glotwp55
member
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 46
Loc: South Jersey
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Sure, everyone's #1 concern with eyepieces is their performance, myself included. While some people might find this trait trivial, however, I feel that some eyepiece designs are actually quite beautiful in themselves. Just something about the metal, glass, and rubber coming together in a special way. For me, I find the hyperion line to be quite good looking eyepieces. The size, and design, and big glass combine to make one good looking eyepiece. I like with the addition of the color code on each focal length, which adds a little color into the design. On the other hand, I think the meade swa and uwa series are quite ugly, especially the longer focal lengths. They just look, well, bloated and fat. Almost like a beer belly.  Believe me, if the ugliest eyepiece in the world was the best performer, I'd still use it. It's just a little plus when an eyepiece looks good too. So what are the best and worst looking eyepieces for you?
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 44021
Loc: montana
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To me, I think the Masuyama's were absolutely the most beautiful eyepieces!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
Garrett 20x80 TWP setup
DreamCatcher Dobservatory
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RalphK
member
Reged: 02/07/08
Posts: 67
Loc: Outside Philly
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glotwp55,
Must respectfully disagree. Have my ST80 out right now with a Meade 24mm SWA and they just seem to fit: both short and squat but look good and perform wonderfully together. But I'd better go get them...it's clouding up.
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Celestron Omni XLT 120
Orion ST80
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Lane
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1682
Loc: Frisco, Texas
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Ugliest - Panoptic 41mm gets my vote, if it was a car it would be named Edsel.
Best looking - I would say the AstroTech Paradigm Dual ED series. I like those dual colored rings and the idea of giving each one a unique color. Of course, those colors would not show up at night so they must have done it strictly to make them look pretty in the daytime.
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Mounts: CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager/jmi motorized
SCTs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11,
Refractors: TV Pronto, Orion ED80, AT106
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Rob S
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/16/07
Posts: 518
Loc: NZ
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I still think the Pentax XW range is naff.
Rob.
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8" f5 Dob with Feathertouch
Brandon: 16
Pentax: 7, 10 & 20XW
TMB: 30 Paragon
TV: 8 & 13 Ethos;
5 & 13 NaglerT6;
24 Panoptic
Leica Trinovid 8x50 BN
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deSitter
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 3338
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I like the engraved markings of my old Meade orthos, of which the 12.5mm gets constant use. The lettering is white and blue and is painted into engraved recesses in the good proper eyepiece fashion. Like all real telescopes are white, all real eyepieces have engraved markings 
This eyepiece has a lean and mean and all business look to it. "Here be wonders."
-drl
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Shawn H
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/16/07
Posts: 3992
Loc: Southern France 43°56'N-4°50'E
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My ep's are soo beautifull, I sometimes just put em on the table & stare at em!
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18" David Lukehurst truss Dobson with Sky Commander flash 4 DSC's & Moonlite CR2 focuser & Astrocrumb filter slide
Orion xt10i fully flocked with Telrad on 4" risers & Feather Touch focuser & huge Boston Red Sox decal
The original Orion StarBlast & 15x70 Celestron Skymaster binos & Ethos & Naglers & Dobs oh my!
Orion Ultrablock narrowband filter & Astronomik OIII line filter
Tele Vue 2x Barlow & Antares 1.6x (2") Barlow
CATSEYE collimation tools, TeleGizmos Dob covers
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Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 504
Loc: Canada
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Funny thread. I think I will be despised for this, but I dislike the way the Ethos 21mm looks. Same thing for the 31mm Nagler, and 35/41mm Panoptic. They each look like they have spent too much time eating potato chips and drinking beer. The 22mm Nagler looks awesome. Wish I had one!
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Celestron CPC 1100 
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 3277
Loc: New Hampshire
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Best looking -> Pan19 and Pan24
Worst --> Meade 5K UWAs
Rob
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Rob
**********************
Canon 12x36 IS binos
TEC-140: #433 on CGEM
Faworski orthos (7,10,16.7mm)
stuff ...
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 3074
Loc: Union,NJ
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I think the Meade UWA are one of the best looking EP's out there. I have 2 of them and when I pull them out people are like, those are COOL looking eyepieces and I totally agree.
I will also say that Carol's Masuyama are are great looking.
The ugliest Eyepiece has to be the TV 41 MM Panoptic. It don't uglier than that.
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Celestron 9.25 w/FeatherTouch Focuser, ASGT Mount
Meade SN6 w/Moonlite Focuser, LXD75 Mount
Orion EON 80 MM APO Refractor
5,6,9 MM Zhummel Planetary 17 MM Nagler T4
31,36 MM Hyperion 15,19,23 MM Axiom LX
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11,13 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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Dragonwatcher
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/08
Posts: 635
Loc: Kirkland, WA
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My Sieberts are rather - well, not ugly, but at least "plain Jane". They will never win a beauty contest for looks. Now the caps can be called ugly and they lack a nice TV type box. All in all, the aesthetics do not match the optical quality, but I will probably always own some Sieberts as long as I do astronomy observing. They are great value for the price. I have Star Splitters, Ultras, & barlows. Besides, it's dark when I bring them out to use...
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Jackie
TMB 92L
SV70ED for gragNrun
Orion 120ST
Benro C-357 tripod/Microstar mount
Quarter Hitch & Gitzo GT5531S
8SE mount/tripod for refractor use
Ethoses, Pentaxes, BGOs, Naglers, Pans, Sieberts, etc
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lightfever
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/27/04
Posts: 1489
Loc: Macomb Michigan
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Quote:
Best looking -> Pan19 and Pan24
Worst --> Meade 5K UWAs
hfjacinto, no offence but I have to agree with Rob.
Maybe I'm just showing my age but the Meade 5000 just does not look like it should be used in any serious scope.
It's interesting how looks can have enough influence to prevent me from considering what could be a perfectly good EP.
Maybe I'm shallower than I thought.
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Mark
Tasco 15-TE 76mm Sky Watcher 80mm ED AT-111
XT8i (with Woden re-figured mirror)
12.5" f/6.3 Dob (Underconstruction)
36mm Siebert, 24mm Pan, 13mmT6, 10mm XW, 4.7 UWA
8.8mm, 6.7mm, 4.7mm Meade 4000 UWA
Various Ortho's, Brandons, Nikon zoom and a Pentax 5mm XO
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Rat
sage
Reged: 10/13/06
Posts: 215
Loc: USA
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I find the Meade 5000 UWA eyepieces futuristic looking. Ugliest has to go to any of the volcano top orthos.
