368 replies to this topic

[25585]

I have a LV50, its a good eyepiece, equal to my 55mm Plossl.

 

Also an Aero 40mm, which I will now compare with my 42 LVW.

[eros312]

Thanks guys. I wound up getting the Pentax 40mm XW.

[luxo II]

The NLVW30 was awful IMHO... most of the bulk is a useless lump of metal -remove it and what's inside is rather ordinary. And optically quite inferior to several cheaper alternatives.

 

Not one of Vixens finer products - the original LV30 was better.

Edited by luxo II, 14 December 2020 - 08:18 PM.

[25585]

The NLVW30 was awful IMHO... most of the bulk is a useless lump of metal -remove it and what's inside is rather ordinary. And optically quite inferior to several cheaper alternatives.

 

Not one of Vixens finer products - the original LV30 was better.

Got both those. The LV is heavier and has less effective eye relief. I'll do a compare.

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[memento]

I read a lot of critizism and mediocre reviews about Vixen LV's. Eye relief and viewing comfort are always praised, but sharpness, contrast, transmission often are not.

 

I've collected a very nice set of Baader Eudiascopic's (Celestron Ultima's) but the idea of having a set of eyepieces that offer more / constant eye relief is of course always tempting.

 

I get that the LV's won't match modern high-class eyepieces like DeLite's etc. But that's an unfair comparison. It's more interesting (from today's point of view) to compare these with eyepieces in roughly the same price range. So how would they compare to Chinese Planetary's or ES 52 eyepieces or something like that, for example?

[25585]

Best comparison may be with Vixen SLV eyepieces, now made in China instead of Japan. Original & SLVs both have the same AFOV, and advertised 20mm eye relief. Optically SLVs are said to be better for certain focal lengths, but their effective eye relief is reduced due to their eye cup - original LVs, with their cup down, gave several millimeters more effective eye relief. 

 

LVs were my first short FL, long eye relief eyepieces. I have the complete range, using some for bino viewing.

[John Fitzgerald]

We used a 6mm LV last evening to view the conjunction.  The scope was an ED80 f/6.  It gave a great view.

[SeattleScott]

I read a lot of critizism and mediocre reviews about Vixen LV's. Eye relief and viewing comfort are always praised, but sharpness, contrast, transmission often are not.

I've collected a very nice set of Baader Eudiascopic's (Celestron Ultima's) but the idea of having a set of eyepieces that offer more / constant eye relief is of course always tempting.

I get that the LV's won't match modern high-class eyepieces like DeLite's etc. But that's an unfair comparison. It's more interesting (from today's point of view) to compare these with eyepieces in roughly the same price range. So how would they compare to Chinese Planetary's or ES 52 eyepieces or something like that, for example?

Interesting, I had a 9LV (Japan) that was very sharp. Only sold it because I got a 8LVW which made it redundant. I wasn’t overly impressed with the original TMB planetary eyepieces. Granted I never did a comparison but my general impression is that the LV was sharper. The knock on them I hear is some shiny spacer or something that apparently causes reflections when viewing the Moon. Something I cannot confirm or deny.

Scott

[memento]

Thanks for your input. What I do like about the LV's is that there are so many focal lengths available. With the new SLV there's a gap between 6mm and 9mm. I did find a review that said the SLV's have better / updated optics compared to the LV's. But maybe I'll just have to find out for myself.

[csrlice12]

There was also the short lived NLV...same optics as the LV in cheap plastic clothing.

[25585]

18mm absent, these are the other LVs.

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[Uranotopia]

18mm absent, these are the other LVs.

Wow, what a great collection of the LV's !!!
Congrats!

[Uranotopia]

We used a 6mm LV last evening to view the conjunction.  The scope was an ED80 f/6.  It gave a great view.

A few years ago I compared a Vixen LV6mm to Chinese Planetaries on different scopes (Celestron C8, Vixen NA 130SS) for planetary and moon observation - for me always the Vixen LV was better.

Also I haven't found any better or worse performance in dependance of focal length of different telescopes (between F/5.5...6 and F/15), when I had used defferent LV's. But this is my very personal impression.

