44 replies to this topic

[5u4]

Was looking at High Point and Agena web sites and all of the Pans show photos with smooth non-undercut barrels except for the 19.

[vrodriguez2324]

They started shipping them out with no undercuts at least 2 months ago. The pictures on the websites just show a modified image of the Taiwan ROC Panoptic with a superimposed smooth nose piece. Here is a thread that shows a true shipped out sample.

https://www.cloudyni...ew-24-panoptic/ 

 

The new Pans are made in Japan and have other design and lettering differences. 

https://www.cloudyni...tic/?p=14017063

Edited by vrodriguez2324, 16 May 2025 - 10:20 AM.

[5u4]

I knew they made a smooth barrel 24 as I have one but it's the first I've seen photos of the other focal lengths.

[SoCalPaul]

I wonder if TV sells replacement, smooth barrels, and how many arms/legs they cost?

 

Clear skies,

Paul

[vrodriguez2324]

I linked your thread, lol. 

 

Do you think the 19 will get it too?

I knew they made a smooth barrel 24 as I have one but it's the first I've seen photos of the other focal lengths.

[5u4]

Don't know why the 19 is the only one still shown with the undercut, might as well do the whole line. Maybe they'll do the Plossl's next?

[TOMDEY]

Praise the Lord! I'm speculating that the Panoptics are one of the favorites for use with binoviewers and binoscopes --- but have been squirrely in the critical coalignment test because of the foolish undercuts. I might throw all of mine out and buy the smoothie pairs. Maybe the remaining undercutted ones are the defective ones that no one wanted.    Tom

[vrodriguez2324]

Let me know when your annual purge is. I'll bring the dumpster 

Praise the Lord! I'm speculating that the Panoptics are one of the favorites for use with binoviewers and binoscopes --- but have been squirrely in the critical coalignment test because of the foolish undercuts. I might throw all of mine out and buy the smoothie pairs. Maybe the remaining undercutted ones are the defective ones that no one wanted.    Tom

[TOMDEY]

Let me know when your annual purge is. I'll bring the dumpster 

Go to the Springwater Town Dump with a shovel and start digging --- It's already a Gold Mine!    Tom

[dustyc]

No way would I trust a compression band to hold a 41mm Pan sans undercuts. 35mm either. 

Dobs are fine. But a refractor or SCT on an GEM mount with a rotating diagonal spells trouble. 

[Starman1]

No way would I trust a compression band to hold a 41mm Pan sans undercuts. 35mm either. 

Dobs are fine. But a refractor or SCT on an GEM mount with a rotating diagonal spells trouble. 

For large heavy eyepieces, the brass split ring binding is fine, but it needs to have TWO thumbscrews 120° apart.

With two, you could lift the scope holding just the eyepiece.

Edited by Starman1, 16 May 2025 - 02:30 PM.

[dustyc]

LOL. I guess you've done that?

A nice C14 Edge as a guinea pig? 

[TOMDEY]

For large heavy eyepieces, the brass split ring binding is fine, but it needs to have TWO thumbscrews 120° apart.

With two, you could lift the scope holding just the eyepiece.

Amen, Don. I've modified uncountable interfaces like that for decades --- many straight out of the box. Example here >>> This ancient Barlow has seen a LOT of action... without ever a mishap.    Tom

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[dustyc]

My diagonal has 1 thumbscrew. Paracor has 2. I've never had any trouble removing an undercut eyepiece. 

But, yes, they ARE a pain in binoviewers and some big binoculars. 

[Mike W]

I can hear the new Panoptics bouncing off the ground from here! 

[Starman1]

I can hear the new Panoptics bouncing off the ground from here! 

I observed for decades before the first eyepieces came out with machined grooves on their barrels and I never had an eyepiece fall on the ground,

even though my scopes were equatorially mounted and I practiced roll-over from one side of the mount to the other.

I simply tightened each eyepiece in place when I inserted it.

[Mike W]

People will have to double down on tightening those visual backs! Luckily the focuser on my SV503 has three thumb screws on the brass split ring, the adapter has only one like my TV adapter.

Edited by Mike W, 16 May 2025 - 04:01 PM.

[Starman1]

People will have to double down on tightening those visual backs! Luckily the focuser on my SV503 has three thumb screws on the brass split ring, the adapter has only one like my TV adapter.

The goal of using two thumbscrews is to press the eyepiece firmly into a linear contact with the focuser at the 3rd point, 120° from each of the other two.

This prevents wobble/wiggle of the eyepiece, and yields a lot of friction at the 3rd point.

Three thumbscrews defeats the purpose by pressing the point of the long linear contact away from the wall of the focuser.

 

So if 3 thumbscrews are used, the first two should be securely tightened and the 3rd one just barely snugged so it adds a little friction, but does not press the eyepiece away from contact with the wall of the focuser.

 

Or, you could remove one screw and use it as a spare.

[Mike W]

The goal of using two thumbscrews is to press the eyepiece firmly into a linear contact with the focuser at the 3rd point, 120° from each of the other two.

This prevents wobble/wiggle of the eyepiece, and yields a lot of friction at the 3rd point.

Three thumbscrews defeats the purpose by pressing the point of the long linear contact away from the wall of the focuser.

 

So if 3 thumbscrews are used, the first two should be securely tightened and the 3rd one just barely snugged so it adds a little friction, but does not press the eyepiece away from contact with the wall of the focuser.

 

Or, you could remove one screw and use it as a spare.

The purpose of three thumbscrews in this case is for A/P cameras. The eyepiece doesn't go in the focuser, it goes in the diagonal. In my case an 1.25" diagonal goes in the adapter with one screw and the E/P into the diagonal with one screw. The adapter is tapered anyway. So focuser, adapter, diagonal, eyepiece.

Edited by Mike W, 16 May 2025 - 05:22 PM.

[scotsman328i]

I observed for decades before the first eyepieces came out with machined grooves on their barrels and I never had an eyepiece fall on the ground,

even though my scopes were equatorially mounted and I practiced roll-over from one side of the mount to the other.

I simply tightened each eyepiece in place when I inserted it.

Yeah Don, I just lay out a 8ft x 8ft sheet of bubble wrap under my scope when I’m observing. 

[Starman1]

Yeah Don, I just lay out a 8ft x 8ft sheet of bubble wrap under my scope when I’m observing. 

It must sound wonderful as you move around during the night.  One way to stay awake!

[scotsman328i]

It must sound wonderful as you move around during the night.  One way to stay awake!

Hahaha…yeah Man. Rice Krispies! Snap, crackle and Pop! 

Edited by scotsman328i, 16 May 2025 - 06:20 PM.

[TOMDEY]

I can hear the new Panoptics bouncing off the ground from here! 

Closely related: Do you tie your shoes or use Velcro?    Tom

[betacygni]

Curious of any other lines will see this change, in particular the other two eyed friendly eyepieces like the 16mm T5 Nagler.

[Starman1]

Curious of any other lines will see this change, in particular the other two eyed friendly eyepieces like the 16mm T5 Nagler.

The new Nagler Type 7s have smooth barrels as well.