Telescope Reviews: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36mm's?

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Equipment Discussions >> Eyepieces

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ibase
Vendor Affilliate

Reged: 03/20/08

Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: EdZ]
#5216954 - 05/11/12 11:26 AM

Hmm, you may be on to something there Edz, it certainly looks likely, although it's something that might be expected too of "surplus" products.

Best,

Post Extras:

Ed Holland
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/16/10

Loc: San Jose, CA and Oxford, UK

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: ibase]
#5216987 - 05/11/12 11:52 AM

Good question EdZ, but at $35 for a nice view it doesn't trouble me at all

. Would be interesting to know though...

So, Seconds; surplus stock; purchased from a dealer/store closing sale; what other options are there?

Post Extras:

Vondragonnoggin
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/21/10

Loc: Southern CA, USA

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: Ed Holland]
#5217001 - 05/11/12 12:01 PM

Really, for $35, I don't understand worrying about name origins, seconds, made in USA, whether it compares to older versions or newer, or any of that.

Just put it in your focuser and try it out, if you don't like it, sell it off.

But I understand, the thread must go on...

Post Extras:

dan_h
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/10/07

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: EdZ]
#5217003 - 05/11/12 12:01 PM

Quote:

Has anyone else thought, since reading that; some of these have rough field stop edges, some have no rubber grip, some are without the original boxes, some have been lying around for a long time to gather dust, some have imperfections in the adonizing, among a few other comments, that this batch could be factory seconds?

edz

Paul Rini comes to mind. I know before he closed shop he had a fair bit of surplus Edmund stock. I bought some NOS replacement lens sets for the 28mm RKE from him. Perhaps Fred acquired some of Paul's old stash. It would think it unlikely that Edmund would have a large quantity of 'seconds' that they would dump on the market.

The one I rec'd from the Shed, is in great condition despite the fact it did not come in a box.

dan

Post Extras:

Andy Taylor
Twisted, but in a Good Way

Reged: 09/24/08

Loc: The Pub. UK

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: Vondragonnoggin]
#5217032 - 05/11/12 12:17 PM

Just to muddy the waters...

I have a 6 year old 28mm that is engraved "Edmund Scientific" and says "Made in United States" on the barcode lable on the box.

I just received a 21.5mm (I put the wrong part numbers on an order placed at work - my boss got a 28mm...

) and it is engraved "Edmund Industrial optics" on the barrel and it does not say "made in the US" on the box.

Both came from Edmunds York (UK) branch.

Although I've not had a proper chance to try out the 21.5mm it seems to have the "floaty" effect too, just not as much as the 28mm.

Post Extras:

MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: saemark30]
#5217308 - 05/11/12 02:51 PM

This little junket with the RKE from SS led me to buy a couple of new RKE's: 15, 8mm. Plus since I don't have any a couple of orthoscopics: 25, 18mm.

Post Extras:

amicus sidera
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/14/11

Loc: East of the Sun, West of the M...

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: EdZ]
#5217382 - 05/11/12 03:30 PM

Quote:

Has anyone else thought, since reading that; some of these have rough field stop edges, some have no rubber grip, some are without the original boxes, some have been lying around for a long time to gather dust, some have imperfections in the adonizing, among a few other comments, that this batch could be factory seconds?

edz

That may well be the case, Edz. For example, I mentioned in another RKE thread that one of the pair which I procured from Surplus Shed had a small nick in the center of the eyelens... notably, on the inward-facing side. The barrel of the other had cosmetic machining errors aplenty (by swapping lens sets I ended up with one pristine specimen and another relegated to use as a finder eyepiece).

My assumption, even before buying them, was that at $35 apiece, they were factory seconds of some sort... last I looked, Surplus Shed wasn't being run as a charitable organization.

Post Extras:

davidpitre
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/05

Loc: Central Texas

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: Alan French]
#5217675 - 05/11/12 07:05 PM

Quote:

TEC makes their products here, in Colorado, so I am not sure why they are on your list.

Clear skies, Alan

I just mentioned Yuri because has made some scopes in the past that used finished optics he purchased, among them his maks.
From what I've seen none of those I mentioned seem to advertise "Made in America".
It is hard for me to imagine that any of the glass for these RKEs was American made, so the fact that some have been sold as "Made in America" suggests that the issue is a bit more complicated. The synopsis article stated: "A product that is "Made in America" has to be assembled, and most of the cost of making the product incurred, in the United States." That gives some latitude.

Post Extras:

nevy
sage

Reged: 02/07/12

Loc: UK

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: nevy]
#5220469 - 05/13/12 03:48 PM

Quote:

On first impressions it looks similar to the Meade Japan 26 smoothie
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r563/nev19/598de4f5.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r563/nev19/5efeac82.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r563/nev19/d5ab328d.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r563/nev19/56b8dc3d.jpg
http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r563/nev19/e9b5290f.jpg
I thought when looking through the Meade that it was like looking through a big window in the side of the telescope , I can't wait to see if it turns out to be a bigger window through the RKE.

