182 replies to this topic

[Doug Culbertson]

I have. The 30 mm UFF is about 4 ounces lighter, more compact and has quite a bit more eye relief. It's very sharp across the field and the entire field s easily seen. It's a fine eyepiece.

The 28 mm UWA is quite a different eyepiece. It's still light compared to the 31 mm Nagler but it's somewhat short on eye relief, still very usable. The upper part of the torpedo body is a bit larger than the others, 2.2" instead of 1.9"-2". It works for my narrow eye sockets but just barely.

Optically, it has the immersiveness of the 31 mm Nagler. I put it in the focuser of the NP-101 or an F/4.4 Dob with a Paracorr and I feel like I'm getting the full field, I'm not wanting anything more.

I measured the AFoV of the 30 mm UFF, the 31 mm Nagler and the 28 mm UWA, ~70°, 82.1° and 84°.

The 28 mm UWA is a worthy competitor to the 31 mm Nagler, the true field is only 3% narrower. The 30 mm UFF is a different sort of eyepiece, certainly a very good eyepiece but with more emphasis on the compactness and less on that ultimate wide field feel.

The UWA also feels like it has better transmission with narrowband filters. The Catspaw nebula with an O-lll filter seems more "lively." The UFF shows the basics but there's more bits and pieces with the UWA and the Nagler.

I'm keeping them both..




Jon

Excellent; thank you!

[wrvond]

Thank you all!

 

I totally dislike auctions and have no way to know if the buyer was bidding against a friend of the seller or not.  I was just curious to know if the 26mm T5 Nagler is missed by the amateur astronomy community, that’s all.  Just for the record, I have no interest in selling mine.

 

It’s good to know that members who own a 26mm Nagler and have posted here still like them while others have expressed their clear preference for the 31mm Nagler T5 or the 21mm Ethos, as could be expected.

I can say I don't miss it since I do have one.

In fact I have sold my 22 Pan, 27 Pan and 21 Ethos in favor of the 26 Nagler. But, had I known I could have retired off the price of the N26T5 I might have gone another direction! 

Edited by wrvond, 28 August 2022 - 03:31 PM.

[RAKing]

I still have - and love - my 26T5 Nagler.  I have no plans to sell it, but it’s nice to know how much it’s worth. 

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

[comabereni]

That auction started with a Buy-It-Now price of $505 with free shipping. I had a saved search and placed the first bid in the low $300's, erasing the Buy-It-Now option. I checked back a few hours later and the bidding had taken off. Someone could have bought it for $505 and this thread wouldn't exist, but I also think the final price is an outlier as a result of a small number of competing bidders. I would really like to see TeleVue bring the 26mm T5 back into production--have they ever done that (brought something back that they discontinued)? The 31mm/22mm gap doesn't work for me. I'd rather have a 26mm Nagler as the step up from my 16mm T5 because it has a 6.x exit pupil in my fast Newt and skip the "Terminagler". There is the 21mm Ethos, but I really don't want to go down that road. I think I'll forward a link to that auction to TeleVue and cross my fingers...

[Castor]

That auction started with a Buy-It-Now price of $505 with free shipping. I had a saved search and placed the first bid in the low $300's, erasing the Buy-It-Now option. I checked back a few hours later and the bidding had taken off. Someone could have bought it for $505 and this thread wouldn't exist, but I also think the final price is an outlier as a result of a small number of competing bidders. I would really like to see TeleVue bring the 26mm T5 back into production--have they ever done that (brought something back that they discontinued)? The 31mm/22mm gap doesn't work for me. I'd rather have a 26mm Nagler as the step up from my 16mm T5 because it has a 6.x exit pupil in my fast Newt and skip the "Terminagler". There is the 21mm Ethos, but I really don't want to go down that road. I think I'll forward a link to that auction to TeleVue and cross my fingers...

Hi comabereni,

 

Fascinating!  I never thought we would hear first-hand information about this auction and it’s great that you decided to post here.  Now that you mention it, I noticed the first bids when they were already above five hundred Dollar mark, so it’s good to know that there was a Buy It_Now price of $505.00 before the bidding started, thanks!

 

I always get sad when a good astro-product gets discontinued and no equivalent replacement is issued by the manufacturer, the 26mm Type 5 Nagler being one of them.   Unfortunately, I don’t recall Tele Vue ever bringing back into production something that they discontinued.  I always wanted a TV-102 refractor, but it was discontinued before I was able to buy one.  I waited a decade in hope that TV would bring it back one day, but I gave up this year and purchased an NP101is, a fantastic scope on its own right, but with a very different optical design and characteristics, not to mention the cost.

 

I wish you good luck in your quest for a 26mm Nagler Type 5!  

