101 replies to this topic

[Apnee44]

The old ones that I was missing were the TV Radian therefore I bought a set few weeks ago. The Panoptic 22 also is one I am missing, but hard to find one.

[Kefka1138]

The old ones that I was missing were the TV Radian therefore I bought a set few weeks ago. The Panoptic 22 also is one I am missing, but hard to find one.

^^

Still really enjoy using my Radian's too. 

[Procyon]

Here's the 35mm, "Ultra-premium Masuyama eyepieces were offered briefly in the mid-1980s before going out of production a few years later. Since then, these legendary eyepieces have only been available - fleetingly - on the resale market. Now, after nearly 30 years, Masuyama eyepieces are back in production and updated with modern glass and multi-coating technology." :

 

https://agenaastro.c...5mm-mop-35.html

Will the 30mm's make good binoviewing pairs with those very recessed lenses?

 

Would love to see big lens flat top Erfles and Konigs make a comeback, as well as big lens flat tops smoothie Plossls or any type. With modern coatings if possible.

Edited by Procyon, 16 May 2025 - 12:55 PM.

[jrmacl]

Will the 30mm's make good binoviewing pairs with those very recessed lenses?

 

Would love to see big lens flat top Erfles and Konigs make a comeback, as well as big lens flat tops smoothie Plossls or any type. With modern coatings if possible.

Here is a current thread where Procyon has asked what "30-32mm Low Power Binoviewer Pair for Starfields, Milky Way" are the best and the 30mm MOP's are considered.

See post #7 where RAKing says:

 

"The Masuyama 30mm MOP replaced my TV 32mm Plossls.  I use the MOP for solar viewing, because while the actual FOV is slightly less than the 24 Panoptics, it has a brighter exit pupil and was more comfortable to use.

 

I use and love the 24mm Panoptics for most of my wider views with the BV.  They are still the best overall.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron"

 

https://www.cloudyni.../#entry14136507

[25585]

Will the 30mm's make good binoviewing pairs with those very recessed lenses?

 

Would love to see big lens flat top Erfles and Konigs make a comeback, as well as big lens flat tops smoothie Plossls or any type. With modern coatings if possible.

I love such eyepieces. Looking for a TV 32mm Wide Field (smoothie if possible) and a Pentax XL 40mm with the short eye cup. Also a TV 55mm &/or a Meade 56mm Plossl smoothie.

[PJBilotta]

Though the XWs have replaced them and have a bit blacker background and 5-degrees more, it's a shame that the older XLs had to go away. At 65-degrees, they're a bit easier on the eye with a less finicky exit pupil. Like the LVWs, they are every bit as good as the best eyepieces today, just s slightly narrower FOV.

[Jon Isaacs]

I love such eyepieces. Looking for a TV 32mm Wide Field (smoothie if possible) and a Pentax XL 40mm with the short eye cup. Also a TV 55mm &/or a Meade 56mm Plossl smoothie.

 

I had a 32 mm Wide field for quite a number of years.  Not a bad eyepiece with plenty of eye relief. The AFoV was 65° but the field stop was only 33 mm, that corresponds to a 59° AFoV. The off-axis astigmatism is significant.

 

When I got my 30 mm UFF, I gave the 32 mm WF away...

 

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 17 May 2025 - 04:25 PM.

[eblanken]

Older series I miss is Vixen LV Lanthanum which was one of the first that had a generous 20mm of eye relief (Rubber eye cup folded down)

 

1.25mm set ranged from 40mm to 2.5mm and there were 2 inch format as well. I have been buying used.

Nice and small and well done, but other people think they are too narrow at 50 Deg or Less AFoV.

TeleVue Radians and DeLites are better at 57 Deg. and 62 Deg. but are much more expensive.

Vixen's replacement for the LV don't have as much eye relief.

 

Best,

 

Ed

Edited by eblanken, 16 May 2025 - 09:00 PM.

[therealdmt]

Nothing exotic, but I wish the following were still offered new (as I’d probably buy them ):

 

Meade 5000 UWA 5.5mm

Edmund RKE 15mm

Meade 5000 UWA 20mm (maybe; could just go for a current long Perng 80° 20mm instead…)

AstroTech UWA 21mm

TMB Paragon 40mm

 

 

Meanwhile, Explore Scientific should either improve the [reported — I haven’t looked through them myself] glare situation in their new LER 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5mm 82s, or go back to their 4.7, 6.7 and 8.8mm eyepieces for their 82 degree series

[Dave Mitsky]

I used to have the 35 mm ultrascopic, that was an eyepiece that I wasn’t sad to let go.

