
Canadian Invasion...
#1
Posted 30 April 2004 - 02:29 PM
From left to right:
Rear row: Speers-Walers, 5-8 zoom, 7.5mm WA, 10mm WA, 14mm WA, 18mm WA
Front and middle rows: Antares WS70 Series, 5.7mm, 8.6mm, 14mm, 19mm, 25mm (in pairs for binoviewing)
On loan for review from Helix: http://www.helix-mfg.com/
#2
Posted 30 April 2004 - 03:26 PM

#3
Posted 30 April 2004 - 07:01 PM

#4
Posted 30 April 2004 - 07:22 PM
#5
Posted 30 April 2004 - 07:25 PM
The speers are definately made in canada, but....
Jim,
What's the skinny on the WS 70's? Any idea? It says made in Canada on the box (and that seems to be the official story), but I've heard rumours to the contrary. Namely that the optics actually come from elsewhere....
T
#6
Posted 30 April 2004 - 07:39 PM
What's the skinny on the WS 70's? Any idea? It says made in Canada on the box (and that seems to be the official story), but I've heard rumours to the contrary. Namely that the optics actually come from elsewhere....
Tom,
As I understand it (told to me be a Canadian astro dealer), the lens manufacture is contracted overseas in Asia to Antares' design specifications, but the body and assembly of the EP's are done in Canada. There have been some copies of Antares designs released recently. This led Glenn Speers to muse that next time, he'll contract out different lenses in the same EP to different factories.
Cheers,
- Craig (in Nova Scotia)
#7
Posted 30 April 2004 - 07:42 PM
#8
Posted 30 April 2004 - 07:59 PM
wow, those look interesting, they're actually made in canada? i didn't even know their were any canadian ep manufacturers. looking forward to checking out the review!
Eric, you might try a search on "speers" on CN.
Here's one to get you started: http://www.cloudynig...ces2/speers.htm
From my previous experiences, I can tell you the speers are pretty nice eyepieces, but have a few notable drawbacks.
1) the form factor - they are pretty dang tall.
2) they used to require a ton of infocus, but I understand Glenn Speers has addressed this with some more recent releases.
T
#9
Posted 30 April 2004 - 08:00 PM
Jim, how much input would Glenn have into the WS's? Is he like the Canadian version of Al Nagler and Antares = TeleVue?
(Here I demonstrate my pitiful lack of knowledge about canadian astro companies...)
T
#10
Posted 30 April 2004 - 08:03 PM

#11
Posted 30 April 2004 - 08:05 PM
#13
Posted 30 April 2004 - 08:34 PM
T
#14
Posted 30 April 2004 - 08:45 PM
Not that I'm aware. Perhaps we can put together a set of questions and I'll go over to his facility and interview him as a representative of CN.

#15
Posted 30 April 2004 - 09:07 PM
Actually, I'd really be up for something like that.
There are all too few of these guys around. At least Al's had some documentary done.
Tom T.
#16
Posted 30 April 2004 - 10:46 PM
#17
Posted 01 May 2004 - 12:36 AM
#18
Posted 01 May 2004 - 12:29 PM
It may be a good idea, but it's doubtful he'll give up time from his very busy schedule simply to do an interview that will be posted to a forum. We would need to sweeten the pot.
David
It was your review that partially helped me to decide on my purchase of a Speers zoom and I can say that after repeated use of this eyepiece, I find your review very agreeable. Thanks.
#19
Posted 01 May 2004 - 09:20 PM
#20
Posted 02 May 2004 - 12:37 PM
#21
Posted 02 May 2004 - 09:05 PM
Forum?? I'm thinking about an article posted on the main website.... Not a bit in the forums.
Take pictures if he's up for it. A tour of Antares would be even cooler.
David,
Yah - I'll be busy, IF I can get some clear nights.... <sigh> Hey did you have mark I or mark II of the zoom - I know they quit making it for a couple of years... I DON'T know if there are any differences between the two...
Tom T.
#22
Posted 03 May 2004 - 12:06 AM
Jim,
Forum?? I'm thinking about an article posted on the main website.... Not a bit in the forums.
Take pictures if he's up for it. A tour of Antares would be even cooler.
David,
Yah - I'll be busy, IF I can get some clear nights.... <sigh> Hey did you have mark I or mark II of the zoom - I know they quit making it for a couple of years... I DON'T know if there are any differences between the two...
Tom T.
AFAIK, there isn't much of a difference between the old and new 5-8mm models, although I may be incorrect on this. Clear skies to you.
#23
Posted 03 May 2004 - 11:20 AM
The last time I talked with Glen, I mentioned I'd be coming down for a tour of his facility, so that might work well. Of course if Glen agrees,I'll take my digital camera and take as many pics as possilbe.
Give me a few more details that I can pass along to Glen as to how you want to handle this. As well, we'll need to come up with some good relevant questions to ask him. Do you have a standard format for questions or should we poll the CN group?
#24
Posted 03 May 2004 - 12:02 PM
I'm thinking stuff like:
How did you get started in astronomy? Can you tell us about antares as a company? When did you start up? What were the first products you sold? What's your vision?
Something along these lines would be very nice to see, but's may be a bit more than you are interested in writing.
http://www.company7....evue/telal.html
It might give you some ideas tho.
Tom
#25
Posted 03 May 2004 - 06:28 PM
AFAIK, there isn't much of a difference between the old and new 5-8mm models, although I may be incorrect on this. Clear skies to you. [/quote]
As told to me (again) by the Canadian dealer that I bought mine from, the difference is newer coatings. Mechanics and lens design remain unchanged.
Cheers,
- Craig