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I'd like to make a minor correction to the above: the new Argon-purged ES 68D range is no longer identical to the discontinued Meade 5000 SWAs. I expect it's an evolved design rather than totally new, but they're not exactly the same anymore.
I have the ES 68D 40mm. It weighs in at about 950g but the view is worth it. There is a little astigmatism (that manifests as softness of the image) in the outer 15% or so, but at that F/L it'd be hard to find an eyepiece free of aberration. In all other respects the view is very good (IMHO, of course).
I also have the GSO SV 42mm. While a step up from the standard plossl, there is no comparison with the ES 68D 40mm. Based on my observations in an SCT, the ES 68D 40mm is superior in all respects except weight.
I read every review/test/comparo I could find on eyepieces in the 35-45mm range and chose the ES 68D 40mm as best for my purposes and a step up from the GSO SV 42mm. I have not been disappointed.
The ES 68D 40mm is not the easiest eyepiece to look through - the eye relief, while very good, is longer than the rubber eyecup (which is a shame becuase it's a quite comfortable eyecup) so it will take some practice getting your eye in the best position, i.e to avoid kidney beaning. However, I found the GSO SV 42mm no easier to look through and other long F/L eyepieces I've used have been much the same.
Based on those same reviews et al, the only eyepiece that (IMHO) might be appreciably superior to the ES 68D 40mm is the TV Panoptic 41mm, though I have yet to view through one. If I ever get tired of the (completely acceptable, IMHO) outer astigmatism in my ES 40mm, the only replacement I'd seriously consider would be the Panoptic 41mm.
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