end caps, well, at least they never did. Maybe they do now? Finding your own isn't that hard anyway.
Any of you folks tried the Tak Hi-LE's yet? I think in 3.6mm and 2.4mm FL's ? Wondering how good the 3.6 is?
Clear skies
Edited by NickG (08/13/08 08:09 PM)
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jack45
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 2059
Loc: Lacey WA
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I have a 7mm Pentax XL, 7.4mm Tele Vue smooth side Plossl and a 7mm UO Abbe already. I guess I'll get the next 7.5mm Takahashi LE up for sale!
You guys and gals are killing me! Should be nice to see how each preforms!
Clear Skies!
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16"f/4.5 Discovery Split Tube/TV Paracorr
12.5"f/5 Discovery PDHQ/TV Barlow
Orion SkyQuest f/4.9 XT12"Intelliscope
Orion 120mm F/8.3 Refractor
Burgess BV 24mm aperture/Siebert 4 pc OCA
BV Pairs:26mm,20mm,17mm,14mm,12.5mm
Tele Vue Smooth Side Plossl,10.5mm,13mm,21mm,26mm,TV 11mm
UO Abbe Set,40mm 5000s Plossl,31mm Axiom LX,26mm T/5,LX,23mm Axiom LX,20mm T/2,16mm T/2,15mm Panoptic,14mm Meade UWA,10mm Axiom LX!
Edited by jack45 (08/13/08 08:42 PM)
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28276
Loc: montana
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Nick, I also would be interested in hearing about the Tak Hi-LE 3.6mm! I want to go a little higher than my 5mm.
Hopefully someone can fill us in on this one. 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28276
Loc: montana
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Quote:
I guess I'll get the next 7.5mm Takahashi LE up for sale!
You guys and gals are killing me! Should be nice to see how each preforms!
 We love the company!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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NickG
sage
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 423
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Carol, I also have the LE5. What a great eyepiece this is! When the skies are clear the Tak LE 5 comes out to play! 
Clear skies
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Tamiji Homma
sage
Reged: 02/24/07
Posts: 396
Loc: California, USA
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Quote:
Nick, I also would be interested in hearing about the Tak Hi-LE 3.6mm! I want to go a little higher than my 5mm.
Hopefully someone can fill us in on this one.
Hi, Carol.
Tak 3.6 LE gave me Trapezium A-F view on 80mm f/7.5 refractor last December.
So I am happy with the eyepiece 
I am also happy with all other Tak LEs (5, 12.5, and 30mm)
that I have. They are great eyepiece IMHO.
Tammy
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28276
Loc: montana
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Tammy, that's good enough for me I'll have to start looking for one!
Thanks for your post!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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mv1000
super member
Reged: 05/27/07
Posts: 110
Loc: WI
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The 7.5 gave me the best views of Saturn ever thru my dob. The 5 was close. I sold them after getting a TV 3-6 zoom. I think I made a mistake. The LE s' were much more comfortable for me.
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Starmaster 14.5 Hybrid/Sky Tracker
TV 60 (Finally! A nice finder)
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Tamiji Homma
sage
Reged: 02/24/07
Posts: 396
Loc: California, USA
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Carol, you are welcome.
I got my first LE (5mm) after I read your recommendation
Just in case, 2.8mm/3.6mm LE have smaller AFOV (42/40 degrees)
than the rest of LEs and shorter eye relief (5.8mm/7.5mm).
As you know, they are more comfortable than similar eye relief eyepieces as if they had better eye relief.
Tammy
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28276
Loc: montana
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Tammy, here you got the 5mm on my recommendation, & now I'll be looking for a 3.6mm on Your recommendation
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Alvin Huey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/18/05
Posts: 1529
Loc: NorCal
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The 2.8 and 3.6mm Tak HI-LE's are 6 element eyepieces. Basically speaking ,it is a ortho with a ED doublet barlow element. It has a 42 degree AFOV. I have both of them an is superb eyepieces.
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Clear Skies,
Alvin #26
22" f/4.1 reflector, Takahashi TOA-130S on AP1200GTO (just sold), 30" f/4.3 StarMaster and Antares 6" f/6.5 on Orion SVP
FaintFuzzies | TAC | TAC-Sac
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Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/08/05
Posts: 855
Loc: Churchville, NY
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Quote:
The 7.5 gave me the best views of Saturn ever thru my dob. The 5 was close. I sold them after getting a TV 3-6 zoom. I think I made a mistake. The LE s' were much more comfortable for me.
Yeah, the comfort is a big issue for me. I have been screwing around with high-power EPs now for weeks and I tell ya what... I'll take comfort and ease of use over slightly more light throughput everytime!
The thing with the Tak LE's is that I dont feel like Im giving up any light throughput for the comfort. Jupiter and the moon were jumping out of the sky the other night. Freegin COOL! Its safe to say the LE's "do it all"!!!!
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Stellarvue NG 80mm ED
Meade 7x50 Binos
Pentax XW 5mm
Meade 5K UWA 8.8mm
Vixen LVW 13mm
Vixen LVW 22mm
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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"They are built better than many other so called hi-end brands, save for Pentax"
Not sure why you think they're built better than the Vixen LVW series or Tele Vue. I have samples of all of the above.
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Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/08/05
Posts: 855
Loc: Churchville, NY
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Quote:
"They are built better than many other so called hi-end brands, save for Pentax"
Not sure why you think they're built better than the Vixen LVW series or Tele Vue. I have samples of all of the above.
Yeah, they are definitely in the same league as the aforementioned brands, but I wouldnt say "better". I have Vixen LVWs and they are built like tanks. Televue also slaps together a nice EP.
All good.... 
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Stellarvue NG 80mm ED
Meade 7x50 Binos
Pentax XW 5mm
Meade 5K UWA 8.8mm
Vixen LVW 13mm
Vixen LVW 22mm
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skyview
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 1086
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Short LEs are very good, I've noticed some astig off axis in the longer lengths (>7.5) in fast scopes (f ratio <6), maybe I got some duds. I havent used mine recently so maybe I'll take them out for a spin again and see if I still see it.
Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me?
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SkyView
All glory to the Hypnotoad.
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