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Equipment Discussions >> Eyepieces

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paulsky
sage


Reged: 02/17/04
Posts: 384
LE Takahashi eps.
      #2690653 - 10/10/08 08:53 AM

Hello,

I am searching for any opinion of the LE Takahashi eyepieces,especially the 18 and 24mm focal lenght, anyone can tell me your opinion?

Paul


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Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 11/08/05
Posts: 855
Loc: Churchville, NY
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: paulsky]
      #2690717 - 10/10/08 09:38 AM

I owned a 7.5mm Tak LE and it was terrific for planetary and lunar study. I stupidly sold it to fund other eyepiece purchases. I wish I had kept it.

They are highly regarded eyepieces. Never tried any of the longer focal lengths but I bet they are very good, just like the shorter focal lengths.

--------------------
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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BillP
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 2209
Loc: Vienna, VA
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: paulsky]
      #2690744 - 10/10/08 09:50 AM

Absolutely beautiful fit and finish on the LEs. IMO out-classes any other Plossl on the market. The 18mm is no exception. As with all LEs, puts up a very contrasty image. Off-axis area I found not quite as well controlled as I would like, but that was in an f/4.7 Dob which is hard on about anything. Consequently I preferred the smaller afov of the BGO 18mm Ortho so less of the mirror's coma was in play. Never had the 24mm, but have always heard really good things about it.

--------------------
250mm f/4.7 Orion XT10i Dobsonian
102mm f/8.0 Tak TSA Super-APO
66mm f/5.9 WO ZenithStar SD APO
40mm f/10 Coronado P.S.T.




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skypilgrim
sage


Reged: 12/25/06
Posts: 411
Loc: Under a cloud
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: BillP]
      #2690941 - 10/10/08 11:45 AM

Paul,

I had the 18mm and agree with most everything Bill said except for the off-axis comment. But my fastest scope is an F6 so would be more forgiving than his

I only sold it because I stumbled upon a mint 16mm Vixen erfle that I was looking for. No experience with the 24mm.

Sam

--------------------
Equipment:
Scope #1: 5" f/8 refractor.
Scope #2: 3" f/6 refractor.
Daughters scope: XT6 dobsonian.

Area of interest: Ethnoastronomy
My Blog: http://fathersky.wordpress.com/


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Mike Harvey
professor emeritus


Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Orlando, FL.
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: skypilgrim]
      #2691048 - 10/10/08 12:42 PM

I found them to be very good planetary eyepieces...BUT - with "fast" scopes (say f/4.5 and under) there was an image quality issue off-axis.

Still - my biggest negative was that, with the rubber eyecups extended, the eypieces would invariably fog up!

This condition may very well have been localized: LOTS of humidity here in Florida...and the physical shape of my eye may have added to it (yours may or may not).

I, somewhat reluctantly, replaced the LE's.

Hope this helps.

Mike Harvey


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peleuba
super member


Reged: 12/01/04
Posts: 138
Loc: Southern PA
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: paulsky]
      #2691376 - 10/10/08 03:50 PM

Quote:


I am searching for any opinion of the LE Takahashi eyepieces,especially the 18 and 24mm focal lenght, anyone can tell me your opinion?






I have a whole set of the TAK LE's. I like them very much. But as others have said previously, on-axis very sharp, off-axis not so much.

My typical daily driver eyepieces are a set of Nagler Type 6's - really excellent and sharp to the edge. But I wanted an eyepiece that that was more color neutral then the T6's on the planets. I tried the LE's and really liked them in my scopes.

--------------------

Paul Leuba

StarMaster 14.5 goto/track
StarMaster 7" Oak Classic
Portaball-8
TAK FS152
Canon 10X30 IS Binocs
Sets of Nagler T4's, T5's, T6's, TAK LE's


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csa/montanaModerator
Astro Ambassador
*****

Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28272
Loc: montana
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: peleuba]
      #2691441 - 10/10/08 04:20 PM

I have the Tak LE 5mm, & love it! Very sharp views!

--------------------
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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payner
sage
*****

Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 230
Loc: Bluegrass Region, Kentucky
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: csa/montana]
      #2691482 - 10/10/08 04:37 PM

I had the set and foolishly sold them and am now slowly getting them back. The 18mm is a favorite eyepiece in my Intes MK91. Lovely neutral tone and very sharp. I have not had any off-axis issues, but all my scopes are relatively slow.

Randy

--------------------
CGE1400 w/XLT & FT MicroFocuser
Russian-Intes MK 91 Rumak
Takahashi FS-128


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WRose
Pooh-Bah
*****

Reged: 07/08/05
Posts: 1043
Loc: Colorado, USA
Re: LE Takahashi eps. new [Re: payner]
      #2691574 - 10/10/08 05:30 PM

Hi Paul, I have a short set of the Tak LE's from 5mm through 30mm. I can second the comments other have made about the on-axis, etc. As Randy points out, the off-axis degradation is more noticeable in 'fast' scopes. In an f/10 or slower it's much less noticeable and in a MAK or SCT you have to look for it. Only reason I don't use mine much is becuase I have Masuyamas, otherwise I'd use them for binocular viewing quite a lot. The 18mm & 24mm are very good preformers and think you'd be happy with them as far a on-axis viewing if you have a fast scope. If you're looking for something to use in say a fast DOB that provides a little better off-axis control, you might try a 24mm Panoptic in your scope. The 24mm Tak LE has a more neutral coloration but the edge control issues start further in on the Tak than the 24mm Panoptic. The 18mm Tak LE is very similar to the 19mm Panoptic as far as edge distortion. As expected, the Panoptics add the traditional TV "coffee" tone but not as bad as some of the other TV eyepieces.

--------------------
Clear Skies, Bill





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