248 replies to this topic

[bremms]

Found a Zeiss Orthoscop 12.5x (20mm) for not much money. Let's see how it does. Last one I had was truly an Abbe design.

[Paul Morow]

The old flat-top UO orthos along with my Masuyama are absolutely wonderful performers and some of my personal favorite classic eyepieces. These babies are about 30 to 40 years old and they still deliver the goods!

 

The 7.5 Masuyama and 6.8 & 10.2 UO orthos possess some ridiculous on axis clarity that is something to behold. I don’t know why they perform so good. Maybe a little better polish or the quality of glass used back in the day contained less inclusions & impurities. A few of my observing buddies ask if my “old orthos” are available some nights, so they must detect something special too.

 

It’s definitely very enjoyable to observe with some old classic eyepieces from time to time.

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Edited by Paul Morow, 19 June 2018 - 05:54 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

After my first Nagler versus Orthoscopic slog in tonight's oppressive heat, humidity, and variable seeing... I appreciate my Meade Research Grade & University Optics HD eyepieces even more.  My N7 was not as sharp as my RGO7 or my HD6.  Nagler owners:  Is it common for the edge of field "rind" to distort the target and add a touch of yellow to it?  That's what I saw while observing the Moon with my C5.

[rcwolpert]

I haven’t noticed that with any of my older Naglers (5mm, 9mm, & 13mm).

[Terra Nova]

After my first Nagler versus Orthoscopic slog in tonight's oppressive heat, humidity, and variable seeing... I appreciate my Meade Research Grade & University Optics HD eyepieces even more.  My N7 was not as sharp as my RGO7 or my HD6.  Nagler owners:  Is it common for the edge of field "rind" to distort the target and add a touch of yellow to it?  That's what I saw while observing the Moon with my C5.

There’s a lot to be said for a good ortho!

[Jon Isaacs]

After my first Nagler versus Orthoscopic slog in tonight's oppressive heat, humidity, and variable seeing... I appreciate my Meade Research Grade & University Optics HD eyepieces even more.  My N7 was not as sharp as my RGO7 or my HD6.  Nagler owners:  Is it common for the edge of field "rind" to distort the target and add a touch of yellow to it?  That's what I saw while observing the Moon with my C5.

 

It has been a while since I had my 7mm Type 1 Nagler so I really can't say what you are seeing.  One thing to keep in mind is that the C-5 has a whole lot of field curvature and some coma so if you are seeing aberrations at the edge of an 82 degree eyepiece that you are not seeing at the edge of a ~40 degree eyepiece, it maybe the aberrations of the scope itself.  You have about twice the field of view.  

 

I use the Naglers type 6's in my NP-101. At F/5.4, it's fast but corrected for field curvature, coma, astigmatism.  I typically watch close doubles drift past the field stop clean and sharp.  That doesn't happen with orthos or Plossls despite their narrower field of view.  

 

Jon

[Bomber Bob]

Thanks, Jon.  I bought it to try with my APOs, anyway.  I suspect it'll do much better with those 2 fracs.

[ltha]

Sitting outside watching the moon until Jupiter is visible. First light with the new Leica binoviewer and it is a stunner! Ran into a minor issue with a pair of Nagler T6 13mm - not enough in focus! Pulled my pair of 28mm Galoc orthos and now enjoying excellent images!

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[ltha]

Another:

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[Esso2112]

The Gailand 28mm ortho is one of my favorites. 

[ltha]

I really enjoy the Gailand eyepieces. Optically they are excellent for their era. My only issue, and it is a minor one from 10mm up, is the flat top design which starts working against me when the eye relief gets tight. Last night I was looking through the FS-60 with a 10mm Gailand. Took these notes:

 

"Turning to the FC-60 /10mm Gailand I can easily see Io at the edge of Jupiter. In the FC-125 there is a dark gap between them, not so in the smaller scope. Swapping the Gailand for a Pentax XW 10mm I find the gap is easy to see, and planetary detail is easier as well. The Gailand had a flat face making it hard to position the eye comfortably. The Pentax is far more comfortable/user friendly. Popping the Gailand back into the diagonal I can now see the gap. As has often happened to me in eyepiece comparisons, once I see it in one eyepiece, I can find it in another. Comparing these, I can see just as much in the Gailand with just a bit more effort."

 

Not really a complaint with the Gailands. They, like most orthos, get a bit shy on eye relief as focal lengths decrease. Add the flat-top design and things get really tight. Still sharp and high contrast, just a little more work. But I have to say I enjoy the heck out of them!  

