Burgess planetary and Pentax XF EPs in Oz

janoskiss (Steve H) · #1 10-12-2006, 12:08 PM

Just spotted this thanks to link in Andy's Porta mount review...

Frontier Optics are now selling Burgess/TMB planetary eyepieces as well as Pentax XFs. These great EPs were impossible to buy in Oz previously so this is most welcome. They have a nice 3-for-2 deal going on the Burgess EPs atm.

Tamtarn · #2 10-12-2006, 12:37 PM

Good looking website now Steve.

Could be interesting when they produce their price list.

We are very happy with our Burgess/TMB Planetary 5mm eyepiece and the Pentax XF has a good reputation.

Starkler (Geoff) · #3 10-12-2006, 01:12 PM

This is great news !

The Burgess/TMB planetary eyepieces at $149 are a good price and no more than what it cost to import from OS.
At 3 for two pricing of effectively $100, they are a bargain.
Interested IIS members should pool up to take advantage of this

I own the 4 and 7mm. These have nicely usable eye relief, are sharp and have better edge correction in fast scopes than orthos or plossls.

The pricing of these ep's make them a great alternative to the usual budget conscious users practice of barlowing plossls for high power views.

Now for the XF, I'll be very interested to see the pricing.
Well done Frontier

Starkler (Geoff) · #4 10-12-2006, 01:27 PM

Wait theres more !

Frontier are also bringing in the W.O. UWAN and Paragon, and also the Denkmeiers that John B seems so enamoured with

I notice they are also bringing in the universal astronomics series of alt-az mounts. Good stuff!

It looks like Frontier is really positioning itself to be able to cater for what the educated buyers are wanting and currently buying from OS. while other dealers all seem content to thrust the standard Synta/Meade/Celestron only fare at us.

Well done Frontier! Finally someone in the Aussie market is listening to what people want.

matt · #5 10-12-2006, 02:10 PM

Couldn't agree more Geoff.

There's a whole world of great gear out there, outside of the big 2 or 3 (Meade, Celestron etc)

Well done all the folks over at Frontier.

Just wish we could see prices on the website

GrahamL · #6 10-12-2006, 03:30 PM

Been looking at the xf 8.5 for a while now ,no reviews or many useing it
though.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #7 10-12-2006, 05:43 PM

Geoff, Frontier Optics have been selling WO EPs and Denkmeier products for years. But the Burgess and Pentax gear is something new afaik. And those mounts look very interesting. Some of the bino mounts on the univ. astronomics site look just like what I've been after.

Graham, I have the 8.5mm XF and it is up there with the XWs ito optical performance but it is light and compact too, which is why I want the 12mm as well. The 8.5mm performs brilliantly in just about any scope. Works extremely well in my Newts f4,5 and 6 and in the f/10 Mak.

GrahamL · #8 10-12-2006, 07:30 PM

thanks steve , I came across one other post on this one somewhere
but can't find it again.. the owner loved it from memory
Its great to see more choices coming down our way .

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #9 11-12-2006, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Wait theres more !

Frontier are also bringing in the W.O. UWAN and Paragon, and also the Denkmeiers that John B seems so enamoured with

Well done Frontier! Finally someone in the Aussie market is listening to what people want.

Geoff,

I actually recommended those to Daniel on the phone. I suggested he should think about selling the Denkmeier eyepieces as he was already a Denkmeier distributor, with their binoviewers. I mentioned that I thought they were 98% as good as my Pentax XW's, which Daniel has used on several occasions and was very impressed with. He obviously took that on board.

As you say Geoff it's encouraging to find a young dealer that listens and tries to satisfy the needs of his customers. I wish more people in the astronomical community would support him as he is a dealer that always tries to do the best he can by his customers.

CS-John B

Rodstar (Rod) · #10 11-12-2006, 07:15 PM

I agree that Daniel Beringer is to be congratulated on his efforts to supply what the astronomical community needs. I have bought a few different items from Frontier Optics in recent times, most recently with a 12mm HD ortho, and have been very pleased with Daniel's efforts.

BTW, I notice he has on his site the Williams Optics Crayford Focuser for SCT for the bargain price of $250. That is a great deal.....if you have an SCT and find mirror shift irritating, this item will be money very well spent.

Daniel Beringer · #11 11-12-2006, 08:26 PM

Hi All

Thank you for all the encouraging comments! I have spent
Most weekends for the past six months on restructuring, with
Building a new website, changing domains, contacting overseas
Suppliers etc, and to have the amateur astronomer community
endorse the changes is rewarding for me.

To me, it's not about selling products that can be purchased everywhere,
rather I want to supply quality products in Australia that local
amateurs can not source here as these are the products that I am
also interested in using myself. Frontier Optics was one of the first
suppliers of WO in Australia and we helped promote them here.

John B often recommends good products and when he does I always listen
as he knows what he is talking about!

Thanks again for your comments and I look forward to bringing more new products
to Australia in the future.

Merry Christmas!

stephenmcnelley · #12 11-12-2006, 09:00 PM

The FO website changes work well for me Daniel, cant help myself from browsing it occasionally and now it is even more user friendly.

iceman (Mike) · #13 12-12-2006, 06:49 AM

The new-look website is very nice Daniel, you are to be commended.

I hope you can make it up to Kulnura again soon, would be great to catch up.

brett · #14 13-01-2007, 12:50 PM

daniel supplied me with the pentax xf 8.5mm for my etx125. express posted it down to me from sydney. i must say customer service was fantastic and parcel arrived packaged so well. quality of the EP is fantastic! just waiting for the 12mm's to come in now

thanks daniel

GrahamL · #15 13-01-2007, 03:21 PM

what it cost you brett ?.. welcome btw

brett · #16 15-01-2007, 07:44 AM

ty

215 + 9 express postage

janoskiss (Steve H) · #17 15-01-2007, 01:09 PM

I probably said it before but in case you missed it... The XFs are absolute bargains and a joy to use in any telescope. Premium EPs at excellent prices.

chunkylad (David) · #18 26-01-2007, 02:33 PM

I e-mailed Daniel regarding FOs' stocks of the Burgess Planetary series eyepieces. Here is part of his reply:

"I currently have the 9, 7, 5, 4, 2.5mm in stock. The other focal lengths I expect in about a months time."

I have been considering ordering some of these eps from the USA since they first came to light on this forum, and now that Frontier Optics is offering three for the price of two, I'm getting mine next week.

I just realised that Frontier Optics' website is the ONLY website from which I have made purchases which does not show it's prices. Imho, it's testament to Daniel's product mix philosopy and prompt handling of enquiries; plus the positive feedback he has recieved from members of this forum.

Good onya Daniel

Cheers

David W

JethroB76 (Jeff) · #19 08-02-2007, 01:21 PM

Having not had the chance to try out a Burgess/TMB, I'm wondering how a 6 or 7mm TMB might fare on planets in comparison to my 13mm Stratus barlowed.
Would the difference be small, significant or huge?

janoskiss (Steve H) · #20 08-02-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isdonisgood

Having not had the chance to try out a Burgess/TMB, I'm wondering how a 6 or 7mm TMB might fare on planets in comparison to my 13mm Stratus barlowed.
Would the difference be small, significant or huge?

the main diff will be that the Burgess will have better contrast. the extent if the diff is a subjective thing. for me it is certainly significant, can't miss it.