After having a Meade Series 5000 6.7mm UWA in my collection for some time now & liking it very much, when it finally came to deciding to upgrade my wideview eyepiece selection, I decided I would hunt down more of these.
I am aware they are not produced anymore but, was able to track down a new 20mm 2", s/h 14mm 1.25" & a new 8.8mm 1.25".
I would like to try & find a 30mm 2" version but, they haven't been producing them for quite a long time now so, finding them new is practically impossible & finding one secondhand hasn't seemed any easier.
What I have found is a Saxon 30mm SWA 82 degree eyepiece that at least cosmetically seems well, pretty much identical (Pictures below of the two versions - you will at least see the cosmetic resemblance).
Saxon describes it's eyepiece as: 'Fully-multicoated, 8 element design with blackened lens edges, Saxon 30mm 2" (82 degree) SWA Eyepiece offers improved clarity, contrast and resolution'
I haven't really been able to find the Meade description of it's 30mm 2" eyepiece so, it's hard to compare if they are in fact one & the same.
Does anyone know?
Has anyone used the Saxon 30mm 2" SWA?
Any assistance or advice on this question will be gratefully accepted... of course, if someone has a second hand Meade Series 5000 UWA they'd like to part with, then please let me know.
Looks like the same thing to me. Explore Scientific 30 82 is the same Optics as the Meade. I have had the ES 30 82 and Nagler 31.... not much difference.
& also keep an eye out for the ES, I have to say the Meade 20mm is insanely large & heavy... reminiscent of the holy handgrenade of Antioch...
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattT
Looks like the same thing to me. Explore Scientific 30 82 is the same Optics as the Meade. I have had the ES 30 82 and Nagler 31.... not much difference.
Carlton I have those Meade eyepieces and the bigger mag pieces suc as the 6.7 are superb. the 24 and 30 are just to big. I also have a Vixen 42 mm which is by far the best wide angle eyepiece I have especially for colour rendition in stars.Those bigger Meade’s are no good if you have a l0-16” dob as they are just to cumbersome.Over the years I have discovered that there is no one best set of eyepieces and that a combination of various brands ends up being used depending on the target.Meade also used to have a 56mm plossl which is a great eyepiece if you can get hold of one.
Hope this is of some help.
Derek
I've had the 6.7mm version for about 5 years now & agree it is indeed superb which, is why i wanted more of them. I was rather shocked when i received the 20mm, its frigging huge!! Fortunately it will be going into the back of an SCT once i receive my 2" diagonal fm Bintel. Ill see how it goes i guess.
Thanks for your advice, it all helps in making informed choices.
Cheers
Carlton
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek Klepp
Carlton I have those Meade eyepieces and the bigger mag pieces suc as the 6.7 are superb. the 24 and 30 are just to big. I also have a Vixen 42 mm which is by far the best wide angle eyepiece I have especially for colour rendition in stars.Those bigger Meade’s are no good if you have a l0-16” dob as they are just to cumbersome.Over the years I have discovered that there is no one best set of eyepieces and that a combination of various brands ends up being used depending on the target.Meade also used to have a 56mm plossl which is a great eyepiece if you can get hold of one.
Hope this is of some help.
Derek
For the last 20 years, the only eyepieces in my case have been Televue. I think they are simply superb -- until recently, when I purchased an Explore Scientific 30mm/82. This eyepiece is essentially the same as the 30mm Meade Series 5000 that are now practically unobtainable.
To be honest, I anticipated it might well be a good, even very good performer after many nights now, I'd say it is a superb eyepiece with excellent colour correction, excellent coatings and performance at the edge of field is on-par with the 31mm T5. My purchase was 2nd hand, on this forum and the price was about 30% that of a new 31mm T5 and 50% that of a 2nd hand 31mm T5.
If you can find one, I'd certainly recommend you seriously consider it.
The one super wow was the box it came in -- a work of art but easily the biggest ep box I've ever seen. See image with $1- coin for scale.
Below is the one the Meade 20mm came in... 10 cent piece for reference.
I will keep an eye out for the ES 30mm as well...
Regards
Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcles
Hi Carlton,
For the last 20 years, the only eyepieces in my case have been Televue. I think they are simply superb -- until recently, when I purchased an Explore Scientific 30mm/82. This eyepiece is essentially the same as the 30mm Meade Series 5000 that are now practically unobtainable.
To be honest, I anticipated it might well be a good, even very good performer after many nights now, I'd say it is a superb eyepiece with excellent colour correction, excellent coatings and performance at the edge of field is on-par with the 31mm T5. My purchase was 2nd hand, on this forum and the price was about 30% that of a new 31mm T5 and 50% that of a 2nd hand 31mm T5.
If you can find one, I'd certainly recommend you seriously consider it.
The one super wow was the box it came in -- a work of art but easily the biggest ep box I've ever seen. See image with $1- coin for scale.