[JinJ2013]

I bought the LV 2.5, 4, 7, and 12 a quarter century ago for about 11,000 yen each. Used with my former scope, Takahashi 76mm.

 

When I bought a C6 SCT, I bought the NLV 10 and 15 (I also bought the NPL 20, 25, 30, and 40 since they had enough eye relief for my glasses).

 

Today, I received the SLV 5mm. I anticipate using it on my recently ordered AT60ED should the back-order gods ever smile on me. 

 

All the *LV eyepieces cost about the same, regardless of generation or time of purchase: a hundred bucks or so in Japan. The NPLs about 1/3 to 1/2 that.

 

They are all good, to my eyes.

 

I like the feel of the SLV best: heavy, solid, easy-to-hold. Feels "heirloom" (a bit over the top, maybe, but it does make a very good first impression).

 

The original LV are trim and compact. Like their feel second-best. The NLVs feel a little plasticky.

 

As for views: have never noticed any great difference when switching back-and-forth.

 

I am not a demanding user.

 

I intend to buy the Takahashi turret on Monday, deus volente, and put an appropriate set of eyepieces on there, depending on the telescope.

Edited by JinJ2013, 02 April 2021 - 06:14 AM.

[25585]

I recently bought a 2nd original LV 5mm for my bino viewer. 30 years ago 5mm, 6mm & 10mm LVs were my first 3 short FL eyepieces. Their long eye relief me going in the hobby. I moved up to Vixen LVWs, but still have the whole LV range as they are good for small FL scopes. 15, 20 & 25mm get most use, 15mm is the hardest to find anywhere..keeping looking.     

[george tatsis]

Have always believed that the LVs are better looking than the NLVs and the SLVs.  If Vixen were to bring them back with all the improvements seen in the last 30 years , I would definitely buy them again.

 

George

[Miranda2525]

Interesting, I had a 9LV (Japan) that was very sharp. Only sold it because I got a 8LVW which made it redundant. I wasn’t overly impressed with the original TMB planetary eyepieces. Granted I never did a comparison but my general impression is that the LV was sharper. The knock on them I hear is some shiny spacer or something that apparently causes reflections when viewing the Moon. Something I cannot confirm or deny.

Scott

Confirmed !!!!  I've seen it too.

[Uranotopia]

Have always believed that the LVs are better looking than the NLVs and the SLVs.  If Vixen were to bring them back with all the improvements seen in the last 30 years , I would definitely buy them again.

 

George

Me too!!!
It would be wonderful, when they would produce the LV's again in the same (really very good) manner!!!

[25585]

The 15mm LV is rarest of the originals. I have been looking for ages! Even offered to pay a new SLV price for one, to no avail  

[Uranotopia]

The 15mm LV is rarest of the originals. I have been looking for ages! Even offered to pay a new SLV price for one, to no avail

I got only one three years ago (rubber eyecup not in the best condition, but optical surfaces clean) in a set of 10 different Vixen LV's for not so much money. I had been very happy!

 

 

[Paul Sweeney]

Years ago, a friend and I tested his 5mm Pentax vs my 5mm LV. Besides the wider FOV, we couldn't see a difference. Now, I'm sure under laboratory conditions, differences would pop up. But under the typical summer skies of Germany, we saw none. We tested them in a 120mm achro, a TAL newtonian, and a Meade 7" Mak.

To me, the LVs are a great value on the used market. At about $50 apiece, you can't beat them.

[25585]

Great for binoviewing. 

 

LVs, the originals, were true innovations. No other short FL range (2.5 - 25) was made or designed providing long eye relief. 

[dave253]

I have three from the early 90s; 6mm, 15, and 25.
Excellent ep’s, either in the refractor or reflectors. 

[chemisted]

I have three from the early 90s; 6mm, 15, and 25.
Excellent ep’s, either in the refractor or reflectors. 

I now own the 6mm and 25mm LVs.  I don't have the 15mm but I 'make do' with a 15mm Panoptic (I don't wear eyeglasses and the short eye relief just works for me).

[csrlice12]

Have the 25, 20, 15, and 10 LV and the 5 and 9 NLV.  Like the LVs better, same optics but the NLVs clothing is too plastic for me.