11 replies to this topic

[jmoore]

anyone hear about the "new orthos" yet? I received a brochure about them last week. I think they're called ortho O.P.S. (ortho planetary series), or something like that.

Basically, they're a classic ortho, but one (or more?) of the lenses is coated with a bandpass filter to improve contrast for planetary and lunar viewing (apparently with some slight blue-green color alteration).

UO, ITE, and Sirius optics (partners in this project) are touting them as the best planetary EP ever.

Anyone know about these, or ordered any yet? They will be (are) available in 9mm, 12mm, and 18mm. Cost is around $100 or $120.

If they're not available on-line yet, I do believe they ARE available via order-form from UO (and probably from ITE and Sirius, too). I received an order form with the brochure that UO sent me.

I was planning to order a 9mm immediately, but I think I'll hold off until I hear some feedback. I'm trying to get some $$ back these days from EP overspending, so spending another $120 on a new EP is counterproductive to this goal. Also, I'm a little wary about the color alteration that supposedly accompanies this design. Depending on how noticeable/dramatic it is, I may not be interested, even if the contrast does significantly improve.

have fun!!
jeff

[Tom L]

We should ask AlM. Good to see you survived vacation, Jeff! I'm not too interested in that is filtered. I have too many filters already that I don't like to use. I was hoping they were going to give us a longer eye-relief planetary set of oculars.

[Bill Grass]

Interesting! It seems that there would be lower focal lengths than 9mm. I suppose that will be a future endeavor.

[LivingNDixie]

Sounds like interesting concept but that also seems like the filter would limit the eyepieces to just planetary viewing... And I'm assuming here that most ortho owners know that Orthos are good for DSOs and double stars too!

[jmoore]

Well...these EPs are supposedly good for DSOs, too (and contrast enhancement would only help with double stars I think). But even if only for planetary use, I think these are promising, since orthos are *primarily* planetary EPs for most people (that's all I use them for anyway).

Tom...yes, my vacation was great...and as for the filtered aspect of these EPs, I don't think you should compare them with using other screw-on color filters. First, I don't think these will alter color or reduce light transmission like your classic color filter does. Secondly, I think these filter-coatings are optically superior in many ways to a screw-on glass filter. And finally, this setup would obviously be much more convenient to use than screwing on a separate filter.

Bill...yes, I think they're just 'starting off' with these focal lengths. And keep in mind that for many scopes (e.g., with >1500 focal length), 9mm or 12mm IS a planetary focal length. For me, 9mm with 2x Barlow gives 222x in my 8" Newtonian (1000mm focal length). Perfect.

[Jim]

There is some additional info in the University Optics Group on Yahoo

[rboe]

Tom needs to do a review of these!

[Tom L]

Yeah...THIS Tom! Me want all 3 eyepieces!

[lighttrap]

Wonder if this means we'll see a price drop on new and used UO HD orthos? Those work spendidly on some DSOs as well as planets. Anybody wanna unload a 9mm or 18mm HD ortho at 50% off based on the idea that they can't be as good as these "new & improved ones"???

[Tom L]

Somehow I don't think so. Just MHO though...I did go read a bit more about these and the coatings are specific to these eyepieces only from Sirius. I wish AlM was here to help answer what type of coatings they actually are.