Telescope Reviews: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle

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Equipment Discussions >> Eyepieces

Pages: 1

drexelpbp
sage

Reged: 01/21/08

Loc: Phoenixville,PA

OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch
#3187692 - 06/28/09 08:20 PM

Looking for input from anybody with experience using an OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch.

Thinking of using it in an ST80 or ST120.

Anybody try in those scopes or similar scopes?

Thanks

Gary

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drshr
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/09/08

Loc: Darwin, Australia

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: drexelpbp]
#3187746 - 06/28/09 08:54 PM

Yes I have one.
It is Rubbish.
the 2" OWL's are much better.

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izar187
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/02/06

Loc: 43N

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: drexelpbp]
#3187747 - 06/28/09 08:54 PM

I have no experience with this ep.

My experiences with other budget wide fields suggests to me that this might be an ok ep for a slow scope. Maybe. A very slow scope.
6 element can be good, for a 60* to 70* field.
But for an 80*, and with 20mm eyerelief and all for only $45?
Also note that there is no focal ratio recommendations for this unit on the website.
Fast focal ratio field astigmatism correction, eyerelief, fit'n'finish, optical finish and coatings, and general quality control all cost.
I speculate that this ep is too good to be true.

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bcuddihee
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/04/06

Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: izar187]
#3187751 - 06/28/09 08:57 PM

I had the 11mm and the ER was terrible. Even with the eyeguard removed I could not see the entire FOV. Overall workmanship is also mediocre at best.
BC

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KWB
Postmaster

Reged: 09/30/06

Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.5400 feet

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: bcuddihee]
#3187764 - 06/28/09 09:05 PM

Hi

This eyepiece combined with fast F/5 focal ratio will shows loads of eyepiece astigmatism starting maybe less than half way to the edge of the eyepiece's field of view.

I have had experience will this eyepiece/telescope combo and IMO there are more suitable lower cost options available.

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rmollise
Postmaster

Reged: 07/06/07

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: drshr]
#3188453 - 06/29/09 09:48 AM

Quote:

Yes I have one.
It is Rubbish.
the 2" OWL's are much better.

I wouldn't call them "rubbish," but, yeah, in fast telescopes they are scary bad and lack eye relief (exacerbated by a poorly designed eyecup).

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94bamf
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/15/08

Loc: Kansas City,Mo

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: rmollise]
#3188663 - 06/29/09 11:49 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Yes I have one.
It is Rubbish.
the 2" OWL's are much better.

I wouldn't call them "rubbish," but, yeah, in fast telescopes they are scary bad and lack eye relief (exacerbated by a poorly designed eyecup).

Yes, "Rubbish" is pretty harsh. I tried my 16mm last night in an F/5 8 inch newt, it was really bad, unuseable bad. I think they work quite well in my F10 SCT and Refractor. It even seems it was useable but kinda rough in my F/6.25 refractor. So I guess I can understand somebody calling it rubbish if the only scope you can or have used it in is an F/5 or faster..

Ken

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Joe Ogiba
Postmaster

Reged: 02/14/02

Loc: NJ USA

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: 94bamf]
#3188687 - 06/29/09 12:02 PM

I have a 16mm 1.25" marked 80 deg UWA and it looks no larger than 55 deg AFOV to me. I think they labeled some generic 16mm Plossls as UWA 80 deg eyepieces. It's one of the worst eyepiece I ever seen IMHO.

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Dr Morbius
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/06/07

Loc: ManorvilleNY-but not for long

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: Joe Ogiba]
#3189191 - 06/29/09 04:00 PM

Well, that's that, I guess.

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KWB
Postmaster

Reged: 09/30/06

Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.5400 feet

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: Dr Morbius]
#3189228 - 06/29/09 04:22 PM

To be totally fair this same eyepiece worked pretty well in an F/10 refractor. Not the intention of the OP but what the heck as it's just another free opinion.

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drexelpbp
sage

Reged: 01/21/08

Loc: Phoenixville,PA

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: KWB]
#3189480 - 06/29/09 06:14 PM

I guess I got my answer.

Thanks for all the input.

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djeber2
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/02/04

Loc: Cloudy Midwest

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: drexelpbp]
#3189941 - 06/29/09 10:16 PM

I never tried the 16, but had the 11, and as stated very little eye relief. I would suggest the Agena 15 SWA or GSO Superview 15mm instead.

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Chris1485
super member

Reged: 09/05/06

Loc: U.K.

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: djeber2]
#3190393 - 06/30/09 05:51 AM Attachment (60 downloads)

I've own the 16mm and edge correction was very poor in my ST80.
Using a Barlow seemed to narrow the field of view quite a bit.
Eye relief was very tight. It's hard to see all the field.
On axis it was fine and compared well to my series 3000 Plossls.
I can't remember how it fared in my ETX.
I've found a review of the 11mm version on Mike Weasners Site, I'll try and attach it. Here though it goes under the name of Zhitong!!

Cheers,
Chris (UK)

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drexelpbp
sage

Reged: 01/21/08

Loc: Phoenixville,PA

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: djeber2]
#3191858 - 06/30/09 09:26 PM

Thanks for the reply Don.

Have you tried the Agena 15mm SWA in a fast refractor?

Gary

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94bamf
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/15/08

Loc: Kansas City,Mo

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: drexelpbp]
#3191887 - 06/30/09 09:47 PM

Quote:

Thanks for the reply Don.

Have you tried the Agena 15mm SWA in a fast refractor?

Gary

Gary, I don't think you are gonna find many cheaper wider field eyepieces that function well at faster focal ratios. I am sure others might have suggestions for around $100, but how about this ONE? I just bought a set of these with the 16mm, 24mm, and the 34mm. They are really sharp almost all the way to the edge in an 8 inch F/5 Newt..

I haven't tried the Agena SWA, but I do have the Agena EWA eyepieces, they are pretty rough at faster focal ratios also..

Ken

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erik
telescope surgeon

Reged: 01/30/04

Loc: Hawaii

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: 94bamf]
#3192209 - 07/01/09 01:38 AM

The eye relief was the main issue I had with the 16mm. I had to practically touch the glass to see the entire FOV. Other than that, I thought it was good in slower scopes like SCT's, and usable in faster scopes if you're willing to put up with some astigmatism in the outer third or so of the FOV.

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sailor70623
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/12/08

Loc: Ok.

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: erik]
#3194116 - 07/01/09 10:39 PM

I have the 11mm and the 16mm. The ER is very tight in the 11mm. Both work fine F10 and slower. I haven't tried them in my F5 or faster scopes. The 16mm works fine with a barlow. They both work fine in my ETX127, F15.

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youngamateur42
member

Reged: 11/21/12

Loc: California

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: sailor70623]
#5540908 - 11/26/12 07:51 PM

i know this is an old conversation but your saying that in scopes in f/10 or greater, there would be no problem?

justin

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aa5te
Genial Procrastinator

Reged: 08/30/08

Loc: Clinton, TN

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: youngamateur42]
#5541993 - 11/27/12 12:10 PM

Justin, welcome to CN!

I've used one in my f/15 refractor and it was still junk. One of the 15mm Expanse clones (EWA from OWL and others) will beat it hands down. The 16mm I had was full of junk between the lenses and had NO eye relief, even with the eyecup removed.

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bcuddihee
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/04/06

Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: OWL - 16 MM Ultra-Wide Angle - 1.25 inch new

[Re: aa5te]
#5542570 - 11/27/12 06:09 PM

so true....junk junk junk..nuff said.
bc

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