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Sgt
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/05
Posts: 556
Loc: Under the southern horn of the...
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I really like the look of the TMB supermonos, all those different coloured rings for each focal length. Possibly the prettiest set.
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 3074
Loc: Union,NJ
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Mark, Rob,
Guys a MEADE UWA ugly??? Come on what do you drive an Aztek??
Just kidding, they don't suit everybody, but I think they look super cool.
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Celestron 9.25 w/FeatherTouch Focuser, ASGT Mount
Meade SN6 w/Moonlite Focuser, LXD75 Mount
Orion EON 80 MM APO Refractor
5,6,9 MM Zhummel Planetary 17 MM Nagler T4
31,36 MM Hyperion 15,19,23 MM Axiom LX
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11,13 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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lightfever
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/27/04
Posts: 1489
Loc: Macomb Michigan
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Quote:
Come on what do you drive an Aztek??
Heeyyy, that's my dream vehicle you're talking about!! 
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Mark
Tasco 15-TE 76mm Sky Watcher 80mm ED AT-111
XT8i (with Woden re-figured mirror)
12.5" f/6.3 Dob (Underconstruction)
36mm Siebert, 24mm Pan, 13mmT6, 10mm XW, 4.7 UWA
8.8mm, 6.7mm, 4.7mm Meade 4000 UWA
Various Ortho's, Brandons, Nikon zoom and a Pentax 5mm XO
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ebusinesstutor
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 636
Loc: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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I just purchased a Siebert 36mm Observatory series that hasn't arrived yet.
Very plain and industrial looking, but many great reviews on how it works.
Reminds me of the Native American flutes my wife and I play and sell.
Some of the makers who supply us make very pretty flutes with ok sound. The tourists buy these.
Some of the flutes we get are very plain looking but with amazing rich sound. The people in the know buy these...
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Garland Coulson
Orion XT8i Dob
Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Click Zoom & Siebert Observatory 36mm
SkyWatcher Observing Chair
Webmaster, Nanaimo Astronomy Society
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FirstSight
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 4455
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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I guess this shows how wildly different people's aesthetic sensibilities differ on "beauty" vs "ugly".
I think the longer focal-length Meade UWA's are extremely ugly and unweildy-looking, and having one in my focuser would seem like looking into the belly of an ugly toad-frog to me. But OTOH I find the 31T5 Nagler to be...beautiful isn't exactly the right word, but awesome and "ruggedly handsome" surely seem apt. Go figure.
All you Meade UWAs-are-beautiful folks out there, if I'm ever single again, I'm going to have to remember who you are so I'll be sure to never trust you when you approach me with: "Chris, I know this really cute woman I'd like to set you up with for a date".
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
Edited by FirstSight (10/11/09 12:54 PM)
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Tank
sage
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 341
Loc: Ontario, CANADA
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I love the look and feel of the Tele Vue old plossl  
The 24mm Panoptic looks like a mushroom dont like to much 
The 55mm Tele Vue plossl is strange looking 
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8" Skywatcher DOB F5.9 1200mm
Antares barlow x3
TV Plossls 7.4,10.5,13,21,26,32,40,55 NJ's, 17,20 R's
Naglers 12T4,17T4
Panoptic 35mm
Meade: 8.8mm, 4.7mm 4000 UWA
SPACE A PORTRAIT OF PERFECTION!
Tony M
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jeff heck
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 628
Loc: stl,mo.
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I like the look of my 24Pan (inside and out). My old Stratus ep"s worked well enough but looked like props from the old "Combat" series. 
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"Hey, Mr. Spaceman.
Won't you please take me along, I won't do anything wrong.
Hey, Mr. Spaceman.
Won't you please take me along for a ride."
The Byrds "Mr. Spaceman" 1966
XT10 classic
TV ep's
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russell23
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/31/09
Posts: 744
Loc: Upstate NY
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I've never looked through one, but IMO the Meade UWA are pretty ugly -- as are the celestron axioms. I would also agree that the 41mm Pan is not the most aesthetically pleasing EP.
Best looking -- I really like the 48mm Brandon's look.
But I'm more interested in what the views look like through an eyepiece.
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gnowellsct
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/24/09
Posts: 1152
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Well imagine that all eyepieces are dogs. If all eyepieces are dogs, then Pentax eyepieces look like this:
canine Pentaxes
And my Rini eyepieces looked like this:
rini canines
Greg N
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"Aperture will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no aperture."
featuring selected astrojunk:
bunch o' widefield eyepieces
bunch o' narrowfield eyepieces
couple o' Barlows
couple o' scopes
couple o' mounts
couple o' tripods
and a pier 'n' stuff
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 170
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Best looking EP- Pentax XW 40
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 170
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Worst looking EP- Either Nagler zoom and the panoptic 41.
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1333
Loc: Canton, OH
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I think the worst-looking eyepiece, by a large margin, is the new 30mm Vixen LVW. Of course; that's outside appearances alone; it's probably a very good eyepiece to look through.
Clear Skies,
Phil
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"The hopeful depend on a world without end, whatever the hopeless may say"--Rush, "Manhattan Project"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
(1) 12" f/4.9 Skywatcher Collapsible Dobsonian
(2) Celestron 150mm f/5 Omni Refractor
(3) Oberwerk 15x70 Binoculars
(4) Minimalist Eyepiece Set:
"23"-mm Axiom LX (~24mm; long story...)
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
7mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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lightfever
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/27/04
Posts: 1489
Loc: Macomb Michigan
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Quote:
I think the worst-looking eyepiece, by a large margin, is the new 30mm Vixen LVW. Of course; that's outside appearances alone; it's probably a very good eyepiece to look through.
Boy I have not seen one of those before I googled it.
You're right it deserves to be at the top of the list.
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Mark
Tasco 15-TE 76mm Sky Watcher 80mm ED AT-111
XT8i (with Woden re-figured mirror)
12.5" f/6.3 Dob (Underconstruction)
36mm Siebert, 24mm Pan, 13mmT6, 10mm XW, 4.7 UWA
8.8mm, 6.7mm, 4.7mm Meade 4000 UWA
Various Ortho's, Brandons, Nikon zoom and a Pentax 5mm XO
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cuir
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/07
Posts: 1143
Loc: Up north.
