Eyepiece recommendation

[LewisM]

Made a few decisions in my telescope collection, and decided the Vixen FL102S will become the visual scope again, with the customised R200SS moving up to image scope status.

The FL102S is a superlative visual scope, with remarkable colour, contrast and pinpoint sharpness, but of course a LOT of that relies on eyepiece choice! I FOOLISHLY sold off my Pentax XW 20 recently (WHY, oh why!!!), thinking I could make-do with the lovely 40mm Plossl I have, and the Vixen Zoom. BIG mistakes.

So, I am trying to find another Pentax XW20, but failing that, what is a good recommendation for a medium-field EP? I like viewing between 20 and 40mm, and rarely go any higher than 20 (VERY rarely). Which Televue would yield the better result in a scope such as this? ( I know next to nothing about EP choice!) I only need the ONE EP, as like I said, I rarely go higher mag (will get a TV Powermate when I want to)

[Kunama]

LVW 22mm (42X in the FL102S) ........... although my personal favourite in the Tak at 900mm fl is the LVW17 @ 53x

[LewisM]

Been thinking that Matt.

BTW Mods, can you move this to the EP forum - accidentally posted it here.

[Wavytone]

I'd take a look at what's in your eyepiece box to see if there's a gap and which of these best fits in - you're spoiled for choices:

LVW 22, Panoptic 19, 22 or 27, or the ES 68-degree series 20, 24, 28 or 34mm.

Your scope could take a longer f.l. eyepiece, or wider too... if you subscribe to the "mine's bigger than yours" principle you could get one of these babies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnjlmxHQfmw

[Larryp]

I have all Naglers now and they are great. But during my previous time in the hobby, I had at various times Panoptics of 35mm, 27mm and 19mm and I reckon they are really nice eyepieces that work well in refractors :)

[issdaol]

At the moment my 2 favorite low power eyepieces at my Tak LE50mm and my TV Nagler 31mm using the TSA120 scope

[MattT]

ES 20mm 100 degree.

[mercedes_sl1970]

Another option is the 21mm Denkmeier, but also agree about the LVW 22mm.

Andrew

[Profiler]

Pentax XW20 - there is no substitute

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/321667-REG/Pentax_70516_SMC_XW_20mm_Wide.html

Cheapest on the planet but hurry before the backside on the AUD blows out any further

[LewisM]

I know, Richard, I know, but I have found cheaper than that page :)

I may give LVW 22 a shot and take it from there. About the same price anyway.

[TV76]

I personally love the Panoptics - I don't feel I need the extra FOV that the Naglers provide. I have the 41mm Pan (very very comfortable to use) and a 17-8 zoom and feel the 24mm Panoptic is a good fit in between these two - its also light and very easy to use. My scope is a TV76 but with a bigger scope arriving soon.

[mercedes_sl1970]

Have you got a link to the XW?

Cheers

Andrew

[Profiler]

Hi Lewis

Yes - I second Mercedes comments - I would be keen to know the website link for a cheaper price on a brand new XW20mm as I might buy another myself simply to act as a back-up or for binoviewers.

I have tried both the LVW and XW and feel the Pentax to be slightly better in construction, weight and optical clarity. The Vixens are excellent but the XWs are slightly better.