Pentax XW 7mm & 14mm - $320 at AEC

[MortonH]

Came across the "reduced prices" page at AEC.

http://www.astronomy-electronics-centre.com.au/prices_reduced.htm

[Suzy]

Hi Morton :hi:
I see there in South Australia. I've never heard of them before.

I've paid around the $330 mark over the years for my range from the U.S. with about $40 postage on top of that. So not a bad price at $320 is it. Though I wonder how much they charge for postage.

Last I heard a couple of years ago, Pentax were stopping production on the XWs. So they're GOLD! The only thing close to them at the moment as far as I know is the Televue Delos. I love my XWs, especially the 10mm. I have the 10, 7 & 5 . If the 3 was up for sale I think I'd grab that too. I didn't go for the 14mm because its performance in a fast scope like mine wasn't the best so I went for a Denk. instead which I'm ridiculously happy with (thanks to John Bambury's advice).

[MortonH]

Hi Suzy,

They're advertised on the right-hand side of Ice in Space. Sometimes it shows "Takahashi Australia" and sometimes it shows their name "Astronomy & Electronics Centre". I've never bought from them but others have.

Like you, I'd love the XW 3.5mm but it seems they have just the 7mm and 14mm left. Hopefully someone on IIS can grab one.

[Kunama]

I have bought from A.E.C. (a lot) great to deal with.

[inertia8]

The 3.5mm is avail from the USA Suzy. I have to keep stopping myself from buying some xws, I dont even own a 10in dob yet! already kicking myself that I didn't buy some xws when the dollar was at or above parity last year...

[Camelopardalis]

Great price all things considered! They're all crackers IMO, even the 14 works well in the right scope, I use one in my flat-ish field Edge HD, but heard that one isn't so great in a fast newt.

[MortonH]

Looks like the 7mm is gone. Only the 14mm now.

[blink138]

yes i got my 7 and 10 from B&H photo in the U.S when our dollar was a lot more favourable, $270 actually and they are still that price now
now i have my triplet i really wish i had also purchased the 5 and possibly the 3.5
pat

[GrahamL]

I still remember comparing my new 13t6 and a 14 xw in an 12 " f5 newt.

I thought the 14 was easily the better of the two and eventually ,quietly.. made the change , I'd read all the info about the 14 mm in fast scopes to and decided on the 13t6 without ever looking at both together.:)

[Suzy]

Thank you Morton and Intertia8 :) .
If the 3.5mm is still available as you say, I will go see what they're selling for now in the U.S. I still have an Xmas pressie owed to me :D.

Does anyone know if the 3.5mm XW is sold in Spain? Hubby's going to Spain next month so it will save postage.

Graham, that's interesting what you said comparing both those eyepieces together. Good to know. If you get a chance to compare a 14mm Denkenmeier (http://deepskybinoviewer.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.displ ay&category_ID=2) eyepiece sometime (which I have) against the XW in a fast scope, I'll be interested on your thoughts. Not interested in the Nagler range, due to its limited eye relief but a comparison against that as well nevertheless will be interesting. I spent a good amount of time wondering if I could put up with the problems of the outer field in the XW in a fast scope, and without being able to see it for myself, I went for the Denk. Broke my heart as I so wanted another XW :sadeyes:. But the Denk hasn't let me down- the contrast is amazing, it's my go-to eyepiece for comet hunting. But there's always that wonder of the XW.......

[ausastronomer]

Just a note about the Pentax XW's being sold by AEC. I asked Claude about these just over 6 months ago (yup they have been there that long). At that stage I was looking for a 3.5mm Pentax XW, which AEC had advertised. Claude was up front with me on the phone and advised me that while the eyepieces were new and had never been sold, they had been used as shop test samples and were originally sourced from Barry Gooley (KK) in Japan and not through CR Kennedy which is the Australian Pentax Distributor. In addition, Claude advised me that while he had the bolt cases for the eyepieces, he did not have the original green boxes as they were never supplied by Barry. On the basis that I have the boxes and bolt cases for all my other Pentax XW's, I decided against the purchase as I was saving less than $50 compared to purchasing direct from the USA.

Cheers,
John B

[Profiler]

I have noticed that this seems to be a growing problem with a number of Australian Astronomy vendors with product listings which initially seem to be sold 'brand new' but only after posing some judicious questions you will learn of circumstances to the contrary. To Claude's credit he does at least provide honest answers - provided you ask.

[blink138]

strangely.............. a 3.5 and 7 on CN right now!
pat

[gb_astro]

Purchased an XW from Barry Gooley (KK) in Japan about three months ago and you definitely get the green box and bolt case with them.

gb.

[ausastronomer]

That went without saying. I have no doubt the missing green boxes was all to do with Claude and possibly how long the eyepieces had been sitting around.

Cheers
John B

[ausastronomer]

Pat,

I guess I am way too late, but could you provide a link please?

Cheers
John B

[dannat]

CN servers seem to be down at present