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24mm Panoptic and 16mm T5 Nagler are the best looking... Quite similar in aesthetics, IMO.
Worst would be the newer super cheapo 10 and 25mm "supers" given out with new Skywatcher scopes. These things look like they belong in a "Fisher-Price" kit.
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Seb
Eyepiece spreadsheet v6.8
Choosing the right eyepiece
Main scope: 150mm Maksutov
Scnd scope: 200mm Schmidt-Cassegrain
Favorite ep: 24 Panoptic and 11m T6 Nagler
Pref'ed filters: Lumicon 0III and UHC
Mounts: EQ6-Pro and Skyview AZ
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suburbanskies
sage
Reged: 12/18/04
Posts: 321
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Quote:
24mm Panoptic and 16mm T5 Nagler are the best looking... Quite similar in aesthetics, IMO.
I have only four widefield eps and they include the 24mm Pan and the 16mm T5 Nagler so we're in agreement! 
One of my other widefields is the Leitz 30mm in a basic, no-frills housing by Manfred Pieper. No undercut and no plastic grip. I think it looks great and guess what? I've never dropped this super heavy (and ridiculously expensive) eyepiece! My tastes run towards plain housings.
Mark
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Jeronimo Cruz
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Best looking:
Pentax XW40 and 30
Worst looking:
Meade UWA
Tak 50mm
Orion Epic
new Vixen e.p.'s + who wants a pink or magenta ring on an e.p.?!!!
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Pentax, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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Deep13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 2038
Loc: NE Ohio
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Those new Celestron Ultimas with the main body being narrow in the center looks pretty cool. Most TV EPs look ordinary and the Ethoi look like bowling pins. The TV Ploessls look impressive compared to other conventional EPs because of the fit and finish. I like how the Edmund RKE's with the red rubber grips look. ZAO-IIs look okay, except they don't look like they cost $600 each.
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That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
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slyke
super member
Reged: 02/21/08
Posts: 124
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I think the William Optics UWANs looks sharp in the smaller sizes - particularly in the box with the cut-out profile in the foam liner. I also like the look of my new Hyperion Aspheric on the scope as it is just a black cylinder the size of the 2" barrel - very minimalist!
I'm not sure about the ugliest but the first time I saw the Nagler 3-6 zoom I thought something had fallen off the spindly thing in the middle. I also think the big Axiom LX eyepieces like the 31mm look a little out of balance.
- Stephen
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Don Trinko
sage
Reged: 07/05/09
Posts: 314
Loc: Ohio
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IMO; The TV plossels look just like the $29 EP's. Hard for me to pay $80 for something that looks like $29.
I know the view is probably better . Don T.
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Nexstar 8SE
Celestron C6
Orion 4.5 Starblaster OTA
Meade DS2130at-lnt
Astro-Tech 66mm
Coranado PST 40mm
Celestron 9x63 Binoculars
Nikon 7x35 Binoculars
EP's 8 to 24 Zuhmell, 8 to 24 Hyperion, 8 to 24 TV, 32mm TV, 12.5 Astro-Tech Paradime, Celestron 40,26,9.7 plossel,
Zuhmell 32,12.5,6,4 plossel , TMB 5,3.2, planitary II.
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skypilgrim
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/25/06
Posts: 634
Loc: PNW, US
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I have an older 34mm Celestron Axiom that has to be near the top of the Ugly list. It's got an extra thick grip ring around the middle (think Michelin man with sharp edges)
... and the eyecup! It looks like a cereal bowl 
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Cave 8" F/7
Stellarvue 80mm F/6
Area of interest: Cultural Astronomy
My Blog: http://fathersky.wordpress.com/
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richsvt
member
Reged: 01/09/09
Posts: 82
Loc: Boston
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Best- Baader Hyperion. Love the shape and color coding.
Worst-Meade 5000 UWA- too top heavy.
My two cents.
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FirstSight
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 4455
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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EVERY SINGLE STINKING ONE OF THEM RIGHT NOW LOOK UGLY because this is the third night in a row the sky's been socked-out cloudy, and prospects for a clear night don't look very good for the entire next week (except for one *maybe* "partly cloudy night) and this is the week for the big local Mid-Atlantic Star Party here in central N.C.).
So, at the moment, all those green-logoed eypieces I own, all fourteen of 'em plus two powermates plus a parcorr amount to little more than expensive mantlepiece knick-knacks, and not nearly as attractive as a smooth bone-shaped striated rock I plucked out of a river (for free) some years ago.
Come the first clear night, all of 'em will start to look pretty good again. In fact, downright raving beautiful, including the "bowling pin" look of the Ethos eyepieces (shows that tasteful, cleverly engineered industrial design can make even bowling pins look ravenously beautiful).
But right now, they all stink.
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Chris M., aka "First Sight"
Orion XT12i Dob with Moonlite CR-2 focuser
WO Megrez 90 refractor on UniStar Light mount
Nikon 10x50 Binoculars
Edited by FirstSight (10/12/09 08:11 PM)
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joelimite
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 412
Loc: Fayetteville, AR
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As much as I love them in terms of their bang-for-the-buck visual performance, I have to admit the TMB Planetaries leave a lot to be desired aesthetically. They just look cheap, especially the rubber eye guards.
However, although it sounds like I'm in the minority, I love the look of my 24mm Meade 5000 SWA:) Despite its bulk, it looks kind of sleek and futuristic to me.
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Joel
Orion XT8 w/ Moonlite CR2, Explore Scientific ED80 w/ Porta Mount, Tasco 9TE-5
24mm Meade SWA, 31,17,13,8mm Hyperions, 6,5,4,3.2mm TMB Planetary, 6.7,4.7mm ES UWA, 5mm BGO Ortho
Nikon AE 10x50, Garrett Optical 20x80 UL
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2709
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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I don't really mind the Meade 5000 series, but I have to agree with the above posters re. the 41mm Panoptic, and the 55mm Plossl. They just don't look right...
