G'day, Fox here.
I am thinking about getting a Panoptic for my TV Genesis, and I am tossing between the 24mm Pano (1.25 inch) or the 27mm Pano (2 inch) - the 24mm retail is ~$485 whilst the 27mm is really getting up there at ~$540.
1) Do people have advice about which is 'better'? Both EPs seem to get great reviews. I guess the 27mm has more FOV with a larger field stop, it has 20mm eye relief compared to 15mm for the 24mm (although I mostly take off my glasses for observing), and in person the 27mm is certainly one serious optical 'grenade'.
2) I am unsure about the significance of a 2inch barrel versus a 1.25inch barrel - keeping in mind my TV Genesis does have a 2inch focuser and diagonal. Does 2inch inherently mean brighter and 'better' images/performance?
3) One thing about 'convenience' that comes to mind is that a 2inch EP means I would have to start removing my 1.25/2.00inch adapter (all my current EP's are 1.25inch) - is this inconvenient or just something one gets used to?
4) Finally, I am also thinking of the 24mm or 28mm Meade 5000 SWA series EP's as well. Bintel reckons they are 'not quite as good' as the TV's, but they are a good $100 less than the TV's - and I suspect that I would not be madly 'offended' by the Meades. From what I gather, the Meades are ever so slightly less sharp at the extreme FOV edge, whilst the Panoptics are sharper but have slight pincushion as a consequence.
Your astro-advice will be most appreciated (my leaning is towards the 24mm Panoptic or Meade SWA's). Cheers, Fox
