57 replies to this topic

[ScottRrtx]

How much are you enjoying your recent EP purchases?

[Astrojensen]

My most recent purchases, just a few weeks back, have been a 42mm Erfle, which seems to be really good, but haven't had a chance to really shine yet, because the Moon has been prominent in the evening sky (or all night, actually), and a 9mm Sky-Watcher LET, which is a HORRIBLY poor eyepiece. Luckily, it didn't cost me much.

 

My third most recent purchase, in September '19, was my 17mm ES92, which is an absolutely stunningly good eyepiece that I enjoy tremendously.  

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

[Jond105]

I’m loving mine. I keep debating adding another one, but then talk myself out of it. I really like my line up and have no issues or any urge whatsoever to try one out to replace the lines I do have. All the ones I have left(minus the ES82 6.7) were purchased last year, or my most recent in January to finish off a set. 
ES82 30mm

All but the 3.5mm APM HDC 100 degree eyepieces 

[MarkGregory]

Latest purchase and enjoying it In 2020 - 24mm Tele Vue Panoptic. 

[wrnchhead]

Picked up a Starbase 6mm ortho from Astronomics and unbelieveably the day I got it I had clear skies to view the sun in hydrogen alpha and Venus that evening and I am very satisfied by the performance. Going to get some in longer focal lengths as soon as I can.

[rustynpp]

Loving the 5mm APM HDC I just got from Mike at Outdoor Sport Optics. I have the 13mm version with 100* FOV and I can see the whole field no problem, but the 110* FOV of the 5mm version seems to be just past that threshold. It's sort of amazing to look into an EP and feel like you're sticking your head out a window into space.

 

Saving my pennies for the 20mm APM HDC next. 

[Pezdragon]

I just received a Pentax 40mm xw that I’m hoping will replace my Vixen 42 lvw for my lowest power eyepiece. A quick daytime comparison  and a few minutes of starlight was all I needed to see. The Pentax spanks it pretty hard when using my NP-101. I’ll be trying them both in all my scopes in the coming weeks but I think the Vixen is destined for the classifieds....

[junomike]

Enjoying the shorter Ethos (3.7/4.7) that completed the set last Fall.

[Augustus]

Loving my Ethoses. Just bought a 4.5 Morpheus for high power. Don't think I really will need much else.

[25585]

Most recent in the post still, another looks like a no-contact = refund case.

 

But of the ones I have bought in the last few months, the limited opportunities to use them, all great.

 

Rodenstock 40mm 70°; Pentax XWs 30 & 40, XLs 7 & 14, another Vixen LVW 22mm and some Zeiss 25mm OPMIs for bino viewing, have all been very pleasing in use.

[SeattleScott]

I just received a Pentax 40mm xw that I’m hoping will replace my Vixen 42 lvw for my lowest power eyepiece. A quick daytime comparison and a few minutes of starlight was all I needed to see. The Pentax spanks it pretty hard when using my NP-101. I’ll be trying them both in all my scopes in the coming weeks but I think the Vixen is destined for the classifieds....

Yeah the LVW wasn’t really designed for F5 it seems. Assuming you use shorter FL eyepieces for F5 scopes, the Vixen works very well at F7, F8 or higher. Personally I have a 24/82 that I prefer at F5, just as much for exit pupil considerations as edge correction.

Got more eyepieces than I care to admit last year/this year. Some of the better ones are Meade 8.8, Meade 25 HD-60, Celestron 30 Ultima, Tak 5 LE.

Scott

Edited by SeattleScott, 09 April 2020 - 01:28 PM.

[j.gardavsky]

So far I can remember,

 

I have added a seldom Leica HC 12,5/16 Plan M #506515 f=20mm - seldom seen in this focus length,

and one more Zeiss E-Pl f=25mm https://theskysearch...&p=74148#p74148

as if I would not already have enough of the Zeiss E-Pl eyepieces

 

So far nothing on my wish list for 2020, maybe a short Ethos, or some seldom Zeiss, who knows for sure

 

JG

Edited by j.gardavsky, 09 April 2020 - 01:38 PM.

[Starman1]

New since last Fall: 30mm and 24mm APM UFF (for my 4" only), 11mm TeleVue Apollo 11, and a return of the 22mm TeleVue Nagler Type 4 (I previously owned one from 1998-2010)

One or more coming this year, but uncertain which, yet.

Still looking for a clear night after 21 days of clouds at night.

[wrnchhead]

Got more eyepieces than I care to admit last year/this year. Some of the better ones are Meade 8.8, Meade 25 HD-60, Celestron 30 Ultima, Tak 5 LE.

Scott

Scott, are you happy with your 25 HD60? I have the older much disliked 26mm 5000 series, and a full spread of HD60s, and I found the 25mm only marginally better than the 26mm. On axis, they are great. I have used them in F5 (obviously hard on an eyepiece) and F10 SCTs and my F6.6 APO. I keep my eye open on something better in that focal length. 

[Jeff Morgan]

Several new eyepieces in-house for testing:

 

Takahashi TOE 4.0 and 3.3mm

Docter 12.5

Leica B 22 WW

Gary Russell 50mm Super Plossl (Night Vision only)

 

The Taks are a known quantity since a friend loaned me two last fall. Great performers. 