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular
Genesis SDF Starblast guidescope
EQ6 Pro, HEQ5, Canon 50D, 70-200 f/4L
"He's got shoulders on him like a smelt..."--Anonymous
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10723&id=509325956&l=79d06a1d10
http://ajpobservatory.isgreat.org/
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kaaikop
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/13/08
Posts: 819
Loc: North of the Montreal nebula
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I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
I have a whole bunch of TV eyepieces, from Plossls to Naglers, and I love every single one of them dearly,
but for me, there is nothing like the pure classic look of the UO Orthos, they win hands down for looks
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Benoit, RASC Montreal
-C9.25 on EQ6 Pro - C6/ED80 on Portamount
-TV Plossls, Radians, Nags, Pans, UO Orthos.
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Sean Cunneen
Let Me Think
Reged: 08/01/07
Posts: 1410
Loc: Blue Island Illinois
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The best looking is the 12T4. Worst looking: Siebert Starsplitters.
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Sean Cunneen
Blue Island, IL
12.5" Ultralight Strut Dob
127mm f/9 refractor
25mm, 18mm, 12.5mm, 7mm, 6mm Celestron Orthos,
15mm, 10.4mm, 7,4mm TV Plossls
5XO
Member of the Calumet Astronomical Society
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erick
super member
Reged: 11/21/07
Posts: 104
Loc: Bacchus Marsh, Australia
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Nice:-
http://www.kkohki.com/products/bigc.html
Edited by csa/montana (11/04/09 12:07 AM)
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joelimite
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 412
Loc: Fayetteville, AR
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Those literally look like hand grenades.
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Joel
Orion XT8 w/ Moonlite CR2, Explore Scientific ED80 w/ Porta Mount, Tasco 9TE-5
24mm Meade SWA, 31,17,13,8mm Hyperions, 6,5,4,3.2mm TMB Planetary, 6.7,4.7mm ES UWA, 5mm BGO Ortho
Nikon AE 10x50, Garrett Optical 20x80 UL
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Tamiji Homma
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/24/07
Posts: 1286
Loc: California, USA
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I don't know you have noticed it or not that grenade-looking eyepieces are BIGC 9mm and 16mm AFOV 100 degree eyepiece, eye relief is 16mm, 420 grams. It says that edge performance is so-so
I guess low cost version of 100 degree AFOV eyepieces started showing up.
Tammy
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Rob S
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/16/07
Posts: 518
Loc: NZ
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Amazing - it appears that there are no uncercuts on those hand grenades. That is reason enough alone to buy them.
And only US$330, give or take.
Rob.
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8" f5 Dob with Feathertouch
Brandon: 16
Pentax: 7, 10 & 20XW
TMB: 30 Paragon
TV: 8 & 13 Ethos;
5 & 13 NaglerT6;
24 Panoptic
Leica Trinovid 8x50 BN
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erick
super member
Reged: 11/21/07
Posts: 104
Loc: Bacchus Marsh, Australia
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Yes, I knew they were new 100 deg so have been waiting for a few reviews to appear. I also was overjoyed to see the smooth barrels. And I think they look very elegant.
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ibase
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 2217
Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N
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Don't find any eyepiece "ugly." They all look good in their own quirky shapes and sizes.
Best,
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Hernando
Nexstar 8/CG-5 ASGT/EZT; WO Megrez 102ED SV; Antares 6" 1529; WO ZS66SD; Orion ST80
Naglers 5T6, 9T1, 12T2; Panoptic27; Hyperion Zoom&21mm; ES14; Meade 6.7 UWA 5K; Pentax XW7
Brandon 16;Ultima7.5/18;BO/TMB 2.5/3.2/4/6mm;UO HD 5;BGO 6;UO-V 9/12.5;WO 7.5-22.5mm;Axiom23LX
TV 2x,3x barlow&8/11/15/20/25/32plossl; Aspheric31;Siebert36-OB;Paragon40;Meade56Smoothie
C-f/6.3FR;OIII,23A,UHC,SkyGlow,U-block,8"S-flter;GLP/Telrad/MRF/9x50RACI; NexImge;Canon RebelXS
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Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 5272
Loc: MA
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>>>it appears that there are no undercuts on those hand grenades. That is reason enough alone to buy them.<<<
Funny, but true.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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Darenwh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/11/06
Posts: 1470
Loc: Covington, GA
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Remember, the ES14 has a taper rather than an undercut and also has excellent performance all the way to the edge. Purchased through Explore alliance you can still get it for $399.00. For the extra $69.00 it is likely worth it over an eyepiece that admits to poor edge correction out of the box.
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Daren
Covington, GA
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deSitter
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 3338
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Quote:
EVERY SINGLE STINKING ONE OF THEM RIGHT NOW LOOK UGLY because this is the third night in a row the sky's been socked-out cloudy, and prospects for a clear night don't look very good for the entire next week (except for one *maybe* "partly cloudy night) and this is the week for the big local Mid-Atlantic Star Party here in central N.C.).
So, at the moment, all those green-logoed eypieces I own, all fourteen of 'em plus two powermates plus a parcorr amount to little more than expensive mantlepiece knick-knacks, and not nearly as attractive as a smooth bone-shaped striated rock I plucked out of a river (for free) some years ago.
Come the first clear night, all of 'em will start to look pretty good again. In fact, downright raving beautiful, including the "bowling pin" look of the Ethos eyepieces (shows that tasteful, cleverly engineered industrial design can make even bowling pins look ravenously beautiful).
But right now, they all stink.
We've had 5 or 6 good days since July, all during the full Moon. It's so soaked that even on clear nights the humidity near the ground is 100 percent and telescopes become covered with dew in less than an hour at all times of the night. Of course it's not much to bear compared to losing your house and everything in it, as some of my distant neighbors have.
-drl
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mikey cee
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/18/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: bellevue ne.
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Any clean looking volcano top....thee standard in eyepiece art. The Meade Series II orthos are a close second. Anyonwe who doesn't concur can have a cloudy night on me!   Mike
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7x35 and 10x50 sears tower binocs, 3" f/10 edmunds reflector, 2.4" f/11.7 manon refractor, 6" f/8 jaegers refractor, "The 8 Ball" 8" f/13.3 brandt refractor, 3" f/15.8 sans&streiffe refractor, 3.1" f/15 selsi refractor(towa 339), 2.4" f/15 sears refractor, selsi 30x30mm spyglass, criterion 5-draw 25x45x75x spyglass(1957), 4.25" f/14.8 tasco 20te.
