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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: johnnyha]
#5193892 - 04/27/12 06:58 PM
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Literally and figuratively.
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Scanning4Comets
Markus
Reged: 12/26/04
Loc: Deep Space!
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: johnnyha]
#5193957 - 04/27/12 07:52 PM
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OK, Markus, you can let it go now.
In my post where I mentioned "so-so" eyepieces for planets, I was talking about "wide-field long-eye-relief" eyepieces in general, not specifically the XW's, though it might have seemed that way. I realize that the XW's are very nice eyepieces, and the XO's are supposed to be only a bit better for planets.
But when an observer is trying to tease out the last minutiae of fine surface features, that little bit can become very important, more important than a wider AFOV and longer eye relief.
I considered both the XW and the XO 5mm. I chose the XO, which I thought would be the better choice for my purposes. YMMV.
Now, if only Adorama comes through and ships me my backordered XO 5 ...
Mike
Mike,
Are you basing your claims on actually using the eyepiece? You're still waiting for it to arrive, so are you basing your claims on reviews? Hmmmmm....
I just made a statement, that was all.  
I am just on my way out to do some dark sky observing.....and I will be having a look through the XO tonight!!!
Comfort has a LOT to do with how you see things through an eyepiece and yes it does matter if you have to squint and struggle to see detail. Does it make the clarity any better? No, of course not, but when viewing, I know that eye strain can hinder your observing session if you have to struggle for long periods of time, but that's just ME, and it might not bother others.
Cheers,
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: Scanning4Comets]
#5194106 - 04/27/12 10:38 PM
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Markus,
Quote:
Are you basing your claims on actually using the eyepiece? You're still waiting for it to arrive, so are you basing your claims on reviews? Hmmmmm....
Yes, absolutely, when it comes to the XW's and XO's, I am basing my claims on reviews! Thanks very much to all the good folks out there who spend their precious telescope time comparing eyepieces so I can spend more time observing! 
I said I had never looked through either XW or XO. But in the sentence that you quoted and boldened, is there any mention specifically of XW's or XO's? No, there isn't!
I am extrapolating from my own experience observing planets with other wide-field long-eye-relief eyepieces versus my own experience observing planets with orthos and Brandons and a few other relatively simple, relatively "narrow" field of view eyepieces, as confirmed by many other experienced planet observers. Which incidentally, is also confirmed by reports from those who have compared the XW's and XO's in the field. Why should this surprise anyone?
By "experienced planet observers," I mean those willing to spend hours - not minutes - viewing surface features on planets in order to tease out all the detail available in moments of better seeing.
Quote:
I am just on my way out to do some dark sky observing.....and I will be having a look through the XO tonight!!!
Excellent! I hope to do the same through my own XO soon.
Quote:
Comfort has a LOT to do with how you see things through an eyepiece and yes it does matter if you have to squint and struggle to see detail. Does it make the clarity any better? No, of course not, but when viewing, I know that eye strain can hinder your observing session if you have to struggle for long periods of time, but that's just ME, and it might not bother others.
I don't squint and struggle. I relax and observe the best I can with whatever eyepiece is in the focuser or the binoviewer. 
Mike
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turtle86
Pooh-Bah Everywhere Else
Reged: 10/09/06
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5195130 - 04/28/12 03:08 PM
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If Adorama comes through, I should have my own XO 5 in the - hopefully -not too distant future.
Any word when they might be available again? I'm tempted to place an order myself...
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: turtle86]
#5195181 - 04/28/12 03:38 PM
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No, I'm not sure. I submitted my order not long after Adorama put up their message that the XO 5mm was on backorder. As it stands now, I might have a while to reconsider my purchase before it is charged and shipped - if Adorama is ever restocked. This birthday present to myself might end up being a Christmas present or nothing at all.
Mike
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Sarkikos
Postmaster
Reged: 12/18/07
Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5195191 - 04/28/12 03:41 PM
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I know one thing for certain: if I'd have to buy a Pentax XO 5mm at the full price it ain't happenin'.
