Explore scientific any good?

[Jbunky86]

Hi everyone just wondering opinions on 82 deg
Explore scientific range of eyepieces.

Any good ?

[Omaroo]

I don't have experience with the 82deg, but I do have a 100deg 14mm which is very nice indeed. It's my EP of choice in my Tak Mewlon, and after comparing it directly with the Ethos 13mm it is almost indistinguishable in my view. Top value for money and decent quality. It rarely dews up and I've even washed it under water after a particularly active public night. They're built waterproof, so no probs there. Good solid EPs.

[ausastronomer]

Hi Jason,

Like Chris I haven't used any of the ES82 eyepieces but I did spend a bit of time with one of the ES100 14mm prototypes. I agree 100% with Chris's assessment. It is an excellent eyepiece optically and essentially the equal of the 13mm ETHOS. Eye relief is adequate for non eye glass wearers. You cannot use it with glasses on. The ES100 14mm is a big heavy eyepiece and very well constructed and solid. I am not sure on the ergonomics of the 82 deg models but if they are optically equivalent to the 100 degree models they will be very good.

Cheers,
John B

[Jbunky86]

Thanks guy
Yeah they look like a good mid range eyepiece.
I may have to get a few.

[mercedes_sl1970]

Jason

These have been discussed a bit on Cloudynights and there is a review of the 24mm here: ES 24mm (http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2481), plus some comments: Thread (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Number/3922662#Post3922662).

I'm sure there are some more reviews. And just found another one: Meade vs ES (http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2190)

Andrew

ps if you buy one I'd b interested to hear what you think!

[BEVAN5433]

The 100 degree E.S. is the clone of the Ethos. X ray photos of both show the exact matching config. of lenses the performance is Identical. I find the 9mm and 13mm E.S. is superb at half the cost of TV. THE 82 DEGREE I HAVE USED AND ARE EXCELLENT But the 100 degree make all others redundant including my 17mm t4 TV which I never thought could happen - Bevan

[AG Hybrid]

They're awful, I'd never buy one.

[erick]

Could you explain in more detail, please Adrian?

[troypiggo]

I think he was kidding. See his sig. He already owns a heap and is a fanboy :)

[AG Hybrid]

Ahh good work Troy. I was hoping to catch more though. :rofl:

[erick]

Ah, you wouldn't buy one, but would buy three! :D

I like my ES 14mm 100 deg. :thumbsup:

[AG Hybrid]

Ive actually bought 4. I plan on getting the 14mm 100 and a 2 inch barlow and I'm sorted for eyepieces of many years to come.

Although, ES has just released a 120 degree 9 mm Argon purged eyepiece. I can barely see the edge of 100 degrees. But, 120?? gezzzzzzz. The price tag is astonishing too.

[erick]

Three 82 deg and one 100 deg, from your sig. The query was about 82 deg. :D

I don't know about 82 deg - I've got Panoptics and ES 100! Actually, I just remembered, I have a couple of the cheap 80 deg eyepieces - 30 and 15mm.

Adrian, thanks for the "heads-up" - I must go and read about the ES 120 deg eyepiece, but I also cannot see why I need more than 100 deg. UPDATE - Gulp! Regular price USD1,500! Sale price a mere USD1,000!

Mind you, I didn't think I needed more than 68 deg until I borrowed an 13mm Ethos and looked at NGC253 in my 302mm f5!

[AG Hybrid]

Yeah $1K US. Think I'll just go buy a ES 127 Apo instead.

[Poita]

The higher mag 82s are only US$99 on their site now, seems like a very good deal. The 100s start at $249.
Those that own both, what is the step-up from 82-100 degrees like in actual use?

[Manav]

I looked through Adrians 9mm @ 100 degrees and was blown away when viewing 47 Tuc. It was like I was in the middle of it....Adrian can add more since he has both types

[Waxing_Gibbous]

The only one I own is the 6.7mm N82 and no complaints. Its hows a little distortion in the outer 2% of the field, but I seldom look there anyway.
So 9/10 here. :thumbsup:

[Rodstar]

Do you guys know if the ES eyepiece range is stocked by anyone in Australia? I know Bintel doesn't have them.

[dannat]

Rod pretty sure none stocks them, telescopes& astronomy get the scopes (unbranded) but not the ep's, least I havnt seen them advertised in there newsletter

[Tom Hancock]

Amazing how much the Chinese Optics has come a long way!
ES has their ep made by Jinhua and in 2009, was bought over by the latter.
So ES is still US based nut Chinese own mow.

