Televue's New 110 Degree Eyepiece announced

[ausastronomer]

Hi all,

Televue has recently announced the new 3.7mm 110 degree ETHOS - SX

http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3_page.asp?id=128

3.8mm focal length is too short for me as it would give over 420X in my 14" and over 550X in my 18" . When I use those higher powers I prefer to get there by barlowing my Pentax XW's in the TV Powermate.

110 degrees is also more FOV than I am ever likely to need but I can appreciate this eyepiece will appeal to a lot of people with 6" to 8" newtonians and APO refractors who don't wear eye glasses.

Whether you like it or not. Whether you buy it or not, it is clearly cutting edge technology and a wonderful piece of engineering and optical design.

Cheers,
John B

[astro744]

Congratulations to Tele Vue! A full lunar disk at 145x with plenty of room to spare is what you'll get with this eyepiece and an NP-101. Wow! The only thing better would be the same in stereo.

A truly remarkable achievement I think.

[Robh]

Like the rest of the TeleVue Ethos range, a marvelous piece of optical engineering. I like having the same true fields of view that I'm normally used to but getting them at higher power and improved contrast.

Regards, Rob.

[Rodstar]

I wonder, John, whether this EP comes with a complimentary Eyeball Enlarger?

Yes, rather too much power for any use in my scope too. Still, for some of the shorter focal length scopes, this may well be a very special EP indeed.

[Wavytone]

Should be called the fishbowl eyepiece :D

[wavelandscott]

I suspect in a year or so that I will get one of these for use in my APM refractor...

Incredible how their innovations keep coming.

[Satchmo]

This will be a great eyepiece for all the new sub F4 large reflectors coming out . Giving a 1mm pupil at F3.8 is about optimum for planetary observing and double star work, in good conditions . It will certainly show up the optical quality if it is there. There are so many cheaper Asian knock-off eyepieces coming out with 100 degree field, I guess Televue has to keep ahead of the pack. I wonder if we are getting close to the practical apparent field limit.

[mozzie]

wow they keep coming up with the goods!!!

[OneOfOne]

If they go much wider, you will end up blocking your view with the back of your own head :lol:

[skies2clear]

It's designed by Marty Feldman

[Steffen]

It does make you wonder, doesn't it? Can you actually observe a 110º field? You'd have to roll your eyes around a lot to see all of it.

I'm guessing the point of a wide apparent field like this is mostly bragging rights. I'm sure TeleVue could spend their talent on improving eyepieces in other (albeit less media grabbing) ways. They could make eyepieces easier to use (less "finicky"), so you can actually let visitors or family take a gawk without getting "I don't see anything". Or they could make them smaller and lighter (like Baader did with their aspheric wides). Or they could improve the price, so that more people can enjoy exquisite views ;)

Cheers
Steffen.

[astro744]

For the full 110deg story see http://www.televue.com/pdf/NewsRelease_EthosSX.pdf also http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=62 for a little more Tele Vue history.

Dropping the price for more to enjoy exquisite views could also be said for premium performance cars and other well engineered and built items. You get what you pay for and sometimes you just need to pay for what you want.

[robz]

For me............It's 180 degress or nothin' !!!!!!!!!:D