Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 10388
Loc: Oort Cloud
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Just wondering if there's much performance difference between the various brands.
If anybody has compared various units, I'd be interested in hearing.
Is the 8 to 24mm model generally superior to smaller 7 - 21mm units I've seen (some selling for under $100)?
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A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife and three curious cats.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2303
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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I have two Proxima zooms that I love to use in the binoviewer, and individually. When I had them to compare, I had both the Orion Premium zoom and the Explorer zoom. Neither compared to the Proxima. The field of view is much smaller in the Explorer, and the Explorer didn't have as good of an overall view. If I remember right, the Premium didn't have the same fov either. The Premium also wasn't as sharp at high power as the Proxima.
The Proxima is not quite parfocal throughout the range, but it never bothered me. It still sharpens up nice at 8mm, and the fov is the same or a bit bigger than other inexpensive zooms out there.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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pel
member
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 25
Loc: Maryland
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Just wondering...are your Proxima zooms the newer ones that are being sold by Hands on Optics for $139 or the older less expensive ones? The blurb on Gary's site claims that the current version is improved but no specifics are given. I am curious what the price jump over the older Proxima zoom buys exactly. Thanks.
Paul
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Primum non Nocera
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2303
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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The ones currently on the website are the ones that I have, and I bought them from Hands On Optics. I've had them for a while, probably around a year and a half, and use them a lot. I keep one in the Megrez, and I use the other in the PST. I also use them in the binoviewer a lot. Here's a pic of mine with the eyecup up and down.
Proxima Zooms
They work out pretty dang good in the binoviewer with the eyecups up. It gives the effect of looking through a real set of binoculars. In the PST, the eyepiece actually works a lot better than I thought it would. It seems like that's the one eyepiece I use the most in that scope. The only other eyepiece I entertain using in the PST is a 6.7mm UWA.
The field of view is deceptively good, too. You read the specs on it and think to yourself you're going to see the views one way, and are surprised that they come out a bit larger than you thought. The eyecups sound like plastic but they work pretty good and are rubber coated.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2303
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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I just skipped back the their site and re-read the info on the eyepiece. It's the same info that was there when I bought mine. I've never seen what was supposed to be before these. And what they say about outperforming other zooms at high power, well, I know for sure that they beat out the Orion zooms I had. They do have great contrast, and only in certain scopes have I seen any edge issues. In my SCT, the Megrez, and other refractors I've had them in, they perform at the edges pretty good. Only in the f/5 Dob do the edges start to soften. But, any eyepiece does that in the Dob.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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skyview
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 1086
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I would be curious to see what the opinions are on this as well. Seems to me that the hyperion zoom might be the best value but I really dont know.
Are there any zooms that are considered to be premium zooms? ?pentax?leica? Interested in picking up a nice zoom for a TV60.
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SkyView
All glory to the Hypnotoad.
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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/25/05
Posts: 1115
Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA
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I own the WO 7.5-22.5 and I am very happy with it.
It is surprisingly good for a zoom eyepiece, at least compared to my other eyepieces.
It works well in the daytime too.
Timm
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WO Megrez 80FD, Celestron C8
WO SWAN 33mm, UWANs 4mm, 7mm, 16mm, WO SPLs 3mm, 6mm, 12.5mm, WO Zoom II 7.5-22.5
WO EZTouch & Celestron Nexstar GT modified mounts
SV F50B2 Finder in WO Quick Release 50mm bracket
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pel
member
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 25
Loc: Maryland
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Katodog-
Thanks for the info. Very helpful. I think Gary is pretty straightforward so I tend to take his evaluation at face value, and his evaluation of the PRoxima zomm is very positive. I am still not sure what distinguishes these newer versions from the older ($59 I think) Proxima. I would like to think it is more than just inflation. One thing that is not evident from the description--how large and heavy are the Proxima zooms? I suspect they are about the size of a TV/Vixen but smaller and lighter than the Hyperion. I had a Hyperion but sold it because it was just too big and heavy. The Hyperion is listed at 0.7 Kg (1.54 lbs.) but no specs are provided for the Proxima on the HOA website.
Thanks
Paul
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Primum non Nocera
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3363
Loc: NJ USA
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I think the 8-24mm Pentax XL zoom is a great zoom eyepiece and it works great in all my scopes.
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2303
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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Paul, give me a few minutes and I'll throw a comparison shot with some other eyepieces.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2303
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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Here's a shot with a Celestron 32mm Plossl. The Proxima isn't that big, and not heavy. Seems to be just about the same weight as a typical eyepiece, and roughly the same size. Certainly not any bigger than a few of my UWAs, and nowhere near the size of the 20mm Owl.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 5101
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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Clive I've owned or own TV click stop zoom, Proxima zoom, Baader Hyperion zoom and the WO zoom II. The Proxima leaves in my PST which used to house the TV which I sold. The Baader lives in my 102ED and the WO zoom II lives in the 80FD. Of the four, the Baader is the best in FOV and operational smoothness in temperature extremes. The TV and Proxima where similar with a slight nod to the TV except for in my PST, for what ever reason, I just preferred the view and contrast in the PST with the Proxima. The WO and Baader are similar with contrast and fairly tight stars to the edge of FOV, but the wider FOV and the almost unuseabilty of the WO below 20° F makes the WO an also ran. I had the WO zoom II replaced by WO, while better when then the first one when cold, it is still way to stiff for my tastes when it’s cold. The Baader, stays smooth, albeit a little stiffen below freezing, and usable at least to 0° F, which is as cold as I wish to observe.
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Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M102ED S.V., ZS 80FD 10th Anniv, ZS 66SD, PST
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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pel
member
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 25
Loc: Maryland
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Thanks Ed, that puts it into perspective nicely. I am definitely more inclined towards a smaller, lighter zoom and the Proxima seems to fit that bill. Price seems right also relative to the others available.
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Primum non Nocera
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JeffB
member
Reged: 06/05/07
Posts: 23
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Timm
I've also got the WO 7.5-22.5mm Zoom II and it works great for me in my ZS66.
Sold my old Meade 18SWA as the zoom was just as sharp on the centre and much better (flat near enough out to edge) off axis than the 18SWA. Also I still get about 2.5 Deg FOV at the 22.5mm Setting.
Cant compare it to any other zooms or fixed eyepieces as I dont have any, but I think it would stand up pretty well if I did
Jeff
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Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 10388
Loc: Oort Cloud
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Thanks to all for your info! 
--------------------
A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife and three curious cats.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2303
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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No problem, Clive. It's the least I can do for turning me on to using the prism diag.
--------------------
The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 10388
Loc: Oort Cloud
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Quote:
No problem, Clive. It's the least I can do for turning me on to using the prism diag.
Cheers, Ed. 
--------------------
A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife and three curious cats.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
|
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