Mike
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Scanning4Comets
Markus
Reged: 12/26/04
Loc: Deep Space!
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: Sarkikos]
#5195213 - 04/28/12 03:54 PM
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I was able to briefly try out the Pentax 5mm XO last night in two telescopes. Scatter control on Saturn was excellent, but I did not see any more detail than I did in my 7mm XW. In my 7mm XW, I get 160x, (I drift tested it), in the 5mm XO I get around 240x, so a true comparison is not fair.
The eye relief of the 5m XO was distracting to me. The eye relief and comfort factor in the 7mm XW was far superior....so I would really have to use a 5mm XW for a fair comparison. I do know this: A 5mm XW would be used a lot more than the 5mm XO for longer periods of time making for a more pleasing observing session if I was to spend a lot of down time looking for detail on the planets.
I also tried the 5mm XO in a driven scope and it was a lot better in that regard. A LOT more time would be needed in a lot of different conditions to really evaluate that or any eyepiece.....so I will bug Mike, (Junomike), some more when we go observing to see if the 5mm XO is better than other 5mm eyepieces.
I am not a big fan of short eye relief eyepieces, so I know *FOR ME* that this eyepiece wouldn't last long, and I would opt for a 5mm WX instead.
Cheers,
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tomcody
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/06/08
Loc: Titusville, Florida
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: turtle86]
#5195220 - 04/28/12 03:57 PM
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Quote:
Quote:
If Adorama comes through, I should have my own XO 5 in the - hopefully -not too distant future.
Any word when they might be available again? I'm tempted to place an order myself...
Check out this post on Astronomics:
http://www.astronomics.com/main/Pentax_XO_Eyepieces.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/M7P1S5MK4SU49NV7FWM8L9DF84/Page/1
Rex 
Edited by tomcody (04/28/12 04:48 PM)
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etsleds
sage
Reged: 11/14/09
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: tomcody]
#5195385 - 04/28/12 06:26 PM
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Don't know how this kind of discussion ever comes to a conclusion, given that it's a question of trade-offs and that balance will differ for everyone.
Two personal recommendations.
One, buy both (as said earlier). The 5XO is rare and a pinnacle of performance eyepiece. Get it while you can, worst that can happen is that you move it on for a small loss (or gain). The 5XW is plentiful, buy one used, easy to resell.
Two, force yourself to use the XO whenever conditions allow for a while - depending on your seeing conditions, the XO may only shine on a few occasions. I found I kept going for the comfort of my other 5mm's most often and didn't get the magic of the XO until I used it extensively during the last Mars opposition. Unless the ER is completely unworkable for you, I'd suggest reserving judgement until you have a couple of magical seeing nights.
Regards, Andrew.
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johnnyha
Postmaster
Reged: 11/12/06
Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: etsleds]
#5195552 - 04/28/12 08:47 PM
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Hey there's a 5XO for sale! Oop it's gone!
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Sean Cunneen
Let Me Think
Reged: 08/01/07
Loc: Blue Island Illinois
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: johnnyha]
#5195575 - 04/28/12 09:03 PM
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That was mine. The ad was up for 2 minutes and I had a buyer! That is the second time I bought one only to sell it. The curse of the long-focal length telescope.
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planet earth
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/07/10
Loc: Ontario
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: BKBrown]
#5196475 - 04/29/12 12:19 PM
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If you want a cheap test run on the XO, before purchasing, get a Meade 3000 5mm plossl for $25.00 and practice cleaning the eye lens!
Seriously I'd get the XW for I believe is the same price.
Myself if I could find a cheaper XL I'd be more then happy.
Clear Skies
Sam
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gnowellsct
Postmaster
Reged: 06/24/09
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Re: Decision time: Pentax 5mm XW or XO?
[Re: planet earth]
#5197515 - 04/30/12 12:04 AM
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One does not normally eat dessert before dinner. XWs are dinner, XOs are dessert. XOs eat up a lot of money that would be more profitably spent on acquiring XWs.
Once you have the XWs, well, then. The world economy needs more consumer spending, and XOs are a fairly innocuous way to help out.
Greg N
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