Pentax 7mm XW first light!

[iceman]

Hi all.

Took my new 7mm Pentax out on Saturday night for some observing, giving it its first light.

The eyepiece is large and fairly heavy, but nowhere near as large or heavy as my 14mm Meade UWA, so there's no extra balance issues that I have to deal with. It comes in a plastic bolt case, and the eyepiece itself is very well constructed, looks and feels great.

I tried it out on a number of targets, including Saturn and Jupiter, Omega Centauri, Centaurus A, Jewelbox cluster and Alpha Crux. It didn't really get much more use than that because the seeing was very ordinary, so most objects didn't handle the extra power (approx 180x) well.

The colour correction of the Pentax feels very natural. The eye relief is huge (20mm), which meant eye placement was a little more critical (than say the 7.5mm Tak LE), but easy enough to get used to. I also haven't played around with the adjustable eyecup yet, so I'm sure that once I position the eyecup to suit my eye placement, it will be just as easy to get the right position.

The images were sharp (as seeing allowed), the 70° FOV was enough and it was very comfortable viewing.

It's a great eyepiece, I'm really happy with it and in the future when I'm looking to fill the gap in my EP collection at the 10mm focal length, I'm quite sure the 10mm Pentax XW will be very high on the list.

Sorry no pictures today, will take some tonight.

[asimov]

Congrats Mike.

[matt]

Good stuff Mike.

Hope you get some great seeing soon to really put the 7mm through its paces.

I find the 10mm really good on doubles. Alpha Crux looks sensational, as does Alpha Cent. 2 very sharp little crisp headlights coming straight at ya on high beam!!!

That adjustable eyecup is really easy to get to the right eye position. I like to hold the ep up to my eye in front of a soft lamp and rotate inwards with my eye at the ep until i can see the entire illuminated field of view. Works for me!:D

[Lester]

Thanks for the post Mike.

[spacezebra]

Thanks Mike

I was interested to hear your comments as I went 7mm Nag - the CR2 is a dream.

CHeers Petra

[Robby]

I am looking around for a 10-12mm WA EP also.. Sounds like the Pentax might be worth a look, as my budget can't handle another Nagler! Thanks for the report.
Cheers

[Robby]

Crickey, just looked at the pricing for the Pentax...
The pentax XW 10mm is about $US50 more expensive than a Nagler T6 11mm!
Perhaps I won't be going down this path, but from what I can tell the Pentax XW extra long eye relief is good for people who observe with glasses.
Cheers

[Starkler]

Price aside, its simply the best choice of anything on the market at that focal length. ;) (unless the size and weight is a concern).



And also very comfortable for those who dont wear glasses, allowing you to view in comfort for hours without eye strain. I cant handle type 6 naglers short eye relief :doh:

[Robby]

Good points Geoff. Having never looked through a 11mm Nagler I'm not one to comment.
Will have to try them one day.
Cheers

[circumpolar]

Thanks for the report ice.

Now please tell me...... How much does a pentax 7mm cost and where did you buy it from?

[matt]

$420 from Star Optics at Mermaid Beach QLD.

Speak with Chris or Lex. Nice folk.

I'm sure others sell them??? But that's where I spent my $$$ and I'm happy:thumbsup:

[iceman]

Yep I got mine from Star Optics.. Service was quick and easy, sent that afternoon.

Although it was an easy sale for them - I knew exactly what I wanted when I rang up. :)

I don't know if else anywhere in Australia that sells them, though i'm not 100% sure on that.

[ausastronomer]

and worth every single 1 of those extra 50 US dollars Robby :)

Plain and simple, IMO it doesn't get any better at the 10mm focal length or the 7mm focal length for that matter and I have used just about all of them.

Additionally the 10mm Pentax XW barlows beautifully (as does the 7mm XW) in the 2.5X TV Powermate to give a superb high power planetary combination. Several of the forum members in attendance at Lostock in January and Kulnurra in February were "blown away" with the views of Saturn at high power using this combo in my scope.

CS-John B

[matt]

Right on, John:thumbsup:

[janoskiss]

:confuse3: Where is this artificial inflation of Pentax prices coming from? Similar thing was said on CN today. Look harder, Robby. ;) The XW is just $5 more than the T6, not $50. $295 vs $290. Yes, $5 well spent.

I am just starting to use my new XWs, and I'm finding them a lot more enjoyable to use than the T6 on all targets from galaxies to planets. :) Even to my inexperienced eyes, the XWs are noticeably brighter: in this regard the XWs seem virtually the same as HD orthos, while the T6 was virtually the same as the Stratus.

[ausastronomer]

BTW Mike,

Welcome to the "DARK SIDE". Be rest assured there is no turning back from here, you will be hooked forever as these eyepieces grow on you. They are infectious. A 10mm will soon find its way out of your wallet and into your eyepiece case :)

CS-John B

BTW sorry I coudn't hang around longer on Saturday Night. I was tired, struggling with the Flu and my sore shoulder. Hopefully I will be "repaired" for this Saturday nights observing session.

[RapidEye]

I've had a 10mm and 14mm for over a year and recently added a 7mm and 20mm to my EP case. The first time I used my 7mm I was blown away - it is every bit as good as the 10mm (which is an amazing EP) with higher power :thumbsup:

I my 7mm out last week on Saturn and Jupiter using my 10" F/5 and Ultima Barlow - it was an especially steady night and I was flat blown away!!!

I plan on adding a 5mm to my EP case before the end of the year, and maybe even a 3.5mm if Santa is nice this year :D

Congrats again and welcome to the cult, er, I mean club :eyepop:
Soon, you'll find yourself looking for ways to sell things off, like plossls, blood, or small children in order to get that next Pentax EP! :sadeyes:

[Starkler]

Geez owning a Pentax eyepiece used to make you a member of an exclusive club, and now every mug is getting in on the act :lol:

[ausastronomer]

Yes Geoff how very true. I remember when this exclusive club had but 2 very loyal exclusive members:lol: You and me

CS-John B

[RapidEye]

Heck John - you know I've been beating that drum over on this side of the world since I first put one in my focuser :P

Who was it, Rodney Dangerfield, said "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would let me in!":eek:

[sidwest]

I ordered a 7mm xw and a 20 mm xw from centrenet $481 each then read your review looked up star optics and WOW $420 each .promptly cancelled centrenet order and re ordered from star so you saved me $120 dollars ,I'll buy you a beer someday
Sid