133 replies to this topic

[Levine]

KK has confirmed that the Plan is to relaunch the Masuyama line, including some new focal lengths.
No details yet.

That is great news IMO. The current field of Plossls is exceedingly boring with form factors about as drab as can be. The Masuyama form factor is quite unique comparatively and also nicely functional based on my experiences. Will be nice to have them come back to market.

The initial run of 20 3" 80mm units has just sold out. I believe virtually all of them are within the domestic market in Japan, and then there is a single example in the Western Hemisphere.
The 2" 60mm first run has sold out even faster.
It looks like there may be 60mm and 70mm models forthcoming in 3" format, and possibly 100mm and 120mm examples as well.
All this in addition to the f/l's used more commonly by the amateur astronomy community.

While 100mm and 120mm eyepieces are interesting, either Barry or ES should make a 60mm wide field in the 3 inch format. That eyepiece would be useful in a lot of more common f/8-f/9 scopes and would still be great in the slower ones. While they are at it, someone needs to either make 3" UHC or O-III filters or a way to attach 2" filters to the eye lens.

Derek

KK is looking at a 3" 60mm, 52 degree model. Trouble is, it may prove to be more expensive to make than the 80mm.
Barry will keep me posted, I hope. I would really like to see this become a reality!

[Derek Wong]

 

While 100mm and 120mm eyepieces are interesting, either Barry or ES should make a 60mm wide field in the 3 inch format. That eyepiece would be useful in a lot of more common f/8-f/9 scopes and would still be great in the slower ones. While they are at it, someone needs to either make 3" UHC or O-III filters or a way to attach 2" filters to the eye lens.

Derek

KK is looking at a 3" 60mm, 52 degree model. Trouble is, it may prove to be more expensive to make than the 80mm.
Barry will keep me posted, I hope. I would really like to see this become a reality!

 

 

That is interesting.  One would think that the 60mm/52 deg eyepiece lenses would be a lot smaller than the 80mm/52 deg ones and that they would anticipate higher numbers of sales for the 60.  I would love to hear why the 60 is more expensive.  I could see a 60mm/65 deg eyepiece being quite a bit.

 

Derek

[Sarkikos]

Would a 60mm 65 degree be possible in a 2" format eyepiece?

 

Mike

[Levine]

While 100mm and 120mm eyepieces are interesting, either Barry or ES should make a 60mm wide field in the 3 inch format. That eyepiece would be useful in a lot of more common f/8-f/9 scopes and would still be great in the slower ones. While they are at it, someone needs to either make 3" UHC or O-III filters or a way to attach 2" filters to the eye lens.
Derek

KK is looking at a 3" 60mm, 52 degree model. Trouble is, it may prove to be more expensive to make than the 80mm.
Barry will keep me posted, I hope. I would really like to see this become a reality!

That is interesting. One would think that the 60mm/52 deg eyepiece lenses would be a lot smaller than the 80mm/52 deg ones and that they would anticipate higher numbers of sales for the 60. I would love to hear why the 60 is more expensive. I could see a 60mm/65 deg eyepiece being quite a bit.

Derek

Sorry for the typo: they are working on a possible 60mm 70 degree model in 3" format.
I hope they can ("affordably!") Pull it off.
Regardless, this would *NOT* be a small EP!
:-D

[Levine]

Would a 60mm 65 degree be possible in a 2" format eyepiece?

Mike

I had misreported earlier: their goal is to deliver a 3", 60mm EP, with a 70 degree field of view! Since they already have a 2" 52 degree 60mm EP, a 70 degree wide field in the larger format seems to be a "reasonable" way to go.

It looks like the next offerings will be 50 +/- 45mm, in 2" format. This from KK.
:-D

Edited by Levine, 27 May 2016 - 08:36 AM.

[Levine]

Would a 60mm 65 degree be possible in a 2" format eyepiece?

Mike

I had misreported earlier: their goal is to deliver a 3", 60mm EP, with a 70 degree field of view! Since they already have a 2" 52 degree 60mm EP, a 70 degree wide field in the larger format seems to be a "reasonable" way to go.

It looks like the next offerings will be 50 +/- 45mm, in 2" format. This from KK.
:-D

...and, yes, a 70mm EP, in 3" format!
I am obviously struggling to keep up with all this...an embarrassment of riches, really...
:-P

[dothead]

There's one manufacturer who already offers a wide variety of 3 inch eyepieces: Harry Siebert:

 

3" 40mm 75 deg FOV

3" 42mm 75 deg FOV

3" 50mm 70 deg FOV

3" 55mm 70 deg FOV

3" 60mm 65 deg FOV

3" 65mm 60 deg FOV

3" 70mm 55 deg FOV

 

For longer focal lengths and more TFoV / AFoV, Harry also makes 4" and 4.3" eyepieces.

[Derek Wong]

 

 

 

While 100mm and 120mm eyepieces are interesting, either Barry or ES should make a 60mm wide field in the 3 inch format. That eyepiece would be useful in a lot of more common f/8-f/9 scopes and would still be great in the slower ones. While they are at it, someone needs to either make 3" UHC or O-III filters or a way to attach 2" filters to the eye lens.
Derek

KK is looking at a 3" 60mm, 52 degree model. Trouble is, it may prove to be more expensive to make than the 80mm.
Barry will keep me posted, I hope. I would really like to see this become a reality!