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 3074
Loc: Union,NJ
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In this line up the Meade looks the best
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Celestron 9.25 w/FeatherTouch Focuser, ASGT Mount
Meade SN6 w/Moonlite Focuser, LXD75 Mount
Orion EON 80 MM APO Refractor
5,6,9 MM Zhummel Planetary 17 MM Nagler T4
31,36 MM Hyperion 15,19,23 MM Axiom LX
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11,13 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 3074
Loc: Union,NJ
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Even Plossls look cool!
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Celestron 9.25 w/FeatherTouch Focuser, ASGT Mount
Meade SN6 w/Moonlite Focuser, LXD75 Mount
Orion EON 80 MM APO Refractor
5,6,9 MM Zhummel Planetary 17 MM Nagler T4
31,36 MM Hyperion 15,19,23 MM Axiom LX
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11,13 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 3074
Loc: Union,NJ
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Just not as cool as Hyperions.
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Celestron 9.25 w/FeatherTouch Focuser, ASGT Mount
Meade SN6 w/Moonlite Focuser, LXD75 Mount
Orion EON 80 MM APO Refractor
5,6,9 MM Zhummel Planetary 17 MM Nagler T4
31,36 MM Hyperion 15,19,23 MM Axiom LX
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11,13 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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ibase
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 2217
Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N
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The Meade looks unorthodox and unique but it sure is not ugly!
Best,
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Hernando
Nexstar 8/CG-5 ASGT/EZT; WO Megrez 102ED SV; Antares 6" 1529; WO ZS66SD; Orion ST80
Naglers 5T6, 9T1, 12T2; Panoptic27; Hyperion Zoom&21mm; ES14; Meade 6.7 UWA 5K; Pentax XW7
Brandon 16;Ultima7.5/18;BO/TMB 2.5/3.2/4/6mm;UO HD 5;BGO 6;UO-V 9/12.5;WO 7.5-22.5mm;Axiom23LX
TV 2x,3x barlow&8/11/15/20/25/32plossl; Aspheric31;Siebert36-OB;Paragon40;Meade56Smoothie
C-f/6.3FR;OIII,23A,UHC,SkyGlow,U-block,8"S-flter;GLP/Telrad/MRF/9x50RACI; NexImge;Canon RebelXS
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BillP
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 4650
Loc: Vienna, VA
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38 Shed (yuk)...58 Rini (*BLEEP*)...Orig 4.8 Nagler (Priceless)
Really like the large smoothsided housing treatment and the simple ungrooved enlarged housing band focuser-stop. Add to that the good heft from the thick guage brass used in the barrel and it made for a classically elegant design. Wish TV kept this motif instead of moving to the conventional with rubber grips and undercuts and integrated eye guards, etc.
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Bill
XT10i Dob---TSA-102 S-APO---APM80/480 S-APO--- P.S.T.
The moment you stop questioning is when you know you've probably got it all wrong.
Edited by BillP (10/13/09 09:47 PM)
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4198
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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University Optics "Zebras".
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4198
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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The old UO "flat-tops" are kinda cute, too!
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Djarum
sage
Reged: 03/12/09
Posts: 381
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I really like the AT paradigms. The colored engraving and lines make them stand out.
Dj
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Celestron Astromaster 130eq with a 60mm finderscope
Bushnell Legend 10x50
TMB planetary 5mm EP
Enhanced Wide Angle 6mm EP
Plossl 10mm EP
AT Paradigm 18mm
AT Paradigm 25mm
Plossl 32mm EP
Ultima 2x barlow
Baader M&SG and UHC filters.
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kroum
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/28/08
Posts: 759
Loc: Santa Clara, CA
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I think one of the most aesthet Sterling plossls 20mm and above. Very minimalistic styling, but great fit and finnish.
Ugliest: russel konigs/meade uwa/ 15mm chinese uwa
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10in Hardin Optical Dob
100mm f6 Orion Achromat
6in Orion Short Tube Reflector
15X70 Barska Binoculars
32mm Astrola, 32mm Celestron Erfle
25mm, 12.5mm Sterling Plossls
9.4mm Speers Waler
7.5mm Orion Ultrascopic
Ultima 2X shorty barlow
Orion 2x shorty barlow
Antares 1.6x barlow
Turn on, tune in, and look through the eyepiece.
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Stephen S
sage
Reged: 08/21/07
Posts: 214
Loc: San Diego, CA
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This really is in the eye of the beholder. I saw someone posted the Takahashi 50mm LE as their ugly choice. I was thinking of listing this as one of the nicest looking. Nothing flashy. Just a very traditional but big looking eyepiece. I like.
The Tak 50 aside, I would have to say the Pentax XW entire line is pretty spiffy looking.
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C9.25 XLT (Arges), Vixen ED100sf (Liberty), Coronado PST (Sunny)
Celestron CG-5GT, Vixen Porta Mount
40mm Pentax XW, 27mm Panoptic, 13mm Ethos, 12mm Cemax,
7mm Pentax XW, 4.7mm Meade UWA, 8-24mm Celestron Zoom
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4198
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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....can't forget the Gailand/Galoc "Saturn Tops", probably the cutest things on CN this side of the Pets Forum...
Jim
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Chopin
Canis Insanus
Reged: 02/03/05
Posts: 3628
Loc: In the doghouse.
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Best looking eyepieces? What's wrong, do we have cloudy skies again? 
My faves are the Masuyamas (thanks for rubbing that in again, Carol ), and the 0.965" Takahashi Abbe Orthoscopics.
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Jason®
Starstuff
birdsbyjason
12" Hardin DSH-12│4½" Custom newt│Garrett 15x85 HD WP│Pentax 8x40 PCF WP II│24Pan│13T6│3-6NZ│Faworski Abbes
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4198
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
Best looking eyepieces? What's wrong, do we have cloudy skies again?
You know it. 
I'd much rather be looking through them!
