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Originally Posted by Fox
Sounds like the 24mm Panoptic has an edge over the 27mm? Anyone experienced the Meade SWA's? Thank you for the reponses, please keep em' coming. Fox
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Fox,
Thats not quite correct IMO.
I own a 27mm TV Panoptic which I use regularly in my 10"/F5 dob and have also used in many other scopes including Murell's 20"/F5. Whilst I don't own it, I have certainly also used the 24mm TV Panoptic quite a lot.
Of the two I prefer the 27mm. The 27mm Pano is not perfect but geez it's a dayyam good eyepiece. The 27mm is a very sharp eyepiece, many consider it the sharpest of all the Panoptic series, me included. The astigmatism in the 27mm is minimal as is the rectilinear distortion. Both of these aberrations are worse in other focal lengths of the Panoptic line. One big advantage for me of the 27mm, being a 2" eyepiece, is that it has considerably more eye-relief than the 24mm and provides a more submersive view. I cannot use the 24mm with my glasses on, whereas I can easily use the 27mm with my glasses on. This is a necessity for me at these longer focal lengths and larger exit pupils.
The only way I would rate the 24mm Panoptic ahead of the 27mm Pano is if you can't afford the extra $$$$ of the 27mm, or you subsequently intend to use the 24mm as a pair in a binoviewer. They are both very good eyepieces IMO and a step ahead of the 22mm Panoptic (older design)for use in a fast newtonian.
In terms of better options? There aren't a lot at these focal lengths and price range. The 26mm Nagler T5 is a better eyepiece than the 27mm Panoptic but it's a lot more money, as is the 31mm NT5. From reliable sources that I respect, the 30mm Pentax XW is also a very good eyepiece, but again well over $600. I own 5 Pentax XW's but have not yet tried the 30mm. I may actually buy the 30mm Pentax XW in the very near future.
In a fast newtonian the Meade SWA's are not in the same class as the 24mm or the 27mm Panoptics IMO.
CS-John B