Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
darylf96
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/28/04
Posts: 1391
Loc: Danville, California
|
|
My collection of EPs is short on 80-82 deg. types. I am not into the super high-priced EPs, and am considering either the Meade Series 5000 UWA or the Explore Scientific UWA of 14,18 and 24mm FL. I have read reviews of the Meade EPs, but am curious about the ES brand. Would appreciate comments from owners of these UWA EPs.
--------------------
Intes Micro MN66 - Meade 10" SCT
Orion EON 120mmm 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
|
Newfie Ninja
member
Reged: 06/27/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Newfoundland, Canada
|
|
You should definitely look at the William Optics Uwan EP's, They get good reviews and I can speak from personal experience that they are quality ep's and are affordable compared to some other Ultra Wides.
Cheers
--------------------
CPC 11 Starbright XLT
WO FLT 98 Aluminum Tube
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro Synscan
WO EZ Touch Mount
Ethoi,Uwans,Swans,a Nagler, & a 2x Powermate
A couple of cases of other stuff
|
letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2013
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
|
|
Hey,
I've had occasion to speak with two vendors about the Meade, Celestron and ES eyepieces. They both tell pretty much the same story. Each will sell the Explore Scientific 100 degree EPs, but will not be carrying their 82 degree line. The reason, in each case per the vendor, is that all three of these firms' 82 degree eyepieces come from the same source. Since they carry Celestron and Meade already, they won't bother with what amounts to stock duplication. I'm sure you can see that the focal lengths of the ES/Meades are identical ('cept for the 8.8mm Meade vs. 11mm ES), and the exterior design of the ES is similar to that of Celestron's.
So, performance, once again per the vendors, is pretty much identical. Now, that being said, looking through Celestron's 15mm and Meade's 14mm I was pretty impressed, and generally both C & M EPs in these lines have been well received.
T'were it me, seeing as how you're just down the road from ES, and (assuming they stick around) they have a five year warranty on their EPs, I'd consider getting the ES versions.
I have not tried to do any rigorous testing of these myself, but one thing to keep in mind is that the 18/19mm EPs have shorter (13mm) eye relief than the others. So, in addtion to having a wide field you can't really capture without moving your eye around a bit, if you wear glasses that might be a problem.
Over the last few years I haven't seen more than a handful of Meade UWAs or Celestron Axiom LXs for sale on A-Mart. I think that says quite a bit about how satisfied folks seem to be with their choices.
--------------------
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
|
Arizona-Ken
sage
Reged: 08/31/08
Posts: 307
Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona
|
|
There have been a few comments in the forum on the Axioms, and they have been received favorably. Also check out Michael Daugherty's review on the 15 mm. I have the Axiom 10 mm and it works very well in my f/10 C8. It compares very nicely with a 11 mm Nagler.
Looking at your line-up of scopes, I think the Axiom line is worth your consideration.
Arizona Ken
--------------------
"Considered as a collector of rare and precious things, the amateur astronomer has a great advantage over amateurs in other fields ... the amateur astronomer has access at all times to the original objects of his study; the masterworks of the heavens belong to him as much as to the great observatories of the world. And there is no privilege like that of being allowed to stand in the presence of the original."
--Robert Burnham Jr, Burnham's Celestial Handbook
|
hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 2088
Loc: Union,NJ
|
|
I have 2 of the Meade UWA and will say that they are very close to Naglers for 30% less.
I don't have expereince with the Axioms but the UWA cost less than Axioms. If you like the Axiom look but want them cheaper get the ES 82* EP's. I don't think you can do wrong with any of these Ep's.
--------------------
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
|
deSitter
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 2926
|
|
I have all of them, and my only complaint is a general one against all wide field designs, namely spherical aberration of the exit pupil makes terrestrial use impossible and makes astronomical use an eye-wrenching chore. The only thing that stands out about the line is the 14mm, which has some significant curvature of field (at least mine does) - the rest are uniformly excellent optically, and so really is the 14mm in refractors.
-drl
|
RonBurgundy
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 271
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
I have the full set of the 5000 series UWAs. While I haven't looked through the Explore Scientific, I can tell you that the Meades are amazing. They are now my only eyepieces..I even use them in an f/5 scope, and the quality of the view is amazing! They're expensive, but as has already been said, they're not even close to the price of a Nagler...and as far as I'm concerned, they're of the same quality. I actually prefer them--eye positioning is more comfortable. Good luck with your decision. Let us know!
--------------------
Kipp Ginsburg
8" LX200-ACF
Orion 120mm F/5.0 Piggybacked Refractor
Meade UWA Set [4.7mm-30mm]
DSI-II
|
jack45
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/07/03
Posts: 2472
Loc: Lacey WA
|
|
I can say the 31mm,23mm and 10mm Celestron Axiom LX are excellent eps. IMO
Clear Skies!
--------------------
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
|
cuzimthedad
Just Be Cuz
Reged: 04/09/06
Posts: 3721
Loc: Sonoma, Northern California
|
|
I've owned all the Meade 5K UWAs and can safely say they are a great bang for the buck ep, my favorites being the 18 and 24mm. I don't think you can go wrong with them.
--------------------
Dan
20" f/5 Obsession
Antares 1529
TV102
Various Naglers, Ethos, UO Orthos and TV Plossls
The Off Fisher Lane Irregulars
|
NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 3153
Loc: New Hampshire
|
|
I have the 23mm Axiom LX and the views are quite nice in my TEC140. It could use a tad more eye relief but I've seen worse. It's a funky looking thing. At first I didn't like the look but it's grown on me. I'm tempted to get the massive 31mm. Great for shock value ... pulling that big "spud" out of your ep box!
Rob
--------------------
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" !!
|
|
27 registered and 19 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Greg K., Jason B, csa/montana
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 213
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
