12 replies to this topic

[cmdr_disco]

Howdy.  I bought my first quality eyepiece after advice on this forum. It was a AT 20mm xwa because I kind of enjoy lower mag and sweeping the milky way.  I think my next eye piece will be a 9mm. 

 

I am thinking of the 9mm xwa because it supports 2inch and I don't like the idea of switching barrel sizes, seems like alot of work.

 

I know these eyepieces are cheaper than some similar eyepieces, but its still hard for me to put out 270 dollars when my telescope is only 600.

 

Of course, if it were around 230 dollars (like my 20mm was on sale), that would be a different story

 

I know some places have regular sales, like REI.

 

What about Astronomics?  

Edited by cmdr_disco, 25 May 2024 - 09:53 PM.

[Sheremy01]

Have you considered explore scientific? They have different series as far as fov and most of them are quite affordable. I own a Televue and an explore scientific, both give great views. The ES 82° line is reasonable priced. Just my 2 cents anyhow.

[JohnTMN]

What about Astronomics?  

Astronomics is the sponsor of this web-site and should always be considered first for a purchase, considering the member discount.
 

[cmdr_disco]

Have you considered explore scientific? They have different series as far as fov and most of them are quite affordable. I own a Televue and an explore scientific, both give great views. The ES 82° line is reasonable priced. Just my 2 cents anyhow.

I'm looking at them now.  Whats the easiest way to convert them to 2 inch?  I know you can just leave an adapter screwed on. But I have this weird theory about the screw on the side pushing the center of focus around. What about the televue adapter that actually screws into where the filter goes.  Does explore scientific have something like that?

[SeattleScott]

AT prices are about as low as possible to begin with so there isn’t usually much of a sale. Maybe 10% off once in awhile. If you are patient you can get XWA for $250. But how long do you want to wait to save $20? And if it is on sale, you don’t get the CN member discount.

[Overtime]

I'm looking at them now.  Whats the easiest way to convert them to 2 inch?  I know you can just leave an adapter screwed on. But I have this weird theory about the screw on the side pushing the center of focus around. What about the televue adapter that actually screws into where the filter goes.  Does explore scientific have something like that?

You are not the only person wondering about that. I always why they don't make a latch style of lock that would push equally on all sides or a tapered fit device? I know they might get stuck but there are ways to work with that. I just checked the collimation  on my scope and was re-thinking the processes that might make it just a bit off ( I can make it a little off all on my own! ).

[Echolight]

Here's a 2 inch 9mm in the classifieds.

https://www.cloudyni...0-tmb-100º-9mm/

An older design.

 

There was an APM on the 19th for $200. But it's sold 

 

Funny thing about saving money,... you often have to work for it.

Edited by Echolight, 26 May 2024 - 09:05 AM.

[sevenofnine]

If value is a consideration then the AT UWA's are hard to beat IMO. They are 82* @ $99 

 

https://www.astronom...ece_series=1051.

[Dave Mitsky]

The XWA eyepieces were on "sale" for quite a long time.  The prices might not be that low again for some time, if ever.

[Dave Mitsky]

I'm looking at them now.  Whats the easiest way to convert them to 2 inch?  I know you can just leave an adapter screwed on. But I have this weird theory about the screw on the side pushing the center of focus around. What about the televue adapter that actually screws into where the filter goes.  Does explore scientific have something like that?

Twist lock adapters don't utilize screws.

https://agenaastro.c...ce-adapter.html

[Jon Isaacs]

Have you considered explore scientific? They have different series as far as fov and most of them are quite affordable. I own a Televue and an explore scientific, both give great views. The ES 82° line is reasonable priced. Just my 2 cents anyhow.

 

I own TeleVue Ethos and Astro-Tech/KUO XWAs. I did own the 20 mm and 14 mm ES 100s. The ES 100s are nearly as expensive as the Ethos but optically I found the XWAs better than the Explore Scientific .

 

For me, 82° and 100° eyepieces do not mix well. Besides the difference in field of view, the physical sizes are very different in all but the longest focal lengths. 

 

The AT XWAs were on sale anday go back on sale. I have the entire set. I bought the 20 mm and 9 mm used at substantial and savings.

 

Jon

[Jon Isaacs]

I'm looking at them now.  Whats the easiest way to convert them to 2 inch?  I know you can just leave an adapter screwed on. But I have this weird theory about the screw on the side pushing the center of focus around. What about the televue adapter that actually screws into where the filter goes.  Does explore scientific have something like that?

 

That is a non-issue.  It's only a small fraction of a millimeter, no more than 0.1 mm. 

 

But more importantly, when you collimate your scope, the collimator is also pushed over an equal amount. And from standpoint of collimation tolerances, it's totally insignificant.

 

Jon

[cmdr_disco]

Twist lock adapters don't utilize screws.

https://agenaastro.c...ce-adapter.html

Oh hey!

 

This is absolutely what I want...and can open some 1.25 inch eyepieces to my lazyness!  I might just look at the UWA now.

 

Thanks!