Vixen NLV's

Kokatha man · #1 12-02-2008, 02:23 PM

vacillation.....

Thought I'd copy my post into a new thread in case people just thought it was more on the Hyperion Vs LVW thread as such.
Just to throw another (absurd?) element into the equation - has anyone any experience with the (new?) Vixen NLV ep's?

I understand they have a lesser field than the LVW's but similar eye-relief - what other aspects are there to a comparison? Haven't found out their lens element make-up, though they use the Lanthanum glass of the LVW's: considerably less expensive but are still Japanese manufactured - not the case obviously with some of the other (newer) Vixen ep's: not that this is necessarily any indictment of those that are not Japanese manufactured.....

Cheers, Darryl.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #2 12-02-2008, 04:43 PM

IIRC NLVs are the new LVs. Optically they are rumoured to be essentially the same as the LVs. Difference is in the packaging/appearance and having an adjustable eyeguard.

§AB · #3 12-02-2008, 04:46 PM

And the slightly wider field - NVL=55º, LV=45º

janoskiss (Steve H) · #4 12-02-2008, 05:08 PM

Nah, the FOV is the same too. <9mm it's 45 deg, and the rest up to 25mm are 50deg.

§AB · #5 12-02-2008, 05:28 PM

oh I swear I read somehwhere that its 55. Must've been a printing error.

Then the question must be asked...if their optically the same as the LVs, save for the adjustable eyecup, then what is the point of these NLVs?

Wavytone · #6 20-12-2008, 04:53 PM

It has a 65 degree field of view, not 50 and its surprisingly light despite its humongous size (like a large hand grenade). I bought this instead of the LVW42 which would have produced an exit pupil too big for me on my refractor. The field is very sharp edge to edge with my Orion 102ED f/7. A very very nice eyepiece.

I read somewhere that Vixen will cease production of the LVW series and replace them progressively with NLVW. The 30mm is the first, and there is a 50mm as well.
http://web.me.com/nicholas.loveday/Site/Misc.html#0

From what I have seen about the NLV they're the LV design with some tweaks and new coatings. They'd make a nice set for a modest telescope if you didn't want to pony up the $ for Naglers/Radians/Ethos.

Also good for taking to a public star party - leave the expensive ones in the car.