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Hi All,
Rod, just a thought about the 31mm T5 with your 'scope.
At f/5, the 31mm T5 will give you x82.6 magnification with a field just on 1 degree -- _but_ the exit-pupil will be just on 6.1mm. A bit on the marginal side I'd reckon unless you've got "teenage eyes".
I've got a 26mm T5 instead (mainly for that reason) but, had I tried the William Optics 28mm UWAN before I purchased the 26mm T5, I would have bought the UWAN. It is a wonderful eyepiece (equally good as the Nagler I think) with the same apparent field as a Nagler design, appears to be just as sharp and contasty but somewhat cheaper and would have provided a slightly larger true field.
They also make a 16mm UWAN, but I don't think it is as good as the 16mm T2 or T5 (I've got the T2).
Matter for you, but seriously consider the 28mm UWAN before you outlay the cash on that 31mm T5 -- slightly smaller true field I know, but, the 5.5mm exit-pupil makes it a bit more comfortable to fit it all in your iris and a lot more comfortable on the credit-card.
My favourite Naglers? Well, they're not on the list to vote for. I think I've looked through all the Naglers except the very short fl T6's (ie 5mm and under), the 22mm T4 and the 20mm T5.
I have a very old (art-deco style) 9mm T1. No grip-ring, no pooncy rubber eye-cup. It was one of the first Naglers ever in Australia (I got it second-hand -- it is a circle N made in Japan). It is sensationally sharp and contrasty -- just a tad better than the more recent designs I reckon. Velvety black field, does kidney-bean a bit though, until you get the hang of it.
The real killer is the 20mm T2 -- IMHO the best Nagler of all that has just one drawback: mass. The 20mm T2 is very, very large and heavy. Light not only bends going through it, it also bends around it ;-)). It wasn't nicknamed the "holy hand-grenade" for nothing. But wow, what a view! It was discontinued a few years back when the (much lighter and optically simpler) 20mm T5 came out.
Long term, the 20mm T2 could become a collectors item -- like the 11mm T1 which has enjoyed "cult-status" for several years (people speak of it in hushed and hurried tones). They are pretty rare birds and attract very big 2nd-hand prices (like $400-$450 USD). I've looked through one and it was excellent but I don't think it was any better than my 9mm T1 which is the same design.
If you really want to spend big, look out for the 30mm Leitz with an 88 deg AFOV. You would be paying about $2000- AUD though!
Best,
Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T
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