Jim
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SkyscraperJim
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 598
Loc: Providence, RI
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Best looking (in no particular order):
Tele Vue "smooth side" Plossls
Baader Orthoscopics
UO Orthoscopics (volcano-tops)
Orion Sirius Plossls
Tele Vue Radians
Tele Vue Type 6 Naglers
TMB Supermonocentrics
Zeiss Abbe II's
Orion Ultrascopics
Celestron Ultimas (the old ones)
Meade Series 5000 Plossls
Coronado Cemax
Worst looking:
Meade Series 5000 UWA and Celestron Axiom (probably the only eyepiece on this list I wouldn't buy, since I just don't see how you can get your eye close enough to those fat barrels to be able see through the lens)
Pentax XW (I know these are good EPs, but I just think they look weird)
Edmund RKE (these are pretty good too, but for some reason those black and red barrels make them look like toys)
Generally speaking, I find that uncut eyepiece barrels add to the "attractiveness" of an eyepiece compared to barrels with the cuts.
While we're on the topic of worst looking, how about Barlows?
Those Orion Highlight Barlows with the zebra stripes are the silliest looking astro accessories I have seen in a long time. Funny thing is, if they had used one rubber band instead of 3, they'd look pretty nice.
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Jim
TMB/APM 130/780 (#185) on G11
TMB/APM/Lomo 80/600
Tele Vue Pronto (#3533) on Half Hitch
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Astraforce Paul
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 1913
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Yeah, anything by Siebert!
I know they have a good reputation, but the industrial shiny look is so off-putting, I'll never try one!
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Lew Zealand
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/28/04
Posts: 858
Loc: Pasadena, CA
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The new Orion and Meade barlows are ugly brutes (but I haven't seen them in person). My 5-8mm Speers-WALER zoom (orig. version) isn't a looker but it delivers the goods.
I happen to like volcano-top EPs because their ergonomics for short-ER viewing are so superior that I now see these as simple, beautiful designs. My 12mm UO Konig is beautiful this way (and also delivers the goods - sharp on axis & contrasty).
< opens case, peruses EPs >
None really ugly though the Hyperions are kind of clunky. Short FL BO/TMBs (2.5 & 3.2mm) are gangly.
I happen to like the look of my Meade 5000 24mm SWA and 18mm UWA but the larger FLs I've seen in person are too big. And yes, I think there's too much weight and bulk in the twist up adjustment. Actually my 40mm WO SWAN is very pretty to look at. The black barrel is well- integrated into the design, more EPs should look like these.
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8" LX90, StarBlast 6", 100mm f/6 achro, 60mm f/5.8 achro, 60mm f/11.7 achro, 10x50s, 15x70s
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Levine
sage
Reged: 03/24/06
Posts: 278
Loc: Indiana, Wabash County
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The Rodenstock 40.
If the Incredible Hulk were an eyepiece, he would look like this.
It gets my vote for best AND worst looking... 
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JMI NGT-18 f/4.5 GoTo Reflector, "Magellan"
C14 f/11 XLT Fastar "Modoc"
C11 f/10 CFT XLT Fastar, "Dave"
CotoSKY 8.25" f/6 Achromat, "Blackjack"
Meade AR6 f/8 Achromat, "Kalliopi"
WO FLT 110 f/7 Apo, "Apollo"
Coronado PST f/10 "Icarus"
Canon IS 15 X 50 Binoculars
Losmandy G11/Gemini4
Discmounts DM-6, Sky Commander, StarBeam
Mallincam HPC/Watek monitor
Siebert Elite 45 Binoviewer
Denk II Universal Power X Switch Binoviewer
Collins I3/Astronomik H-a/Starsweeper
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 12488
Loc: Los Angeles
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Of all the eyepieces I've owned (over 300), the best looking eyepieces were the Meade Series 4000 Japanese pre 1994 5-element Plossls, SWAs and UWAs.
Here's a thread with a good Pic: Series 4000
--no rubber eyecups
--no rubber ring around the eyepieces--instead a corrugated aluminum ring slightly elevated above the surface of the barrel
--no "safety" undercuts in the barrels
Now the Series 4000 "Plossls" were fantastic and still would be. The SWAs aren't as good as the current batches of SWAs (still had lateral field astigmatism in the earlier batches). The UWAs still rank with the top eyepieces though transmission and contrast are a little below current efforts.
But, for looks, still my favorites. Loved that mustard yellow lettering on polished black anodizing.
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov, Fujinon Binos
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member
Edited by Starman1 (10/19/09 12:15 AM)
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 3277
Loc: New Hampshire
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Just picked up a 8.8mm 4K UWA. It is a very handsome eyepiece!
Works well too. I am happy.
Rob
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Rob
**********************
Canon 12x36 IS binos
TEC-140: #433 on CGEM
Faworski orthos (7,10,16.7mm)
stuff ...
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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chuckscap
sage
Reged: 07/18/09
Posts: 312
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO USA
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I have a 35mm Pan, 22mm Pan, an AP 12mm SPL, but this is the one eyepiece I would keep above all of them and I have come to associate it's looks with it's quality ...
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John Noble
sage
Reged: 05/07/08
Posts: 205
Loc: Sandy Eggo, California
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Quote:
Worst looking:
Meade Series 5000 UWA and Celestron Axiom (probably the only eyepiece on this list I wouldn't buy, since I just don't see how you can get your eye close enough to those fat barrels to be able see through the lens)
While I agree the current Axioms look like pregnant metallic mushrooms, my 10mm is actually quite ergonomic. My ample schnozz clears the side just fine. The twist up eye cup works really well, too.
With that said, the longer focal lengths look absurd. The first time I saw them at Celestron's booth at a star party, I thought they were plus-sized mockups with built-in anti-theft technology (they were too bleeding heavy to walk off with).
As ugly and relatively heavy as it is, my 10mm Axiom LX, along with a Shorty Plus barlow and a 2" ScopeStuff extension barrel, is the only eyepiece I use these days in my Onyx 80. Great views, good price, fine build quality, worth a try.
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"We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened."
--Huckleberry Finn
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Nippon
super member
Reged: 10/22/09
Posts: 167
Loc: Central Florida
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I have always liked anyone's volcano top orthos and the Edmund RKEs looks wise. As for ugly the uber modern looking Axiom series get my vote
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 12488
Loc: Los Angeles
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Ugly? IMO, nothing has beaten the old war-surplus Erfles sold back in the '60s (though Meade, with the Series 5000, tried real hard ).
But what is beauty in an eyepiece?
Machining? Yes.
