Quote:

---

I picked this one up on eBay , I like it alot
[image]http://[/image]
[image]http://[/image]

---

Thanks, very nice pseudo-Masuyama 26mm smoothie! Will prowl eBay/AM to hunt for one like yours to go with its sibling on my stable:


5-element "Japan" Smooth-side 56mm Meade Super Plossl

On first use, it wowed me, and was reminded of the Naglers - expansive, bright & sharp; loved the views!

Best,

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Hello Hernando


>>>
So, with the RKE28mm on the TV 2x barlow, there is an out-focus racking difference of 6.5mm or around 1/4 of an inch compared to the RKE by itself.

With regards to whether the barlowed RKE28mm becomes dimmer than the TV15mm plossl, to my eye there is a slight decrease in brightness but not that noticeable. Same thing for sharpness, the barlowed RKE is very sharp, although it seems the TV15 presents an ever so lightly crispier image. Also, unexpectedly, there is a hint of the TV15 being slightly more neutral in tone (many have talked about the so called "coffee tint" on the TV plossls) compared to the barlowed RKE28. Difference in actual magnification may account for the perceived variances; the barlowed RKE seemed to magnify Luna more than what a 1mm focal length difference (28mm barlowed 2x = 14mm vs TV15mm) will do. Also, there is some vignetting on the RKE/TV barlow combo, maybe the outer 5% from the field stop which was blurred. Powermates are better in controlling if not eliminating vignetting. Since the RKE28mm is such a small EP (relatively), it is not too cumbersome or troublesome to barlow, not like the big behemoths which are so common nowadays. These are my findings, which may differ from what others see, and I hope they are useful to you, thanks. <<<<<<


Thanks for posting the pic's , and the information seems to be just what I need . The small amount of vignetting should not be a problem for me .
A 1/4 inch of outward focuser travel sounds like it may work for me . I will check the position of my RKE 28 to see where it is in the focuser . If it looks like I'll have enough room , I'll get a barlow .

Thank You very much , Leonard

---

Pleasure's mine Leonard, thanks.
Here's something new about the focus racking difference between the barlowed & un-barlowed RKE 28mm, tried it out with my C8:


RKE28 on C8 SCT w/2x TV barlow

Surprised that with the RKE28 barlowed with the TV2x on the C8 SCT, the focuser needed just a bit of in-travel (not out) of less than a quarter of a turn of the tuning knob as compared to the RKE28 without the barlow. It's consistent with Vondragonnoggin's observation that a very short adjustment is required to reach focus.

Best,

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Since everyone is posting pics of their RKE's, I couldn't stand it any longer I have been trying to join these forums for three years and could never get an account Turns out my username is similar to a vendor's username and somehow I always got rejected with no explanation. This time I finally got a hold of one of the admins and they helped me out. WooHoo!! WooHoo!!

Anyhow, << Don take's a deep breath >> back to RKE eyepieces.... I have a 1979 RKE28 that I got with an Edmund 3 inch f/10 reflector for Christmas as a boy. Later in life, about 1999 to be exact, I got another when I bought a new Astroscan. Both of these look identical, other than slight wear due to the age difference. About 6 years ago I came upon an old telescope sitting on the curb on "big trash day". Since it looked similar to my 3 inch and had 2 old and odd looking eyepieces, I took it home. I have never even looked through those 2 eyepieces (see pics below) until I started reading this thread a week ago. I think I have what others above are calling one of the old 1 1/8 RKE's, only mine, like one posted above, has absolutely no markings on it at all. It also seems to have a smaller or narrower bevel than others pictured here. Two nights ago I gave it its first light with me and it was not very impressive. I think it might be due to my two groups being reversed with the curved edges pointing away from each other. Did anyone else make anything that looked this similar to Edmund stuff from way back when?

Anyway, I am posting pics and would like to hear what others think of this.

Thanks,
Don

---

Don, welcome to the forum (I know, 3 years delayed welcome too ), you've got one of those old 1-1/8" pre-RKE28's which to BillP's assessment is a bit better than the current Edmund Optics/Scientific version, so take good care of it! (If not, I can take it off yours hands if you're willing )

Great advice from BillP on how to fix your unit, am posting your image with Jaimo!'s exploded view (hope you don't mind Jaimo) superimposed on it (at the bottom) for reference:



Let us know how it works out when you've reversed the lenses, thanks.

BTW, great story and read about how you came about with the EP's, thanks for posting.

Best,

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

I think I have what others above are calling one of the old 1 1/8 RKE's, only mine, like one posted above, has absolutely no markings on it at all.

---

Don, this all-black 1-1/8" RKE with no markings is similar to that of Chuck Hards' (see page 5 of this thread) who posted a reference to his 3 RKE28mm's shown below, the silver one (originally black), of which he later (p.6) said: "The knurling is slightly more proud than on my black one, which, btw, doesn't have RKE engraved on it." (Chuck, am borrowing your image for reference here, hope you don't mind, thanks; we're also waiting for the new pics that you mentioned earlier, thanks.) Chuck's silver one is the oldest RKE28mm posted here, around 45 years old, and yours, having a "smaller bevel" than his silver & black might predate the 2 and even be older!


Chuck Hard's 3 RKE28mm's

Now I believe in the saying "one man's trash may be another man's treasure!"

Best,

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I think I have what others above are calling one of the old 1 1/8 RKE's, only mine, like one posted above, has absolutely no markings on it at all.

---

Don, this all-black 1-1/8" RKE with no markings is similar to that of Chuck Hards' (see page 5 of this thread) who posted a reference to his 3 RKE28mm's shown below, the silver one (originally black), of which he later (p.6) said: "The knurling is slightly more proud than on my black one, which, btw, doesn't have RKE engraved on it." (Chuck, am borrowing your image for reference here, hope you don't mind, thanks; we're also waiting for the new pics that you mentioned earlier, thanks.) Chuck's silver one is the oldest RKE28mm posted here, around 45 years old, and yours, having a "smaller bevel" than his silver & black might predate the 2 and even be older!


Chuck Hard's 3 RKE28mm's

Now I believe in the saying "one man's trash may be another man's treasure!"

Best,

---

Just a question. If it does not say RKE on it is it really an RKE? I think I would only consider one of the three eyepieces pictured an RKE. But that's just me.

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Just a question. If it does not say RKE on it is it really an RKE? I think I would only consider one of the three eyepieces pictured an RKE. But that's just me.

---

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, squawks like a duck, then it must be a duck!

Best,

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Greg...what if the box it came in had RKE on it or the manual for the scope it came with originally called it a RKE?

---

Then nobody could question what it is, not even me. But I know that the one in the middle was never called that and the one on the right has not been shown with a box to my knowledge. So are they all RKE's?

Post Extras: