131 replies to this topic

[Refractor6]

  I love the views with my old Orion/Vixen LVW 22 and really like my Meade 24 5000 SWA too. Best views of M64 and M65 in the same FOV and M67 for faint stars in this rich cluster is a toss up between my Meade 5000 24 SWA and my old 24 mm Pan over the last few nights of eyepiece swapping in my 127 F/6.45 refractor.

[C0rs4ir_]

You mean also those claiming that its not the best?

 

Just got me another used one now i can binoview the moon in full pincushion distortion glory.

Edited by C0rs4ir_, 17 April 2025 - 11:06 AM.

[brightsky]

I bought my Pan 24 used in 2016 as a finder eyepiece for an f7.4 refractor which was also used.  The Pan 24 is the old friend in my eyepiece case.  I have disassembled/reassembled it two times and always reach for it first when observing day or night.  If for some reason it is no longer useful I might convert it to a salt shaker. 

[scotsman328i]

Had mine out last night in my TV102. Absolutely stunning little powerhouse! Stars were textbook pinpoints. Always love to put stars right at the very, very edge of the field of view and still see them at sharp and perfectly spherical pinpoints. The 24 Panoptic is a legend, love mine.

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[The Rigger]

Nope...  The "best eyepiece ever made" would have sufficient eye relief that us eyeglass wearers could marvel in its magnificence, too.

 

I'm sure it's very very very good, though.

Edited by The Rigger, 17 April 2025 - 01:34 PM.

[Mike W]

Yeah, that's why you see so many for sale on C/N!

[Dobs O Fun]

MODERATION NOTE 

 

I believe the intent of the OP is to discuss the 24 Pan.

 

Posts that were off topic were removed.  

 

Let's keep the discussion on the topic. 

 

Thank you

[payner]

Had mine out last night in my TV102. Absolutely stunning little powerhouse! Stars were textbook pinpoints. Always love to put stars right at the very, very edge of the field of view and still see them at sharp and perfectly spherical pinpoints. The 24 Panoptic is a legend, love mine.

Color scheme is very nice on your model.

[Mike W]

An interesting thread on a little bit of Panoptic history and where the 24 fits in.

 

https://www.cloudyni...ic#entry6966069

[scotsman328i]

Color scheme is very nice on your model.

Thank you so much, Payner. I was so, so fortunate to find the 102 in the Evergreen. It’s been one of my dream scopes for over 20 years now. I never thought I would get my hands on one, ESPECIALLY in the museum quality this one is in! Not a ding, not a scratch. It’s literally like it came from the factory yesterday! The optics are sparkling clear and that SD doublet is incredible! Stars didn’t twinkle, they were glowing last night. Spectacular. Looking at M42 and M41 last night before they set with the 24 Panoptic was a view I’ll soon not forget. Now I think I’m going to purchase the 19 Panoptic to accompany the 24 Panoptic. I own the 35 Panoptic also. 
    However, again, out of all the Panoptic oculars in the line, I still attest that the 24 Panoptic is the best. It’s just the perfect focal length of ocular to slew the sky with and still provide very good detail on objects. 

[payner]

Enjoy reading your enthusiasm and hearing your appreciation of a dream telescope. Don't discount the 22 mm Panoptic (discontinued but worth finding), it's the best imho.

[Mike W]

Thank you so much, Payner. I was so, so fortunate to find the 102 in the Evergreen. It’s been one of my dream scopes for over 20 years now. I never thought I would get my hands on one, ESPECIALLY in the museum quality this one is in! Not a ding, not a scratch. It’s literally like it came from the factory yesterday! The optics are sparkling clear and that SD doublet is incredible! Stars didn’t twinkle, they were glowing last night. Spectacular. Looking at M42 and M41 last night before they set with the 24 Panoptic was a view I’ll soon not forget. Now I think I’m going to purchase the 19 Panoptic to accompany the 24 Panoptic. I own the 35 Panoptic also. 
    However, again, out of all the Panoptic oculars in the line, I still attest that the 24 Panoptic is the best. It’s just the perfect focal length of ocular to slew the sky with and still provide very good detail on objects. 

In the 102 @f8.6 the 24pan nicely frames M81&82! BTW the Televue equalizer works great in the Gibraltar if you switch to a heavier E/P than the 24 pan.

 

https://www.televue....d=23&Tab=_equil

Edited by Mike W, 17 April 2025 - 09:49 PM.

[Scott in NC]

The 24 Pan is an excellent eyepiece, and I think it's the "Gold Standard" in a Binoviewer!  

Yes, indeed!

[scotsman328i]

In the 102 @f8.6 the 24pan nicely frames M81&82! BTW the Televue equalizer works great in the Gibraltar if you switch to a heavier E/P than the 24 pan.

 

https://www.televue....d=23&Tab=_equil

Yes Mike. I’ve heard about the brass hat equalizer to keep a balanced weight when switching to 1.25” from using the heavier 2” oculars. So far the batwing screw on the clamshell has been fantastic for balancing on the fly when using the 102, however the Equalizer may be faster solution if I’m seriously viewing a certain object. 

[scotsman328i]

Enjoy reading your enthusiasm and hearing your appreciation of a dream telescope. Don't discount the 22 mm Panoptic (discontinued but worth finding), it's the best imho.

I totally agree! I’ve looked through a few 22 Pans in my time and like the views a lot also. Always said I’d pick one up off classifieds if the price and condition of it was right.

[Refractor6]

  Great views with the 24 Pan last night of several Messier and NGC galaxies in Leo with my 5" refractor...list to long to cover but safe to say its a great ep for deep sky observing no doubt.

 

I leave out the others that do just as well for me in that focal range out of respect for focusing only on this fine ep....

[scotsman328i]

  Great views with the 24 Pan last night of several Messier and NGC galaxies in Leo with my 5" refractor...list to long to cover but safe to say its a great ep for deep sky observing no doubt.

 

I leave out the others that do just as well for me in that focal range out of respect for focusing only on this fine ep....

Yah man! Glad you got out last night Frac6! 
   How was the detail on those galaxies last night? Get any hints of swirls kicking out of them? I know the 24 Pan matched with a 5” frac was a clear choice to view them with! 

[Refractor6]

Yah man! Glad you got out last night Frac6! 
   How was the detail on those galaxies last night? Get any hints of swirls kicking out of them? I know the 24 Pan matched with a 5” frac was a clear choice to view them with! 

   Thanks!...NGC3384 and NGC3389 were faint but were detected and showed shape with averted vision especially showing shape were brighter Messier's M105 and M96 and M95 nearby {lovely pair}. M65 and M66 showed clearly shapes and so did nearby NGC3268 with averted vision again. All 3 were in the same field of view in the 24 Pan....amazing visual observation... perfect conditions and good seeing under dark transparent skies last night...great eyepiece for deep sky views....

[scotsman328i]

   Thanks!...NGC3384 and NGC3389 were faint but were detected and showed shape with averted vision especially showing shape were brighter Messier's M105 and M96 and M95 nearby {lovely pair}. M65 and M66 showed clearly shapes and so did nearby NGC3268 with averted vision again. All 3 were in the same field of view in the 24 Pan....amazing visual observation... perfect conditions and good seeing under dark transparent skies last night...great eyepiece for deep sky views....

Nice! It’s a real treat seeing the spirals. Getting all three of them in the same field of view is a real treat also. Gotta love that 24 Pan. I just love that flat field it provides. 

[rustynpp]

I just want to add that I was thinking about selling my 24 pan, as I’m mostly using 2” EPs these days, but this thread has convinced me to keep it!

Cheers,
Nick

[Mike W]

Yes Mike. I’ve heard about the brass hat equalizer to keep a balanced weight when switching to 1.25” from using the heavier 2” oculars. So far the batwing screw on the clamshell has been fantastic for balancing on the fly when using the 102, however the Equalizer may be faster solution if I’m seriously viewing a certain object. 

You'll find if you get one it will live in your diagonal and you'll wonder how you lived without it!

[scotsman328i]

I just want to add that I was thinking about selling my 24 pan, as I’m mostly using 2” EPs these days, but this thread has convinced me to keep it!

Cheers,
Nick

I’d say you might want to hold onto it if you like it. They’re next to impossible to either buy new or used right now.

[scotsman328i]

You'll find if you get one it will live in your diagonal and you'll wonder how you lived without it!

Bckordered right now. I see they run $78, probably cheaper on classifieds if I’m lucky enough to see one. I’ll check them out when they’re in stock again. Price isn’t too bad at all. 

[Refractor6]

I’d say you might want to hold onto it if you like it. They’re next to impossible to either buy new or used right now.

  To think what I paid for the 24 Pan back in 2005 compared to what they go for now is certainly enough to convince me to never part with mine.

[scotsman328i]

  To think what I paid for the 24 Pan back in 2005 compared to what they go for now is certainly enough to convince me to never part with mine.

I bet! I thought it wasn’t too bad back in around 2010 or so when I got mine. The price today? $370? Whoa!

Edited by scotsman328i, 18 April 2025 - 09:35 PM.