[RichA]

Some people are avid hoarders, fanatical collectors.  Lets not forget the eyepiece was discontinued because its sales were too low, which is why things get discontinued.  So demand wasn't high, but maybe amongst those who rationally or irrationally "just have to have it."

[comabereni]

I bought the 30mm APM UFF that evening--now my only non-TeleVue eyepiece. It gives me something with an acceptable exit pupil in my fast Newt (I have a 35mm Panoptic, mostly for my SCT). I also considered the 28mm A-T UWA and might /still/ buy one since TeleVue has decided to get out of the 23-30mm ~82* AFOV market and the 26mm is obviously becoming harder to find, perhaps like the 11mm T1 Nagler a few years back. It's actually kind of nice seeing TeleVue leave a gap every once in awhile just so die-hard TV fans can try other stuff and give the other guys a chance, but I admit I'd just buy a new 26mm Nagler in a heartbeat if it was still offered and be done with it. I guess I'm in the minority on the 26mm; having that maximum FL @ 82-degrees in a 2" format and something to filter on large subjects-- the 31mm-- is more important to the majority vs. something a little smaller, lighter, less expensive, and with an exit pupil that's better for fast scopes and older eyes. And it's hard to justify a 26mm once you have a 31mm, so I get it.

 

I did send a message to TeleVue pointing them to the auction and suggesting they might reconsider the 26mm Nagler, especially seeing all of the threads discussing the 28mm A-T UWA, 30mm APM UFF, etc. Hopefully they'll listen.

[Castor]

Comabereni,

 

If you persist, over time you may probably find one.  I don’t think 26mm T5 Nagler eyepieces are that rare to justify the outrageous pricing and owners may sell theirs to help funding the wondrous 21mm Ethos, so please continue to keep an open eye!

[Jeff Morgan]

I wonder how the buyer is going to feel when the Nagler Type 7 comes out?

[25585]

Some people are avid hoarders, fanatical collectors.  Lets not forget the eyepiece was discontinued because its sales were too low, which is why things get discontinued.  So demand wasn't high, but maybe amongst those who rationally or irrationally "just have to have it."

I'm sure some here resemble that remark 

[Starman1]

I bought the 30mm APM UFF that evening--now my only non-TeleVue eyepiece. It gives me something with an acceptable exit pupil in my fast Newt (I have a 35mm Panoptic, mostly for my SCT). I also considered the 28mm A-T UWA and might /still/ buy one since TeleVue has decided to get out of the 23-30mm ~82* AFOV market and the 26mm is obviously becoming harder to find, perhaps like the 11mm T1 Nagler a few years back. It's actually kind of nice seeing TeleVue leave a gap every once in awhile just so die-hard TV fans can try other stuff and give the other guys a chance, but I admit I'd just buy a new 26mm Nagler in a heartbeat if it was still offered and be done with it. I guess I'm in the minority on the 26mm; having that maximum FL @ 82-degrees in a 2" format and something to filter on large subjects-- the 31mm-- is more important to the majority vs. something a little smaller, lighter, less expensive, and with an exit pupil that's better for fast scopes and older eyes. And it's hard to justify a 26mm once you have a 31mm, so I get it.

 

I did send a message to TeleVue pointing them to the auction and suggesting they might reconsider the 26mm Nagler, especially seeing all of the threads discussing the 28mm A-T UWA, 30mm APM UFF, etc. Hopefully they'll listen.

Eyepieces in the 31-22mm range are usually low power eyepieces.  Most scope owners don't need a bunch of low power eyepieces.

The 31mm >>22mm gap is a 40% change.  With a focal length <2000mm, that is a pretty small jump in magnification.

Al Nagler calls the 31mm >>13mm his "dyslexic duo", pointing out that when you want something above low power, you usually want a quite visible jump.

 

Personally, my jumps are often from 30mm to 17.5mm (1.70x jump) or from 22mm to 14mm (1.57x jump), but never from 30mm to 22mm or 22mm to 17.5mm.  That is too little change to be desirable.

It is unlikely most observers felt they needed something in between, which led to its demise, very similar to the 13mm/11mm/9mm spread in the Nagler T6, where almost all

observers skipped from 13mm to 9mm and bypassed the 11mm (now discontinued).

My advice to TeleVue is to NOT bring the 26mm back, as it would still be a slow seller.

 

Collectors are just that--collectors.  I have resembled that on and on over the years, being an ocularholic--a constant failing as my eyepiece collection ebbs and flows.  I'm always on the edge.

[davidgmd]

Collectors are just that--collectors.  I have resembled that on and on over the years, being an ocularholic--a constant failing as my eyepiece collection ebbs and flows.  I'm always on the edge.

  
An ocularholic ocular retailer… 

[Look at the sky 101]

Hi,

 

While searching for another item, I found a few days ago a Tele Vue 26mm Type 5 Nagler being auctioned on eBay.  Having being discontinued a few years ago, I was curious to see what kind of attention it would elicit, so I followed the auction to its deadline (today) and was really surprised to see the winning bid: USD $1,176.00.  Wow!