[CHASLX200]

I haven’t noticed that with any of my older Naglers (5mm, 9mm, & 13mm).

 

I haven’t noticed that with any of my older Naglers (5mm, 9mm, & 13mm).

Radians also do the same.

[starman876]

I haven’t noticed that with any of my older Naglers (5mm, 9mm, & 13mm).

Neither have I

[Bomber Bob]

Well, if I can take the heat (current HE 101F!!), I'm gonna retest the Nagler tonight with the Vixen Fluorite.  Seeing promises to be very good, and even better tomorrow night.  (Though I probably just jinxed it.)

[CHASLX200]

These looks the best and love the 40 down to the 21mm the best. easy on glasses, the others are for looks most of the time as they are not easy on glasses.  But once in a while i do use them.

[roscoe]

So here's my 'little-guy' collection, my .965's.....

 

The Orion isn't so classic, and the 10K is awaiting replacement with a 9 ortho when I find one, but this kit is just right for my Carton/ATM 60 and my Swift 77.......

 

Some really top-end .965's would be nice, but truth is, the seeing here basically never supports premium equipment, so second-best is just right.....

 

back row are a 30, 25, and 18.... the numbers are a bit hard to read.....  I also have a 4 ortho, but it's too much for these scopes, so it lives in a drawer most of the time.

 

and, yep, I built the case.  Tucked inside the lid is a little red-led light for those truly dark nights.....

 

Edited by roscoe, 24 June 2018 - 10:16 AM.

[Bomber Bob]

Beautiful case!!  Uh... Do you take custom orders??

[Chris MN]

Well I'm an SCT guy (C8, C11) and almost always have been since I started in this hobby eons (well not quite but it seems like it) ago.  I managed to collect the entire set of first generation Meade "Smoothies" (including every original box!).  In addition to rarely disappointing at the scope, they "feel" like an eyepiece.  Well made with some heft especially once you get into the 2".  That 40mm 2" SWA is a beast.  Like a lot of things, the "heft" factor is usually an indicator of quality construction (at least that has been my experience).

 

 

Chris N

Cedar, MN

[Steve Allison]

Beautiful case!!  Uh... Do you take custom orders??

Count me in!

[rcwolpert]

So here's my 'little-guy' collection, my .965's.....

 

The Orion isn't so classic, and the 10K is awaiting replacement with a 9 ortho when I find one, but this kit is just right for my Carton/ATM 60 and my Swift 77.......

 

Some really top-end .965's would be nice, but truth is, the seeing here basically never supports premium equipment, so second-best is just right.....

 

back row are a 30, 25, and 18.... the numbers are a bit hard to read.....  I also have a 4 ortho, but it's too much for these scopes, so it lives in a drawer most of the time.

 

and, yep, I built the case.  Tucked inside the lid is a little red-led light for those truly dark nights.....

 

DSCN1351.JPG

 

The eyepieces are nice but you could go into business with that case!

[steve t]

So here's my 'little-guy' collection, my .965's.....

 

The Orion isn't so classic, and the 10K is awaiting replacement with a 9 ortho when I find one, but this kit is just right for my Carton/ATM 60 and my Swift 77.......

 

Some really top-end .965's would be nice, but truth is, the seeing here basically never supports premium equipment, so second-best is just right.....

 

back row are a 30, 25, and 18.... the numbers are a bit hard to read.....  I also have a 4 ortho, but it's too much for these scopes, so it lives in a drawer most of the time.

 

and, yep, I built the case.  Tucked inside the lid is a little red-led light for those truly dark nights.....

 

DSCN1351.JPG

That is a very nice collection of eyepieces, but the case steals the show. 

[roscoe]

jeez, thanks, guys! 

'cause it's really just a cardboard box and 10 minutes of photoshopping.....

well, not entirely.....

[Don W]

Had a nearly complete set of the Meade Research Grade eyepieces. Only missing the 2" 32mm WA (erfle?). My favorites of those were the 20mm WA and the 28mm Ortho. The 28 Ortho gave a beautiful low power view that was sharp to the edges. Not wide field but just a clean image. After this pic was taken I found the missing eyepiece box.

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[rcwolpert]

That’s a great set of Meade eyepieces!

[Paul Morow]

My old UO 6mm Kellner with NS sticker (Nihon Seiko) performed wonderfully last night on Jupiter. I would dare to say it’s optical performance on axis is possibly slightly better than a typical ortho.

 

Another vintage eyepiece delivers some memorable views.

 

Fri Jun 29 2018 22:50:23 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time): Europa leaves eclipse

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Edited by Paul Morow, 30 June 2018 - 09:49 AM.