Yep , it's very similar , the RKE is like looking into a slightly bigger window( I bet the jap Meade 32 is an identical view , anyway I was out with the lightbridge lastnight and I was about to pack up as it was about 5 am and the sky was blue , I spotted the moon pretty low in the sky and it was just obscured by next doors corner of the house so I waited 10 minutes for it to come into view and I took a couple of photos with my phone.
Here's how low it was

Here's the Meade 26mm

Here's the RKE

Edited by nevy (05/13/12 09:02 PM)

Post Extras:

ibase
Vendor Affilliate

Reged: 03/20/08

Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: nevy]
#5220845 - 05/13/12 07:56 PM

Nice scope/RKE moon shots. Check the dimension of the image, they should conform to CN's "Image Posting Guidelines" which says:

Quote:

Posted images may be up to 800x800 pixels in resolution and 125K in size or less. This goes for images that are "hotlinked" from elsewhere, as well as those attached to the post.

The Lightbridge image is 1023 x 764p, exceeding the 800 x 800 pixel limit.

Best,

Post Extras:

nevy
sage

Reged: 02/07/12

Loc: UK

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: ibase]
#5220930 - 05/13/12 09:10 PM

Thanks ibase, I tried downsizing them a couple of times with no success and gave up as it was too time consuming but after your post I did it at the 800x 800 , haha result

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saemark30
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/21/12

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: nevy]
#5222200 - 05/14/12 03:49 PM

The RKE 28mm works well at fast f/4.2 but the edges are a bit soft at f/6.

Post Extras:

awaitsclearskies
member

Reged: 01/07/12

Loc: Southwestern Ontario

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: EdZ]
#5222529 - 05/14/12 07:02 PM

Hi Edz, it seems what you were asking appears to be correct.
No rubber grips
No boxes or lens caps.
Plenty of dust and debris.
And more shiny surfaces inside than I have ever seen in an EP.
I just received two for binoviewing, on first inspection I was a little disappointed-scratches, blemishes and other imperfections on the housing and barrel. But it is clear right now so in a few hours I will have a better sense of them. I am still ready to embrace these EPs if they perform well.

Clear Skies
Harold

Post Extras:

ibase
Vendor Affilliate

Reged: 03/20/08

Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: saemark30]
#5222883 - 05/14/12 11:38 PM

Quote:

The RKE 28mm works well at fast f/4.2 but the edges are a bit soft at f/6.

Edge correction is not a strong point of the RKE28mm but a barlow considerably cleans up the edges.

Best,

Post Extras:

Ed Holland
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/16/10

Loc: San Jose, CA and Oxford, UK

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: saemark30]
#5223551 - 05/15/12 01:31 PM

Quote:

The RKE 28mm works well at fast f/4.2 but the edges are a bit soft at f/6.

Excuse my asking, but it seems a mistake might have slipped in here? Better at f/4.2? If so, it is interesting.

Ed

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saemark30
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/21/12

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: Ed Holland]
#5223647 - 05/15/12 02:25 PM

Not meaning better at f/4.2 than f/6.
Edge shows astigmatism.

Quote:

Quote:

The RKE 28mm works well at fast f/4.2 but the edges are a bit soft at f/6.

Excuse my asking, but it seems a mistake might have slipped in here? Better at f/4.2? If so, it is interesting.

Ed

Post Extras:

greju
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/13/05

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: saemark30]
#5243899 - 05/28/12 01:07 PM Attachment (11 downloads)

Wow! I had to go back five pages for this thread!! I almost am ashamed to be the one to put it back on top.

A little while back I received my SS RKE 28mm. As usual per SS custom minimal packaging but it shipped fine.

Post Extras:

greju
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/13/05

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: greju]
#5243900 - 05/28/12 01:08 PM Attachment (13 downloads)

Mine arrived in excellent condition.

Post Extras:

greju
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/13/05

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: greju]
#5243907 - 05/28/12 01:15 PM Attachment (11 downloads)

First light in comparison with a 1979 vintage RKE the difference was immediatly noticeable. Not saying it was a bad difference, just a difference all the same. I wondered why I was seeing this when others had said they noticed no difference? Well, the answer was easy and was explained in at least a couple of different ways.

Post Extras:

greju
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/13/05

Re: RKE 28mm on the way! What to expect vs. 27-36 new

[Re: greju]
#5243921 - 05/28/12 01:22 PM Attachment (17 downloads)

Something about these eyepieces looked different right away, you may have noticed it in the last photo. Here three of the eyepieces mentioned in this thread. Left to right; Edmund 1 and 1/8th, new SS RKE 28mm. and a vintage RKE. See anything yet?

Post Extras:

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