 

As a visual observer using mostly small telescopes from my light-polluted backyard, I have a strong preference for the 26mm Nagler T5 over the 31mm Nagler T5, mostly because of its smaller size, lighter weight and the smaller exit pupil when used with my fast refractors that result in a darker background that is more aesthetically pleasing.  But I have always being aware that I’m mostly the exception to the rule and that given the choice, most observers would pick the 31mm Nagler T5 over the 26mm T5 in a heartbeat.

 

It was interesting to see that the 26mm T5 Nagler still has some die-hard fans out there!

 

Edit: Link removed for brevity.

Hi castor, 

I don't know if you remember, but in March. I was lucky enough to find one.

I paid 325 $ us.

I am very happy to have paid so little for it. 

[Castor]

Hi castor, 

I don't know if you remember, but in March. I was lucky enough to find one.

I paid 325 $ us.

I am very happy to have paid so little for it. 

Hi Johann,

 

Sorry, I had forgotten, but I’m so glad that you found yours at an excellent price!   I hope that it works for your telescopes as well as it does with mine!

 

As much as I like the 31mm T5 Nagler (it was one of the first three TV eyepieces that I purchased, along with the 13mm T6 and the 24mm Panoptic), I prefer the lighter weight and darker background (compared to the same weight alternative, the 35mm Panoptic) provided by the 26mm T5 Nagler, while still offering plenty of true FOV to be used as the lowest power eyepiece in my fast refractors.

 

Thank you for your comment!  

[Starman1]

  
An ocularholic ocular retailer… 

I was up to 22, but now am down to 14.

It's hard to believe, but once I had well more than a hundred at one time, and gradually whittled that down to 3 and then it started back up.

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

[comabereni]

Eyepieces in the 31-22mm range are usually low power eyepieces.  Most scope owners don't need a bunch of low power eyepieces.

The 31mm >>22mm gap is a 40% change.  With a focal length <2000mm, that is a pretty small jump in magnification.

Al Nagler calls the 31mm >>13mm his "dyslexic duo", pointing out that when you want something above low power, you usually want a quite visible jump.

 

Personally, my jumps are often from 30mm to 17.5mm (1.70x jump) or from 22mm to 14mm (1.57x jump), but never from 30mm to 22mm or 22mm to 17.5mm.  That is too little change to be desirable.

It is unlikely most observers felt they needed something in between, which led to its demise, very similar to the 13mm/11mm/9mm spread in the Nagler T6, where almost all

observers skipped from 13mm to 9mm and bypassed the 11mm (now discontinued).

My advice to TeleVue is to NOT bring the 26mm back, as it would still be a slow seller.

 

Collectors are just that--collectors.  I have resembled that on and on over the years, being an ocularholic--a constant failing as my eyepiece collection ebbs and flows.  I'm always on the edge.

Agreed Starman. That's why I wanted a 26mm T5, it's that ~40% from my 16mm T5 and entirely adequate as that one low power 82* to step up from the 16 vs the 22/31 combo. I'm actually fine now with the 30mm UFF. I'll contentedly wait for that T7.

 

Clear skies...

[Jon Isaacs]

Eyepieces in the 31-22mm range are usually low power eyepieces.  Most scope owners don't need a bunch of low power eyepieces.

The 31mm >>22mm gap is a 40% change.  With a focal length <2000mm, that is a pretty small jump in magnification.

Al Nagler calls the 31mm >>13mm his "dyslexic duo", pointing out that when you want something above low power, you usually want a quite visible jump.

 

Personally, my jumps are often from 30mm to 17.5mm (1.70x jump) or from 22mm to 14mm (1.57x jump), but never from 30mm to 22mm or 22mm to 17.5mm.  That is too little change to be desirable.

It is unlikely most observers felt they needed something in between, which led to its demise, very similar to the 13mm/11mm/9mm spread in the Nagler T6, where almost all

observers skipped from 13mm to 9mm and bypassed the 11mm (now discontinued).

My advice to TeleVue is to NOT bring the 26mm back, as it would still be a slow seller.

 

Collectors are just that--collectors.  I have resembled that on and on over the years, being an ocularholic--a constant failing as my eyepiece collection ebbs and flows.  I'm always on the edge.

 

I think terms of step sizes in exit pupil/image brightness, field of view and magnification.

 

The step from the 31 mm Nagler to the 21 Ethos is 48% in magnification with a reduction in image brightness over 50%,. At F/5, the exit pupils are 6.2 mm and 4.2 mm, those are two worthwhile exit pupils, I want them both. I probably won't go from the 31 mm to the 21 mm but I will choose one or the other for specific reasons.