I had a 35mm Celestron Ultima but decided to sell it.  I didn't care for the long eye relief.  However, I did keep a 30mm Celestron Ultima, which I still use from time to time.

[Refractor6]

I had a 35mm Celestron Ultima but decided to sell it.  I didn't care for the long eye relief.  However, I did keep a 30mm Celestron Ultima, which I still use from time to time.

 I did the same things years ago and yes holding onto the 30mm was a smart move...

[asterope62]

I use to have a Celestron Erfle 20mm eyepiece that I used extensively during the 1980s and 1990s, I sold as part of a telescope package deal in 1997 and immediately regretted it! I purchased a 19mm Panoptic in the early 2000s and even though I didn't get to compare it with the Erfle,  I'm pretty sure that the Panoptic is better.

[Jon Isaacs]

I use to have a Celestron Erfle 20mm eyepiece that I used extensively during the 1980s and 1990s, I sold as part of a telescope package deal in 1997 and immediately regretted it! I purchased a 19mm Panoptic in the early 2000s and even though I didn't get to compare it with the Erfle,  I'm pretty sure that the Panoptic is better.

 

I had one of those 20mm Celestron Erfle's.  I did get to compare it with eyepieces like the 24 mm TV Wide Field.   The TV Wide Field is not a Panoptic when it comes to off-axis sharpness but it is noticeably better than that 20mm Erfle in a faster scope. 

 

I cannot think of any series of eyepieces I miss.  I wouldn't mind taking a look through a set of type 2 Naglers, the 20mm, 16mm and 12mm.  I had those for a number of years but replaced them with more modern eyepieces.  That would be nostalgia.  I had a 1.25 inch Paracorr. I loaned it out and never got it back.  It would be fun to check out but all my Newtonians have 2 inch focusers so it too would be nostalgia.  

 

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 17 May 2025 - 03:39 AM.

[RichD]

I think you'd still like the 20mm T2 at least Jon. But maybe not it's weight...

[Jon Isaacs]

I think you'd still like the 20mm T2 at least Jon. But maybe not it's weight...

 

My first 100 degree eyepiece was the 20mm ES 100 degree.  I had the 20mm Type 2 and the wider field of the 100 degree was nice but I thought the 20mm Nagler's 82 degree was better corrected than 82 degrees of ES 100 degrees.  The edge of the ES 100 degree had issues too so I could never quite decide which one was the first string and which one was back up.

 

7 or 8 years ago, I got quite a deal on the 21mm Ethos and it was clear the 21 mm Ethos was the better of the three. I sold the ES and gave to 20mm Type 2 to a friend.. 

 

But I like your idea.  I recently acquired an Orion (Long Perng) 20 mm 80 degree with a large eye lens, plenty of eye relief, and it seems quite sharp.  It also weighs 19.5 ounces, about half the weight of the 20mm Type 2. 

 

My observing buddy has a 20 mm Type 2 that his wife gave him for their anniversary, it would be fun comparing those two...

 

I did especially like the 20mm and 12mm Type 2s, the 16 mm was a very good eyepiece but somehow the 12mm had something special.

 

There was a time when my best eyepieces were the 32mm WF, the 20mm, 16mm and 12mm Type 2s, a 9mm Something and the 7mm and 4.8 mm Nagler type 1s.  For a long time, the 9mm was the 66 degree now known as the Goldline, it was eventually replaced with a 9mm Type 6.  If I were more of a collector, I would recreate that set and maybe add the 24mm WF which I had at the time and still have.

 

This is almost that set but with the 31mm Nagler, the 3.5mm Type 6.

 

 

Jon  

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 17 May 2025 - 09:20 AM.

[RichD]

Like you i have gone to a 20mm 100 deg too, but i can't bring myself to sell on the 20mm T2 as its such an old favourite of mine. I'm convinced it's just a hair sharper than the APM 20mm i use now, but I'm in the position of having 2 20mm 2" eyepieces in the case, which is a bit daft.

The type 2s were very good, but we do have better now. As you say, it's nostalgia.

[Jon Isaacs]

Like you i have gone to a 20mm 100 deg too, but i can't bring myself to sell on the 20mm T2 as its such an old favourite of mine. I'm convinced it's just a hair sharper than the APM 20mm i use now, but I'm in the position of having 2 20mm 2" eyepieces in the case, which is a bit daft.

