Is Pentax stopping some eyepiece production?

[Astrorish]

Hi, there's lots of chatter on cloudynights that pentax is about to cease production of some eyepieces; one user posted this link:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telescopes-by-pentax-gmbh.com%2Fzubehoer.htm

Anyone hear hear of anything? All a bit worrying.

As an aside there are also rumours of a new Nikon superwide, again from cloudynights, courtesy of user Tammy:

http://yumarin7.sakura.ne.jp/joytalk/img/4095_1.jpg

See last his post here

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3311106/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

[wavelandscott]

Don't know if there is any merit to the speculation and I hope they don't stop making them.

There has been a lot of speculation since they stopped (again) making refractors earlier in the year.

[dannat]

i had heard it was just scopes & other stuff - that the ep's would continue

[ausastronomer]

Hi,

They are ceasing production of the XO series of eyepieces. These only come in 2 focal lengths and are a specialist planetary eyepiece. I wouldn't be surprised if at some time in the not too distant future, some other lines might get the chop. With the Hoya takeover of Pentax, I am guessing all of the non profit returning areas of Pentax production will be cut at some time in the future.

Cheers,
John B

[Astrorish]

It's shame as the XO's are reputed to be amongst the best planetary eyepieces available. I think the 1.25 inch XW's are safe as they are primarily spotting scope eyepieces that happen to be superb for astronomy - and the birding market is much bigger than astronomy.

I'm not so confident the 2inch XW's are safe though...