 

Jon

[25585]

I was up to 22, but now am down to 14.

It's hard to believe, but once I had well more than a hundred at one time, and gradually whittled that down to 3 and then it started back up.

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

Don, that is not ocularholic, nowhere near!

[Castor]

I noticed that a Tele Vue 26mm Nagler T5 eyepiece was sold yesterday in the CN classifieds at USD $500.00 plus shipping costs.  It was comforting to see this one going for a more reasonable price than the one auctioned at eBay!

 

https://www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/item/308745-nice-26mm-televue-nagler-type-5/

 

 

[Grounddweller]

Bumping this thread, as I just saw it! I did see the N26T5 auction that spawned the original query, and for half a second, considered listing my own N26T5. But the reasons I kept it prior were the same that allowed the temptation to pass quickly this time as well. I did own a N31 and the N26 at the same time, acquiring these, along with some other eyepieces, when I purchased my TV102 some years ago. Testing them in the 102 under suburban skies allowed me to see that the 26 offered a  more pleasing view, and exactly for the reasons already stated in previous entries. So off went the 31 to help offset the monetary outlay used to purchase it originally. Now lately I have begun to retrofit my kit with Ethos, currently holding a 17,13,10 & 8 but the 26 will not be an item I look to replace. It will retain its place as my low-power piece. I think what is telling is how the TV website touts how the 21E has (minor) advantages over the 26, seemingly suggesting that you could consider supplanting your present 26N with the 21E. It wouldn’t make sense to me to compare a flagship product to a defunct item unless there was considerable respect given to that same defunct product in the field. Taking the advice from Televue and echoed by Don Pensack, I do  like to use the trios, but with a twist: 26N, 13E & 8E, and 17E, 10E & APM 5mm.

[Castor]

Hi Grounddweller,

 

Thank you for your comments, it’s good to know that there are still observers who appreciate this fine eyepiece, even preferring it over their closest competitors (the 31mm Nagler T5 and the 21mm Ethos) from the same brand!  I will surely keep mine too, for as long as I can use a telescope and mount that can handle it!

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Edited by Castor, 08 November 2022 - 10:13 PM.

[Grounddweller]

Castor, you always frame your post pictures so exquisitely! I took an impromptu portrait of (most) my 2” eyepiece lineup with my 85. One aspect that I have seen mentioned is that the N26 is more in line with the weight of the other eyepieces in my lineup. With smaller ‘fracs and Dobs this is a real consideration for me. At 1.6lbs, the N26 is not too far out of bounds with the rest of the lineup, the 17E(1.55), 13E(1.3), 10E(1.1), even the APM5 weighs in at 1.15. The 21E sits at 2.25lbs, putting the weight gap WIDER between the 21E and 26N than between the 26N and 8E!

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Edited by Grounddweller, 09 November 2022 - 09:16 AM.

[Castor]

Thank you Grounddweller, you are too kind with my pictures, captured with a humble cell phone!

 

Yours, on the other hand are lavish, displaying rich colors and deep contrast that do justice to the beautiful glossy black fittings, shiny chrome drawtube, handsome FT focuser with a touch of gold and pebbled white painted tube of your gorgeous TV-85  –I’m a great fan of the aesthetics of earlier model Tele Vue refractors!  I love all those eyepieces of yours too, with the green lettering on the black housings!  What was the name of that brand again?  He, he!

 

Seriously, you have a wonderful selection of TV eyepieces, an excellent investment in quality glass that I’m sure helps a lot to provide the most awe inspiring views through your telescopes!   Considering that most of the time I use modest-sized refractors on Alt-Az mounts from my suburban backyard, I prefer using eyepieces of similar weight, just like you do, and an exit pupil that is suited for my light-polluted skies, so my usual lowest power eyepiece is usually a 26mm T5 Nagler or a 35mm Panoptic, depending on the telescope of choice.

 

Take good care and thank you for sharing with us the enticing picture of your telescope, DSC equipped Tele-Pod and TV eyepieces!  

Edited by Castor, 09 November 2022 - 06:44 PM.

[Deep13]

I'd like to get a 26T5 for my 15" f/4.5 Obsession (1st generation Paracorr), but it might be easier to mine diamonds in my yard than it would be to find one.

OTOH, AT's 28mm is available and a lot less expensive than even a used 26 Nagler. Is the AT model as sharp, clear, contrasty, and corrected?

[Grounddweller]

I'd like to get a 26T5 for my 15" f/4.5 Obsession (1st generation Paracorr), but it might be easier to mine diamonds in my yard than it would be to find one.

OTOH, AT's 28mm is available and a lot less expensive than even a used 26 Nagler. Is the AT model as sharp, clear, contrasty, and corrected?

See posts #5, #22, #25. This eyepiece is referred to.