Stell
member
Reged: 09/27/09
Posts: 14
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If I decided to add a premium EP in the 13-14 mm category, what has your personal experience revealed would be your top recommendation: a 13/T6 Nag, a 14 Pentax XL, a 13 Vixen LVW or ???? (An Ethos or Pentax XW is out of my price range- Or would you recommend waiting/saving an extra year+ to get one of those over the previous list?) Looking for your experience/expertise on the matter, knowing full well that EP selection is always a personal preference. (Note: I own a Orion XT10i if it matters) Thanks. Stell
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FirstSight
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/26/05
Posts: 3876
Loc: Raleigh, NC
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13T6 Nagler or a Pentax 14XW. My own preference would be for the 13T6 Nagler (got one, kept it, still use it sometimes even after getting a 13E). The eye relief of the 13T6 is plenty for me, and it's plenty sharp and I prefer the 82 deg AFOV EPs to the 70deg AFOV ones, but those two parameters are a matter of personal preference.
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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
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Rick Woods
Postmaster
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 5655
Loc: Inner Solar System
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If used is OK, I'd suggest a Meade S4000 14mm UWA.
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
Dyslexics Untie!
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 2073
Loc: Union,NJ
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I agree with Rick, to my eye I really don't see enough of a difference between the Nagler and Meade UWA. I would probably get the UWA.
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C9.25 ASGT 9*50 MM Finder,FT Focuser & 2" Diagonal
Meade LXD 75 6 Inch SNT w 9*50 MM Finder
5,6,9,14.5 MM Zhummel Planetary EPs
13,17,21,24,31,36 MM Baader Hyperion
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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nyc_nurse
sage
Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 253
Loc: nyc
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Quote:
knowing full well that EP selection is always a personal preference
Hit the nail on the head. But some things that you need to consider. Need to wear glasses? If so then 13T6 is out and best choice would be the XW. Do you like seeing the field stop? Some people do and if you fall under that group then the Nagler is not for you. I have no problem seeing and using the 82deg with my 13T6 but I can't see the field stop unless I move my eye/head into the side of the EP. That's kind of the basis of the "spacewalk effect" and some people don't like it. And lastly, what are your observing conditions? If you're in a heavily LP area then many of the benefits or performance differences between EP's (besides FOV) becomes moot - save your dough but if you have decent skies then IMO differences will be seen and definitely go with the premium brands.
If you have decent skies, like not seeing the field stop and having an expansive view, then I don't think you could go wrong with the 13T6. About $200 on used market, add $60 to $75 for new.
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Sam P.
www.agirlandaguy.blogspot.com
Pentax 7X50
TV-102 APO w/ (Starbeam - on backorder  )
Ash Gibraltar w/ SkyTour DSC
NZ3-6, N9T6, N13T6
TV 20 Plossl
Pan 24, 35
Pentax XW10, XW14
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turtle86
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 666
Loc: Red Sox Nation
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Can't go wrong with the 13 T6.
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Lane
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1495
Loc: Frisco, Texas
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I think you will better off with the 13 T6 for that particular scope.
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CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager
OTAs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11, Pronto, ED80
Orion 9x63, Fujinon 10x50 & 16x70
Ethos 13, 17 Nagler 9t1,12t4,16t2,22t4 Panoptic 27,35
Antares 1.6x, TV Powermates 2x & 4x, TV Barlow 3x, TV Plossl 8,11,13
Baader Hyperion 21, 8-24 Zoom, UO HD Ortho 6,7,9,12,18
TMB Planetaries 3.2,4,5,6,7,8, Pentax XW 10,14,40
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ausastronomer
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/30/03
Posts: 934
Loc: NSW Central Coast (Australia)
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Quote:
If used is OK, I'd suggest a Meade S4000 14mm UWA.
That eyepiece will cause major balance issues in an XT10.
In addition I think it is 20 years behind the times in terms of coatings and glass technology. Throughput and contrast to my eye are noticeably inferior to modern offerings like the 13mm ETHOS, 13mm Nagler T6, 13mm Vixen LVW, 14mm Pentax XL & XW, 14mm Denkmeier.
I own a 12mm Nagler T4, a 13mm ETHOS and a 14mm Pentax XW, but if I was buying something for an XT10 and had $250 to spend I would be buying the 14mm Denkmeier in a heartbeat.
Cheers,
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John Bambury
AS of NSW
AS of Hunter Valley
18"/F4.5 Obsession fully loaded with OMI optics
14"/F4.5 SDM fully loaded with Zambuto Optics
10"/F5 Newtonian with Argo Navis
Lots of Pentax XW's. 12mm & 17mm Nagler T4's, 31mm Nagler T5 & 13mm ETHOS. TV Paracorr and 1.8X TV Barlow and 2.5X TV Powermate
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1050
Loc: New York City
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Quote:
Do you like seeing the field stop? Some people do and if you fall under that group then the Nagler is not for you. I have no problem seeing and using the 82deg with my 13T6 but I can't see the field stop unless I move my eye/head into the side of the EP.
