15 replies to this topic

[Svalbard]

I'm in the market for high powered EP and am looking at the these two. They are so similar spec wise, I'm having a hard time. 

 

Just looking for a nudge either way.

 

Thanks

[bobito]

I have used both, and both are excellent. I'd lean towards the XW as I find it more contrasty.

What is the focal ratio of your scope? If it's faster than f/7 you probably want to go with the Delos. Many report soft edges on XWs in fast scopes.

 

Bob

[csrlice12]

JMHO I've seen no reason to replace the 3.5XW....At this short a fl, comfort counts for a lot...and the XWs overall are much more comfortable and the twist adjustment is WAY better then tht twist/pull/twist of the TV....optically, its a tossup.  And yes, I do adjust the eyecup depending on the target.   TVs Delos eyecup idea must have come from the same guy who thought up undercuts.  Sorry Al, love your eyepieces, but there are lessons to be learned from others.

[slack]

Similar in spec, but very different in design and ergonomics. Ideally, you should try them both and decide. 

[Svalbard]

I have used both, and both are excellent. I'd lean towards the XW as I find it more contrasty.

What is the focal ratio of your scope? If it's faster than f/7 you probably want to go with the Delos. Many report soft edges on XWs in fast scopes.

 

Bob

f/7 130 mm refractor.

[bobito]

 

f/7 130 mm refractor.

 

Then I'll give a nudge towards the XW. Both my XWs perform flawlessly in my f/7 frac, not that I have any complaints about my Delos either...

 

XWs and refractors go together like peas and carrots.  

[SteveG]

 

 

f/7 130 mm refractor.

 

Then I'll give a nudge towards the XW. Both my XWs perform flawlessly in my f/7 frac, not that I have any complaints about my Delos either...

 

XWs and refractors go together like peas and carrots.  

 

I hate peas. Thanks, now I have to sell my XW's!  

[Svalbard]

 

 

f/7 130 mm refractor.

 

Then I'll give a nudge towards the XW. Both my XWs perform flawlessly in my f/7 frac, not that I have any complaints about my Delos either...

 

XWs and refractors go together like peas and carrots.  

 

How about corn?

[bobito]

I hate peas. Thanks, now I have to sell my XW's!  

 

I'll take 'em!  

[junomike]

I had both complete sets and finally settled on the Delos as I found I preferred the color saturation  (vibrancy).  

Can't really go wrong with either choice.

 

Mike

[GeneT]

Tie.

[gnowellsct]

I have used both, and both are excellent. I'd lean towards the XW as I find it more contrasty.

What is the focal ratio of your scope? If it's faster than f/7 you probably want to go with the Delos. Many report soft edges on XWs in fast scopes.

 

Bob

Yes they do, bjut not so much on the series from 10mm to 3.5mm.

[gnowellsct]

I think the ergonomics of the XW is hard to beat.  Another thing: the XW has some waterproofing, which sounds silly till you squirt some eyepiece cleaning fluid on the lens and it disappears into the interior of the eyepiece.  I don't know whether Televue has introduced water proofing into any of its lines, but it used to be absent.    As for ergonomics, I've never found anything I like more than the silicone cups they put on the XW, and they are readily pulled off for cleaning the glass surface.  

 

There is in addition a metal lip on the XW that unscrews, you can then put on a camera adapter to shoot afocal.  I did this for a while with my cool pix but when the camera died I lost interest.

 

Greg N

[ausastronomer]

If it's faster than f/7 you probably want to go with the Delos. Many report soft edges on XWs in fast scopes.
 
Bob

That's not quite correct. It is only the 14mm and 20mm Pentax XW's which have some field curvature issues in certain telescopes, which BTW is usually unrelated to the Telescope F-Ratio; and more affected by the telescopes focal length and it's design.

The 3.5mm Pentax XW (and the 5mm, 7mm and 10mm) give beautiful flat field views in every telescope I have used them in and that covers, fast and slow refractors, reflectors and Catadioptic scopes.

The choice between the 2 comes down to personal preference. They are both exceptional eyepieces and right at the top of the tree. I own both, but prefer the ergonomics and comfort of the XW's over the Delos slightly. Optically they are very closely matched in performance right across the Board.

Cheers,

[starcam]

I have the delos 6mm and that's about as low as I'm going to go with that series. When I first got the 6d I had a heck of a time with eye placement. I have hence gotten use to it, but for me the xw3.5 was the way to go. On some of my older 4mm eyepieces the image was fuzzy on planetary, pop in the xw3.5 and it was resolute, clear,and contrasty.

[GUS.K]

Have the 5 and 7mm Pentax XW and the 6mm TV Delos, and was after a 3.5mm EP. The last TV under 6mm EP sale made the decision easy. Have Used it a few times now, mainly for lunar and Ha solar, and I'm more than happy with the purchase, a fantastic EP.