Quote:
Originally Posted by AstralTraveller
I've had one brief look through a Delos. The seeing was terrible so there was no chance to test its quality. What I did find was that it 'kidney beaned' very easily. I've coped with this in other eps but this seemed exceptionally bad. The ep position wasn't ergonomically good for me but I was still disappointed. I have used other eps with the same issue but not this bad. Was I just having a bad night or is this an issue with the Delos - and how do XWs compare?
|
The 20 mm eye relief takes some getting used to in both and you really need to take the time to adjust the eyepiece so that you get your eye placed in the right spot. But both have pretty good systems to adjust their eyeguards to the right place.
The first few times I used my Pentax eyepieces it was hard for me to get used to them especially when going from the TV 16 mm T5 Nagler (which I love) where you need to mash your eye in all the way in...contrasted to the 20 mm eye relief of the Pentax XWs. However, once I got the eyeguard set to the right place using the Pentax became a snap and very comfortable to use. I've come to appreciate the comfort of longer and relaxed looks afforded by the Pentax.
I still love my Ethos and Nagler eyepieces but there is something "right" about the Pentax XW (at least the 10 and 7 that I own). especially when trying to eke out detail on planets. I personally prefer to look at planets with the XW over some of the heralded "planetary eyepeices"...the extra glass hasn't bothered me and the wider FOV is appreciated.
I have used the Pentax XW 10 mm and 7 mm a lot and only had a few chances to look thorugh the Delos line and never in a direct side by side situation so take that into account with my comments...I do not feel there is much between them.
In my opinion TV using their "newer" design with updted coatings made a similar eyepiece to the XW range with their Delos eyepieces...all the things I liked with the Pentax I liked in the Delos and I feel they are pretty interchangeable (where focal lengths match)...
If I had to choose between them I'd pick on price...or some reason of vanity not necessaruly linked to the eyepiece themselves. I believe I could enjoy either of them equally.
But by all means do try them out if you can before you buy them...but do give them time to work their magic.
Oh and I should note for those not familiar with my eyepiece case, I am not a "fanboy" (well maybe a "fanboy of gear in general"), I have plossls (TV and not TV) and Panoptics and Naglers and Ethos and Pentax XW and Denkmeir (really likeable) and some TMBs...they all have their uses and depending on the scope and situation they all get the occassional call for use.