Good ergonomic design? Yes.
Attractive logos and badging? Yes.
What I'd like to see:
--smooth barrels with no undercuts,
--flat black tops
--knurling on the outside of the barrels instead of rubber grips
--good top design instead of rubber eyecups
--------------------
Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov, Fujinon Binos
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member
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Pete Kopfer
super member
Reged: 12/01/08
Posts: 136
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Agree with SkyscraperJim that Pentax XWs, however good, are not so nice to look at.
Best looking: Televue Radian, TAK LE or Televue Nagler 17mm.
Pete
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russell23
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/31/09
Posts: 744
Loc: Upstate NY
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Quote:
Agree with SkyscraperJim that Pentax XWs, however good, are not so nice to look at.
Best looking: Televue Radian, TAK LE or Televue Nagler 17mm.
Pete
I personally like the XW's look but I think it partly depends upon which FL you talk about because they have that long black "skirt" (for lack of a better term) on the bottom at the shorter FL that is not so attractive. But the 20mm XW has none of that skirt and I think it is a great looking EP - probably my favorite EP. The 14mm, 30mm and 40mm XW's look great too.
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EdK
member
Reged: 09/28/09
Posts: 48
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Best eyepiece for me is my old 24 MM Konig from University optics ..
I have had it for over 20 years and it is just one of the best I ever used hands down. Today it is about 100 dollars new.
Well worth the money ..
Ed
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 6437
Loc: Refractor Heaven (Haven?)
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To me, I find these best looking, in their understated way, the UO Volcano Top Ortho's.
--------------------
Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
American by birth, Southern by the grace of God, future Texan by the will of God (I think )
Celestron C6R
Astro-Tech AT90EDT
Carton 60mm f/16.7
Carton 60mm f/20
Faworski/Carton 100mm f/13
Celestron 50mm f/12.5
Faworski 60mm f/6.7
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John K
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 827
Loc: Vernon BC Canada
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I'll have to agree.
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RASC Member (Okanagan)
Home built 15"f5 Obsession clone
8"f6 Antares Dob
Bushnell 76mm Modified Dob (Little Richie)
Celestron Skymaster 15x70
Howie Glatter laser pointer/Blug
Astronomik filters OIII UHC
Lumicon 2"OIII
Televue Eyepieces 31mmNagler,32mmPL,15mmPL,13mm Ethos,11mm PL,2X Barlow
10mm Speers Waler
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5u4
super member
Reged: 04/27/06
Posts: 102
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I like the overall look & simple elegance of the newer parfocal Brandon's the best of any eyepiece I can think of off hand. Also the ZAOII's have a pretty sleek outward appearance.
Any eyepiece with a safety barrel undercut looks the worst to me, completely destroying any lines the body may have, sort of like putting mud flaps on a sports car.
The safety barrel undercut has got to be the worst feature ever thought of, right next to the little arrows in the ZAOII's, just my opinion, no need to agree.
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 6437
Loc: Refractor Heaven (Haven?)
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Agreed. If I ever find a source of smooth barrels, I will replace the ones on the UO's.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
American by birth, Southern by the grace of God, future Texan by the will of God (I think )
Celestron C6R
Astro-Tech AT90EDT
Carton 60mm f/16.7
Carton 60mm f/20
Faworski/Carton 100mm f/13
Celestron 50mm f/12.5
Faworski 60mm f/6.7
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SkyscraperJim
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 598
Loc: Providence, RI
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Quote:
To me, I find these best looking, in their understated way, the UO Volcano Top Ortho's.
Bummer, even these classic eyepieces have those nasty undercuts now? That's -1 usability and -1 attractiveness.
--------------------
Jim
TMB/APM 130/780 (#185) on G11
TMB/APM/Lomo 80/600
Tele Vue Pronto (#3533) on Half Hitch
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 6437
Loc: Refractor Heaven (Haven?)
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I don't find it very much a problem myself, but I do prefer a smooth barrel.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
American by birth, Southern by the grace of God, future Texan by the will of God (I think )
Celestron C6R
Astro-Tech AT90EDT
Carton 60mm f/16.7
Carton 60mm f/20
Faworski/Carton 100mm f/13
Celestron 50mm f/12.5
Faworski 60mm f/6.7
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3246
Loc: North Carolina
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I'll toss this one in as the ugliest eyepiece ever made.
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David E
"If there was life on other planets, we would have sent them some foreign aid by now." -commedian James Gregory
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 12488
Loc: Los Angeles
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End of discussion.
You win.
Woof, woof.
And the orange is just so......classy!
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov, Fujinon Binos
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member
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Jeronimo Cruz
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Well, I think we have an indisputeable ugliest eyepiece of all time!
Did you swipe this from a Galileo era telescope and slap an eyeguard on it? Ha ha!
But what about the ugliest eyepiece currently in production?
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Pentax, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3246
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Well, I think we have an indisputeable ugliest eyepiece of all time!
Did you swipe this from a Galileo era telescope and slap an eyeguard on it? Ha ha!
You know, whenever I pick this up, I don't know if I'm supposed to look through it, or spit tobacco juice in it!
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David E
"If there was life on other planets, we would have sent them some foreign aid by now." -commedian James Gregory
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Happy-Idiot
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 3072
Loc: 3rd Rock
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I love the Meade RG line up. 3rd place
I really like the UO flat tops and Galoc line. 2nd place
But i love the old Kogaku's, clean lines and sexy . 1st place
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Brian
A small scope that gets used often is a better investment than a big scope that stays in the closet.
Unitrons, you spend more time looking at them than you do through them.
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John rombi
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/14/05
Posts: 634
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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I have all Siebert e/p's and barlow.
I wouldn't say they're ugly, as stated earlier "plain Jane" would be a better description.
But.........they're optical performance is another matter, BRILLIANT & EXCELLENT.
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Meade Lightbridge 12" Deluxe (Modified)SiebertOptics
Unitron 4" Alt-Az
Unitron 2.4" Alt-Az
www.macastro.org.au "A New Eye On the Sky"
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ebusinesstutor
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 636
Loc: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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Quote:
I have all Siebert e/p's and barlow.
I wouldn't say they're ugly, as stated earlier "plain Jane" would be a better description.
But.........they're optical performance is another matter, BRILLIANT & EXCELLENT.