Most people with normal vision should be able to see the field stop of an 82 degree EP. For others it may require some practice in using the EP. You may be placing your eye too close to the EP. Use the rubber eyeguard of the 13T6 as a guide.
And another recommendation for the Nagler 13T6.
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nyc_nurse
sage
Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 253
Loc: nyc
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Quote:
Most people with normal vision should be able to see the field stop of an 82 degree EP.
Humm. My problem seems to be not being able to see the field stop clearly as a defined ring of black when I look into the EP with a light source in front. My eye picks up the lens edge on the front element, which is very close to the angular size of the true field stop but I can tell that it's a bit shy of it - regardless of eye placement. It seems like I would have an easier time seeing the field stop clearly defined if the front lens element was just a bit wider.
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Sam P.
www.agirlandaguy.blogspot.com
Pentax 7X50
TV-102 APO w/ (Starbeam - on backorder )
Ash Gibraltar w/ SkyTour DSC
NZ3-6, N9T6, N13T6
TV 20 Plossl
Pan 24, 35
Pentax XW10, XW14
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ssatko
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/05
Posts: 902
Loc: NC
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I'll provide a contrary opinion (but then, I've never used a Nagler 13T6, Pentax XL, or Pentax XW). If you're like me and prefer EPs with plenty of eye relief, the Vixen LVW 13mm is the way to go--mine is easily one of my most-used EPs.
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Scott
SV80/9D
SV102ABV
Orion 4.5" Starblast
Meade LX90 8" UHTC
Orion XT12i
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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 4340
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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I have an XT10i and also have the following eyepieces that fit your question: 13mm Nagler Type 6, 13mm Vixen LVW and 14mm Meade Series 4000 UWA.
The Meade is my fave for sentimental reasons, but the 13mm T6 has better throughput. The 13mm LVW is also excellent, but not quite the starry-vista-machine the other two are.
Regards,
Jim
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"I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
- Sir Issac Newton
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ssatko
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/05
Posts: 902
Loc: NC
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Jim, do you say that because the LVW doesn't have the AFOV that the other two do, or in your opinion, are there other reasons as well?
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Scott
SV80/9D
SV102ABV
Orion 4.5" Starblast
Meade LX90 8" UHTC
Orion XT12i
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RonBurgundy
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 252
Loc: Philadelphia
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14mm Meade UWA... I don't know about the 4000 series, but the 5000 series is amazing... And a LOT cheaper than the Nagler for what I feel is the same quality product--with more comfortable viewing imo. As far as I can see, it's superb. You won't be disappointed.
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Kipp Ginsburg
8" LX200-ACF
Orion 120mm F/5.0 Piggybacked Refractor
Meade UWA Set [4.7mm-30mm]
DSI-II
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2004
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Stell,
I think one of the great values available right now is the Vixen LVW. It's on sale at Astronomics for only $199.
68 degree field of view and marvelously sharp out to the edge. Televue EPs have their proponents, and I know folks who have them enjoy them. But, I honestly think the LVW represents an exceptional value with excellent (20mm) eye relief.
Take a look.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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Pete Kopfer
member
Reged: 12/01/08
Posts: 84
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13T6 should work great in your scope.
Pete
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3020
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Can't go wrong with the 13 T6.
I agree! However the Pentax 14 has better eye relief for viewing comfort with eye glasses. I know Pentax's are more expensive, but if you're not in a hurry, dealers sometimes put them on sale, especially closer to Christmas. I'd shop around frequently.
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David E
If you keep a stack of old Orion catalogs in your bathroom, you might be an astro-redneck.
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jack45
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 2471
Loc: Lacey WA
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The Celestron Axiom 15mm LX, maybe another choice.
Clear Skies!
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16"f/4.5 Discovery Split Tube/TV Paracorr
12.5"f/5 Discovery PDHQ
Orion f/4.9 XT12"Intelliscope
BV's/Bugress Model 24/Stellarvue Model BV3A
TV Smooth Side Plossls,7.4mm,10.5mm,17mm,21mm,26mm
Nagler EPs 9mm T/2,13mm T/1,16mm T/2,20mm T/2,26mm T/5
Axiom EPs 23mm,31mm LX,22mm Panoptic
UO EPs 5MM,6MM,7MM,12.5MM
Baader Hyp 8mm-24mm Zoom
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oldtimer
sage
Reged: 11/13/08
Posts: 299
Loc: NW Illinois
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Premium shemium, I really like my Stratus 13mm
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backwoody
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 1114
Loc: Idaho USA
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Stell, it's unfortunate that Pentax XWs are currently out of your price range; they are very, very high quality EPs, although the 14mm is known for some field curvature.
I'm another big fan of the Vixen LVW line. The 13mm is outstanding; no field curvature that I can see, very high contrast, eye relief that's so, so comfortable, tack sharp to the edge (at least in my f4.8 scope.)
Naglers certainly have their proponents, but the LVWs are hard to beat, at any price. I'd recommend trying one before buying anything else.
c/s,
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woody
a parsec farther out...
12.5" f/4.8 custom truss dob, EQ platform
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