[Rodstar]

Thanks - yeah I thought so, there are some excellent deals going on these at the moment from some of the US dealers.

[erick]

OPT looked after me for my 14mm 100deg ES. Best shipping price I could find, as I recall.

[AG Hybrid]

Yeah just buy them from OPTCORP. They are one of the few US retails who ship internationally.

[rmcconachy]

There are quite a few US retailers who will ship many items internationally. I've bought stuff in the past from Astronomics (http://astronomics.com/main/Telescopes_and_Telescope_Accessorie s.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/Home), Alpine Astronomical (http://www.alpineastro.com/), Company Seven (http://www.company7.com/) and B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/) to name four. However, some manufacturers insist that their US dealers only sell their product lines within the US. When this happens it is usually because the manufacturer has done exclusive deals with several distributors covering different parts of the world, e.g., distributor X has exclusive rights to sell these lines in North America, distributor Y has exclusive rights to sell these lines in Asia/Oceania, etc. Only occasionally is it because the dealer isn't interested in selling outside of the USA.

[Rodstar]

My motto has always been to buy local if you can - to support a place like Bintel is important because otherwise, one day, I will only be able to buy astro gear on-line. I much prefer to deal with an actual person and actual store......but in this instance, it seems one has no choice but to go OS. And, there are some amazing deals going on the ES gear at the moment!

[netwolf]

I think you can also get the same ones from Gilman at Northgroup. The price list they sent me seems to include these UWA 80, 82, and 100 degree EP's. But I am not 100% sure they are the same as the ES ones. But Northgroup also seems to be a subsidiary or affiliate of JOC/Maxvision. It would be nice to see some local retailers get these in directly from JOC at similar prices.

[rmcconachy]

"My motto has always been to buy local if you can... -- Rod"

I mostly agree Rod. If I can find an item locally (as you say this is not always possible, e.g., ES eyepieces) for a reasonably competitive price then I will take the local option. By "reasonably competitive" I don't mean "the same or cheaper" but I won't accept half as much again or more.

[Regulus]

Rod it's possible Extravision ( extravision.com.au ) will stock the ES EPs since they are getting the Bresser range in (and I hope ES OTAs as well).
I would like a local dealer cos ExSci wanted an additional $320 to ship the new 100mm Achromat OTA to Tasmania almost doubling the price!!

Trevor

[AG Hybrid]

Oh bloody hell. As much as I want to see a local ES distributor. I don't want to see a local ES distributor because all my money will disappear very fast.
The fact I have to order them from over seas and pay a bit of shipping costs each purchase helps slow down the buying frenzy, otherwise I would have all 3 100 degree and all 82 degree eyepieces by now.

Still waiting on my AR102 to arrive. Should be this week. If the shipping wasn't $400 I would have also bought the Mak-Newtonian Comet hunter as well. The shipping for the AR102 by comparason was only about $160. Not bad considering its initial cost is $399. Which is an astonishing price considering it comes a 50mm finder, 2 speed focuser, 2 inch 99% reflectivity dielectric diagonal and mounting rings with vixen dovetail.

On top of all that its in US dollars. Whats that in AU? A fiver?:rofl:

[Profiler]

While we are on the side topic of who might sell what - does anyone know which/who, if any, of the astro stores here in Australia sell the Pentax XW's?

[Rodstar]

Frontier Optics sells the Pentax XW range. This is their website: www.frontieroptics.com.au/

Daniel Berringer is good to deal with. He also does some observing.

[Regulus]

Rod there is a ES eyepiece in eyepeices for sale on IIS
Explore Scientific 100° 14mm eyepiece
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=85871

Adrian How Did u Get $160 shipping for the ES 100 cos thats the one ES quoted me $320 for shipping.
Did you buy it from ExpSci or someone else.

Trev

[AG Hybrid]

Optcorp. Looks like the prices have been adjusted slightly but still.

[AG Hybrid]

I think you'll find Optcorp's shipping is the cheapest of all the astronomy stores from the US because its located in California. The only way a US store can be closer is if it was located in Hawaii.

[AG Hybrid]

Just be wary that those quotes are to mainland Australia. I imagine the jump to TAS would be an extra so and so.

[AG Hybrid]

Look at the price of shipping for the Mak-Newt :(:sadeyes::(

[Jan Masu]

Got to get myself one to try, especially the 82deg ones.