I just purchased the Siebert 36mm Observatory. Rather than thinking of them as plain Jane, I think of them as minimalist and zen-like.
Simplicity in design coupled with amazing performance. I will likely get more Sieberts.
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Garland Coulson
Orion XT8i Dob
Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Click Zoom & Siebert Observatory 36mm
SkyWatcher Observing Chair
Webmaster, Nanaimo Astronomy Society
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 31546
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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Quote:
I'll toss this one in as the ugliest eyepiece ever made.
We have a winner! 
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
SVP/ED80
WO 66 Petzval
Sears Discoverer EQ 60/900
8x42 Regals
History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
Thucydides
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desertrefugee
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 1341
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
End of discussion.
You win.
Woof, woof.
And the orange is just so......classy!
Oh Jeez! I laughed so hard over David's EP and Don's response that my sides literally hurt and tears are streaming down my face. Better as a spittoon?
I gotta agree. Ain't no point in continuing. But, I would actually be curious as to how well it works.
Hilarious! Great thread.
(BTW, I love the look and feel of my 27 Pan)
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"Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost." - Milton
-Darrell
N. Phoenix, AZ
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semiosteve
super member
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 182
Loc: NEOhio
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Can't beat the old Galoc 16mm with the Saturn logo..LOL
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Steve Verba
7in. Astro-Physics StarFire
20in. Obsession
15 x 15 Rolloff (Backyard Observatories)
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3246
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Quote:
I'll toss this one in as the ugliest eyepiece ever made.
We have a winner!
Thank you all, I humbly and graciously accept the honor of owning the ugliest eyepiece ever made.  My eyepiece will wear the crown with humility for the 2009/2010 pagent year, and pledges to uphold the integrity and dignity of the institution.
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David E
"If there was life on other planets, we would have sent them some foreign aid by now." -commedian James Gregory
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3246
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
...Ain't no point in continuing. But, I would actually be curious as to how well it works.
Hilarious! Great thread.
(BTW, I love the look and feel of my 27 Pan)
Actually, it works rather well. Well, in spite of appearances, it is a real eyepiece! I believe it's an Erfle design and weighs like a hunk of lead.
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David E
"If there was life on other planets, we would have sent them some foreign aid by now." -commedian James Gregory
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 44021
Loc: montana
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David; any glare from it?
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
Garrett 20x80 TWP setup
DreamCatcher Dobservatory
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3246
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
David; any glare from it?
Naw. As you can see in the picture (posted above) is has a very dull finish.
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David E
"If there was life on other planets, we would have sent them some foreign aid by now." -commedian James Gregory
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3246
Loc: North Carolina
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And there's absolutely NO truth to the rumour that my eyepiece used eyecup implants.
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David E
"If there was life on other planets, we would have sent them some foreign aid by now." -commedian James Gregory
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Bob Myler
sage
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 297
Loc: St Louis, MO
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David, your Best In Show eyepiece looks positively organic. Might it be a highly evolved fungus?
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5" AP StarFire on Dobbins mount
10" Custom Dynascope on HD Criterion mount
12" LightBridge - extensively moded
Meade ETX90EC w/Autostar
Fujinon 6X30 FMTR-SX
8' Exploradome w/Bay Extension
18 various eyepieces/barlows
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darylf96
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/28/04
Posts: 1397
Loc: Danville, California
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Quote:
I think the Meade UWA are one of the best looking EP's out there. I have 2 of them and when I pull them out people are like, those are COOL looking eyepieces and I totally agree.
I will also say that Carol's Masuyama are are great looking.
The ugliest Eyepiece has to be the TV 41 MM Panoptic. It don't uglier than that.
I gotta go with the Meade UWA - that is referring to the older Meade UWA, not their new egg-shaped EP. I got one of the older UWAs when a CN member announced a super sale on the 8mm. I jumped on it and got one of the few available. It not only looks first-class, it is a fine planetary EP. I would post a pic, but my large EPs are stored at my office. Be glad to post one later if anyone is interested. Don't own any ugly EPs, but the weirdest is my Orion 30mm Ultrascopic, which has a window much larger than my eyeball and an exit pupil that is a bear to deal with.
Clear Skies
Daryl
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Intes Micro MN66 - Meade 10" SCT
Orion EON 120mm ED f7.5 Apo
Skywatcher 150mm f8 Achro
G-11, CG5A-GT Mounts
DM-6 With Sky Commander DSC
Astro-Tech AT80 Refractor f6.9 APO
Stellarvue 20x85 binos - Unimount
Kunming United Optics 7x50 binocs
Canon Rebel XT, Canon 20D, Canon SXi
SBIG ST-8XE
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Svezda
sage
Reged: 06/01/07
Posts: 362
Loc: Texas
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I haven't re-read all the posts recently so don't know if anyone mentioned Claves in the past week but I was very surprised not to see them listed. I think they are in the top three or so best-looking oculars.
My list off the top of my head, not necessarily in order: Masuyama (hope someday to find one), Clave (on my list to buy someday), those cool Kogaku orthos in a previous post, Tak LE (beautiful if somewhat underwhelming optically but still excellent - have most of 'em), TVue NT6's, Meade RG orthos (would like a 4 and 28 to complete my set), UO 'flat top' or Professional Series orthos and Koenig (have them all), Galoc 16mm (got it)...too many look cool to me to list them all but these stand out for me.
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magic612
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 1035
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Quote:
Agreed. If I ever find a source of smooth barrels, I will replace the ones on the UO's.
Doug, will these ones work?
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- 10" Orion Dob, 127mm f/9 refractor, 127mm f/4.4 refractor, 5" f/8 Dob (homemade), 90mm f/10 Orion refractor, 114mm f/8 reflector, Tasco 11TE-5 reflector, 60mm Sears 6333-A refractor
- Orion Vista 10x50s, Sears #6207 7x35's, Jason Statesman 7x35's
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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Jokulainen
member
Reged: 08/10/09
Posts: 29
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Quote:
I'll toss this one in as the ugliest eyepiece ever made.
That thing looks huge..
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izar187
sage
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 402
Loc: 43N
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Best lookin'?
Absolutely!
http://www.astronomyboy.com/eyepieces/index.html
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4 thru 13 inch scopes.
30 years observing.
You just read this on the internet, so.....
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