That is interesting. One would think that the 60mm/52 deg eyepiece lenses would be a lot smaller than the 80mm/52 deg ones and that they would anticipate higher numbers of sales for the 60. I would love to hear why the 60 is more expensive. I could see a 60mm/65 deg eyepiece being quite a bit.

Derek

Sorry for the typo: they are working on a possible 60mm 70 degree model in 3" format.
I hope they can ("affordably!") Pull it off.
Regardless, this would *NOT* be a small EP!
:-D

 

 

OK, that makes a lot more sense.  At least they need to make it for f/8 and long scopes, so perhaps an Erfle design will suffice.  

 

If this is going to be a super expensive eyepiece, they may as well do things to make it as easy as possible to use it.  In addition to making some provision for filters, they should make an optional 3" to 2" adapter to do two things.  First, the weight of the adapter should compensate for the difference in weight between the new 3" 60mm and an average 2" eyepiece.  Otherwise, it will cause balance issues on many scopes, especially long refractors.  Second, it should provide roughly the same focus position for the 3" and the average 2" eyepiece, again to provide good balance.  These issues seem trivial but in practice they make observing with 3" and 2" eyepieces difficult without some sort of scope counterweight system.

 

Derek

Edited by Derek Wong, 27 May 2016 - 06:03 PM.

[Phil Cowell]

I'll stick with my Brandon 48. 

 

60mm, 46° and $542.  What would I use it in and would it be worthwhile ... and worth the $542?  

 

$542 for an eyepiece that will either vignette or show the diagonal shadow.  

 

I try not to just collect eyepieces, just because.

 

Mike

[junomike]

John (Levine) care to comment on the price difference (more or less) of this eyepiece now for sale at University Optics.

 

Mike

[dufay]

K.Kohki sells it for ￥198,000 (≈ $1800), which is the export/tax free price.

[Scanning4Comets]

Too big...too expensive.

 

OK for an observatory....

[Levine]

John (Levine) care to comment on the price difference (more or less) of this eyepiece now for sale at University Optics.

Mike

Costs a little less buying direct from KK, but then a little more in shipping.
So, if you buy from UO, it ends up being essentially a wash, I think.
When you add the cost of the adapter and diagonal, then you have about $2300 or so.

Edited by Levine, 29 May 2016 - 07:45 PM.

[bremms]

60mm, 46° and $542.  What would I use it in and would it be worthwhile ... and worth the $542?  

 

$542 for an eyepiece that will either vignette or show the diagonal shadow.  

 

I try not to just collect eyepieces, just because.

 

Mike

It's more reasonable than the $2300 80mm. It woulsd be a fun eye piece in my 6" F10 refractor.

[Levine]

60mm, 46° and $542. What would I use it in and would it be worthwhile ... and worth the $542?

$542 for an eyepiece that will either vignette or show the diagonal shadow.

I try not to just collect eyepieces, just because.

Mike

It's more reasonable than the $2300 80mm. It woulsd be a fun eye piece in my 6" F10 refractor.

The $2300 figure is for the M80/diagonal/adapter combo. The EP by itself is ~$1800.

[Levine]

So it's for long refractors and big SCTs with 2" focusers, I guess.

Yes!

[Derek Wong]

Here are more focal lengths: 45 and 50mm, 53 degree AFOV at the end of this month.

 

https://digiborg.wor...ces-back-again/

 

Derek

Edited by Derek Wong, 01 June 2016 - 07:48 PM.

[csrlice12]

Had I to do over, I would probably would have pursued the Masuyamas instead of the TV plossls (would have topped out at 45-50mm though...but, $2300 for an eyepiece...I'd take up shark jumping first probably...

[The Ardent]

Yes , because they already made the old 45 Ultima and 50 LE. It's too much of a coincidence not to be related.

Here are more focal lengths: 45 and 50mm, 53 degree AFOV at the end of this month.

https://digiborg.wor...ces-back-again/

Derek

[mgwhittle]

Mine delivered today.

 

I did quick look through it with FC100DL f/9.

I see vignetting in outer a few degrees.  

 

According to Ted@hutech.com, Masuyama 50mm/45mm 53 degree AFOV will be released in June.

 

 

Tammy

 

 

Tammy, anything further to report on this new Masuyama?

[mgwhittle]

Although it was stated in this thread that the 60mm is sold out, Agena Astro has two in stock.

 

They had three in stock this weekend but I couldn't resist so now there are two. 

[Scott99]

from the looks of the coatings, the Tak and the Masuyama lenses could have come out of the same shop.  Which would not be a bad thing!   It'd be worth it to ditch the safety groove.

 

Does the Masuyama have engraved lettering on the top or is it more screened/painted on like the current Tak LE's?    Would be great if the 50mm was lighter than the Tak LE too.

[ybor]

When are we getting a review on the eyepiece ?

 

I am interested in buying one .

 

Thanks

[The Ardent]

I'll test mine this coming Saturday with a planned trip to the dark sky site.

[mgwhittle]

I'll test mine this coming Saturday with a planned trip to the dark sky site.

 

Are you going to compare it to any particular eyepiece you own or will you just assess it on it's own merits?