The type 2s were very good, but we do have better now. As you say, it's nostalgia.

 

 

When I head out for dark skies, I take nearly all my eyepieces with me..  I have the 20mm APM/Astro-Tech 100 degree, the 20mm 80 degree LHD and the 22mm Panoptic with the 2 inch skirt removed.  The 22 mm Pan and the 20mm Astro-Tech are in the same case.  

 

Jon

[bobhen]

University Optics Ortho.
I owned a few and they were sold, workhorse eyepieces.

 

TV Radians.
I still have a couple that I use regularly.

 

University Optics Wide Scan.
I had the 20mm Wide Scan eyepiece in my eyepiece case for over 20-years. It had an 82-degree field, was lightweight and cost a lot less than the Naglers of that time. However, it was no Nagler. The outer edges were soft in fast telescopes. But it worked well in my longer FL SCTs and my Mewlon 210. Maybe the reason I kept it for so long was because I always had an SCT or another longer FL telescope in my stable. I probably would still have it but I dropped it on a sidewalk and it cracked. RIP.

 

Everything I bought from University Optics was of really good quality and reasonably priced including: the Orthos, Wide Scan 20mm, an 8 x 50mm finder and the well-regarded 80mm F6.6  kit refractor.

 

Bob

[Procyon]

I'm starting to miss some Orion eyepieces to be honest. I'm starting to miss Orion, period.

[Brent Campbell]

Nothing exotic, but I wish the following were still offered new (as I’d probably buy them ):

 

Meade 5000 UWA 5.5mm

Edmund RKE 15mm

Meade 5000 UWA 20mm (maybe; could just go for a current long Perng 80° 20mm instead…)

AstroTech UWA 21mm

TMB Paragon 40mm

 

 

Meanwhile, Explore Scientific should either improve the [reported — I haven’t looked through them myself] glare situation in their new LER 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5mm 82s, or go back to their 4.7, 6.7 and 8.8mm eyepieces for their 82 degree series

I have the 6.7, 8.8 mm, 11 mm, and 18 mm explorers 82 s - first generation. Even though my 7 mm delite should replace the 6.7  can’t stand the thought of getting rid of it.  It’s just too good of an eyepiece and the delite is only marginally better.

[azure1961p]

UO Volcano top orthoscopics.  I regret I didn't buy the whole set!

 

Pete

[Apnee44]

I love the Meade 4000 Japan. I just received again a Meade UWA 4.7! If I see a 8.8 or 6.7 in good condition, I will buy them again. 

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[Dave Mitsky]

I did especially like the 20mm and 12mm Type 2s, the 16 mm was a very good eyepiece but somehow the 12mm had something special.

Years ago I owned the 12 and 20mm Type 2s.  I sold the 20mm because it was just too heavy for my 12.5" Dob.  When the Type 6s became available, I bought a 13mm T6 and sold the 12mm Type 2.  I sold the 13mm T6 when the 13mm Ethos came onto the market.

[Jon Isaacs]

Years ago I owned the 12 and 20mm Type 2s.  I sold the 20mm because it was just too heavy for my 12.5" Dob.  When the Type 6s became available, I bought a 13mm T6 and sold the 12mm Type 2.  I sold the 13mm T6 when the 13mm Ethos came onto the market.

 

I parted ways with the 12mm Type 2 when I got the 13 mm Ethos. Then came the 13 mm Type 6, the 13 mm UWA and the 12.5 mm Morpheus were secret Santa and the came the 13 mm XWA.. used, $150.. and somewhere in there is the 12 mm Paradigm... And the 14mm Morpheus.

 

Things were much simpler when TeleVue was about the only game in town.. it was a lot easier avoiding temptation..

 

"It sure gets expensive saving all this money."

 

Jon

[25585]

Though the XWs have replaced them and have a bit blacker background and 5-degrees more, it's a shame that the older XLs had to go away. At 65-degrees, they're a bit easier on the eye with a less finicky exit pupil. Like the LVWs, they are every bit as good as the best eyepieces today, just s slightly narrower FOV.

I went from XWs to XLs for that reason, especially 5.2 and 7mm. I kept my 10, 14 & 20 XWs, but bought 10.5, 21 & 28mm XLs as well, later adding a 40 XL for completeness (though it needs the short eyecup).

 

Vixen LVWs are for me easier to use, and the Morpheus 4.5, 6.5 and 9mm especially get most use. I have a couple of Delites for outreach as less precious.