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Antares or University Optics?

Started by Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_* , Jun 25 2004 11:11 PM
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8 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_**DONOTDELETE**_*

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Posted 25 June 2004 - 11:11 PM

Hello.

In my two recent posts "I need an eyepiece with better eye relief" and "I bought my first scope. Now what barlow to buy??", I was given many very useful information and advises. But most choices given are too expensive for me at the moment. :shrug:

So I looked around the Internet some more for eyepieces that are still of high quality while affortable. I think I found them on the site www.clearvueoptics.com/products.htm
(see also www.antaresoptical.com and www.universityoptics.com)
:waytogo:
I am thinking of either:
- the Antares Orthoscopic
- Univesity Optics' HD Abbe Orthoscopic

From what I studied, the Ortho will give a better picture than the Plossl at roughly the same cost.

The Antares and UO orthos are around $70-80 dollars US. Anyone has experience with those two Makes?

As for a barlow, I may as well go with either one company. What do you think of variable-magnification barlows, 2x-to-3x for instance? Any they just as good as fixed-mag ones?

I am pretty close to making a purchase decision. The Antares are available in Canada. Anyone knows if the UO are available too up here in Canada?

#2 SpongeBob

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Posted 26 June 2004 - 12:54 AM

As far as the orthos go I think you should go for the lowest price.Although if you want to sell them at a later date you would probably fetch more from the UO. From what I have heard these are the same ep's made in the same factory.
As for the barlow, get a good one. Stay away from the variable power barlows. I would personally recommend a Tele Vue 2x barlow, but many others speak highly of the Celestron Ultima or Orion Shorty Plus 2x. These are also both the same barlow. Something to think about if you get one though is many report the mag factor is more like 2.2x-2.4x so you might want to consider that when picking out your ep focal lengths.
Jason

#3 Don25

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Posted 26 June 2004 - 11:53 AM

Check the link below for the Celestron Ultima Barlow for $ 62.95 (plus shipping) I have this barlow and think very highly of it. It almost always gets great reviews by those who have it, and is considered one of the best available.
http://www.adorama.c...arlow&item_no=1

#4 Tom L

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Posted 26 June 2004 - 11:58 AM

Jean,

I used to own the Antares W70 5.7mm and 8.6mm eyepieces and sold them. The 8.6mm was a good eyepiece but the 5.7mm was difficult to use.

I still own and will continue to own UO orthos and will always have them. I really like my orthos...I have a 5mm HD ortho and the rest are the classic (7mm, 9mm, 12.5mm and 18mm). The 9 and 12.5 are by far my favorite eyepeices and I do not generally barlow these.

As for barlows...get the best you can afford. The Orion shorty plus is well liked by everyone that I have talked to that owns one. I have the Televue barlows, one is 1.8x (an older model replaced by the 2x) and a 3x. Both of these barlows are excellent additions to my EP collection. For some reason I use the 3x more than the 1.8x...just because it offers higher magnification for my TV plossls and was designed to work with them.

The UO Klee barlow gets good reviews from its owners as well.

You can buy all of these on astromart at 20%-30% off the new price when they show up.

#5 LivingNDixie

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Posted 27 June 2004 - 04:01 PM

I have never owned anything Antares has produced, but I too love the UO orthos that I have owned

#6 Blair

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Posted 27 June 2004 - 08:18 PM

If you are needing eye relief Orthos are not the way to go. By the 5mm eyepiece your eyeball is hugging the glass.

Blair.

#7 Dave Mitsky

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Posted 28 June 2004 - 05:03 AM

If you want the very best "magnification amplifier" get a Tele Vue Powermate.

Dave Mitsky

#8 LivingNDixie

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Posted 28 June 2004 - 10:59 AM

Dave, is right about that, but if your on a budget, the TeleVue barlows are very nice too. They come in 2X and 3X

#9 Jim

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Posted 28 June 2004 - 08:37 PM

Count me as another vote for the U.O. Orthos...My #1 choice for observing. I also recently picked up a used Konig 8mm which I consider very good and am awaiting another konigII.
I think you can't go wrong with U.O. I also own an Antares Barlow 3x. I consider it to be a very fine Barlow. Right up there with the rest of them. I also have a 2x Antares Barlow which I consider to be a bit less in quality and performance, I does however do what I want.
Try excelsis.com for plenty of reviews.
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