 

Like many of you, my winter weather has been unfavorable so the others have only been lightly used. Hopefully that changes in this dark moon window.

[Tank]

Recent 22 TV Pan

better than i thought it would be 

[areyoukiddingme]

My last eyepiece buy was a 22 Nagler back in November.

 

Before that, a Noblex 12.5, in October.

 

I'm doing a small set to go with my Stowaway, which is 3-6 Nagler zoom, Leica zoom, the Noblex and Nagler, and a 30mm APM ultraflat.

 

Few chances to try these all out, but I'm liking them all. The Nagler has taken me some time to warm to, but I'm liking it now.

[j.gardavsky]

Several new eyepieces in-house for testing:

 

Takahashi TOE 4.0 and 3.3mm

Docter 12.5

Leica B 22 WW

Gary Russell 50mm Super Plossl (Night Vision only)

 

The Taks are a known quantity since a friend loaned me two last fall. Great performers. 

 

Like many of you, my winter weather has been unfavorable so the others have only been lightly used. Hopefully that changes in this dark moon window.

Hello Jeff,

 

very nice acquisitions!

Just one question, should you allow. The Leica B 22 WW, is that the f=22mm 69° AFOV Leica B 20 WW?

It is a very nice EP.

 

Best,

JG

[25585]

Yeah the LVW wasn’t really designed for F5 it seems. Assuming you use shorter FL eyepieces for F5 scopes, the Vixen works very well at F7, F8 or higher. Personally I have a 24/82 that I prefer at F5, just as much for exit pupil considerations as edge correction.

Got more eyepieces than I care to admit last year/this year. Some of the better ones are Meade 8.8, Meade 25 HD-60, Celestron 30 Ultima, Tak 5 LE.

Scott

I find LVWs OK for F5, some better than others. 8, 17 & 22 are best.

 

My 40 XW, much longed for, is a favourite. The 30 is nice but has the APM UFF as a very close rival, and 35mm Panoptic to compete with too. 30mm is slightly smaller exit pupil that helps.

 

Next suitably dark night, I will do some more comparing. 

[SeattleScott]

I find LVWs OK for F5, some better than others. 8, 17 & 22 are best.

My 40 XW, much longed for, is a favourite. The 30 is nice but has the APM UFF as a very close rival, and 35mm Panoptic to compete with too. 30mm is slightly smaller exit pupil that helps.

Next suitably dark night, I will do some more comparing.

The 2” LVWs can’t really be compared to the 1.25” ones. The 42lvw is a nice eyepiece at the right price for moderate/slow scopes. I got mine for $180. But the 1.25” models are much better in my fast scopes (down to F4). Most agree that 8, 17 and 22 are the standouts. Remember that in their day, they were known for being outstanding in fast scopes. Delos and Delite or whatever might have raised the bar a bit today.

Scott

[SeattleScott]

Scott, are you happy with your 25 HD60? I have the older much disliked 26mm 5000 series, and a full spread of HD60s, and I found the 25mm only marginally better than the 26mm. On axis, they are great. I have used them in F5 (obviously hard on an eyepiece) and F10 SCTs and my F6.6 APO. I keep my eye open on something better in that focal length.

Quite happy with the 25. I also used to own the 26 5000. I was happy with it until I got something better and realized how much off axis astigmatism there is sub-F5. I don’t still have it now for a head to head, but my sense is the newer 25 is considerably better at F4. If you don’t have a coma corrector at F5 it might be harder to tell the difference as coma will mask the better edge correction of the 25mm. At F10 it would probably be hard to tell a difference. At F6.6 I suspect you would see a difference but probably subtle.

Scott

[vdog]

My 2019 eyepieces:

 

Meade HD-60 25mm (x 2) -- Using mostly as a binoviewing pair but also with my refractor.  Not as sharp of course at f/5 as at f/17, but for the price it's an overachiever.

 

Morpheus 17.5, 12.5, 9, 6.5mm -- Couldn't be happier.  These are perfect for me.

Edited by vdog, 09 April 2020 - 05:37 PM.

[stevenrjanssens]

Last fall I got a 24mm Panoptic, the 13mm and 7mm Nagler T6s, along with a Paracorr Type 2. I am very happy.

[Jeff Morgan]

Hello Jeff,

 

very nice acquisitions!

Just one question, should you allow. The Leica B 22 WW, is that the f=22mm 69° AFOV Leica B 20 WW?

It is a very nice EP.

 

Best,

JG

 

That is the one,

 

I'll be running it against the 22 Panoptic. Primary test bed will be a TMB 130SS refractor (f/7) and an Agema SD-150 refractor (f/8).

[luxo II]

Well, I've swapped some gear including Vixen SSW's and SLV's (while still worthwhile on the secondhand market) and replaced them with ultra-flats - 24, 15 and 10mm, with a 12.5mm flat-wide as well from APM. Have only tried the 24 so far but hoping the weather will clear up after Easter. Even made a modest surplus, which was nice.

Edited by luxo II, 09 April 2020 - 06:47 PM.