Meade Series 5000 Plossls

MortonH · #1 22-03-2007, 05:43 PM

Anyone tried these? The 40mm gives a field as wide as a 35mm Panoptic, and is about $150 cheaper. I'm curious as to how Meade's quality would compare to Tele Vue (I own several TV eps and used to own the 35mm Pan). I've never used any of Meade's high-end eps.

Opinions/experience?

Regards

Morton

janoskiss (Steve H) · #2 22-03-2007, 06:07 PM

they are good, but the extra 10 degrees over the normal 50-degree plossl will be astigmatic even at f/10.

Starkler (Geoff) · #3 22-03-2007, 06:26 PM

I have found the eye relief on the shorter fl s5000 to be painfully short, and when used in an f5 scope they suffer severe field curvature.
Sorry I havent tried any of the longer fl s5000's

MortonH · #4 22-03-2007, 09:19 PM

Confirms what I thought - once you get used to Tele Vue eyepieces there's no going back!

Thanks.

Morton

DobDobDob (Ron) · #5 22-03-2007, 09:46 PM

How do you know those guys don't work for Tele Vue

Starkler (Geoff) · #6 22-03-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailwag

How do you know those guys don't work for Tele Vue

I prefer Pentax's products (mostly)

DobDobDob (Ron) · #7 22-03-2007, 10:30 PM

I could look it up, but someone here will know, what would the price difference be between say a Meade, Tele Vue and say a couple other leading brands, on a similar sized eye piece. Bearing in mind that the price does not ensure quality, I'm just after the price comparison

MortonH · #8 22-03-2007, 11:00 PM

Look at Bintel's website. Meade makes eyepieces that are just as expensive as TeleVue, and in similar exotic types. Difference is that TeleVue has proven itself to make excellent eyepieces. Not sure if Meade can claim the same.

DobDobDob (Ron) · #9 22-03-2007, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortonH

Look at Bintel's website. Meade makes eyepieces that are just as expensive as TeleVue, and in similar exotic types. Difference is that TeleVue has proven itself to make excellent eyepieces. Not sure if Meade can claim the same.

That's exactly my point, I want real users opinion, not marketing hype from a commercial website. I don't care what the manufacturers or retailers claim, but I do value the unbiased opinions of the many users of this forum. If I knew which was the better company I wouldn't ask, but until tonight, I had never heard one negative sentiment about Meade, however I have often heard that Tele Vue are very good.

I'll be honest, as a newbie reading every word on every thread, it was coming through to me that Meade were a very reputable, long established high quality company. They may not be the best, but it always came through in members comments that they were pretty good.

Getting back to your comment above, I don't know that they could make the same claims as Tele Vue, then again on the other hand, I don't not know it either (and that is a terrible double negative, but it illustrates my point)...hopefully

MortonH · #10 22-03-2007, 11:41 PM

I guess companies like TeleVue have made their reputation by making very good products (with premium prices to match). Companies like Meade have brought reasonably priced products to the masses, but their quality control lets them down occasionally.

So in the last few years, Meade has produced eyepieces with 'apparently' similar specs and prices when compared with TeleVue. However, over the years you get to know that Meade's marketing department is prepared to stretch the truth, sometimes a bit too far.

That's not to say that Meade's stuff is cr@p. But if you want to compare similar models with similar prices, go with the proven company (in this case TeleVue). I also have a Pentax XL 21mm, and it's really good too, so I'm not exclusive to TV!

Morton

DobDobDob (Ron) · #11 23-03-2007, 08:53 AM

Thanks for your insight Morton, I respect and value your opinion. One of the hardest things for a newcomer to do is to weed out the fact from the fiction, if you do this successfully it can save you time, money and misery. This is where the power of an open forum comes into it's own

janoskiss (Steve H) · #12 23-03-2007, 10:20 AM

Televue plossls aren't perfect either. Due to a design compromise to do with maintaining good eye relief, they don't have full field illumination (becomes dimmer nearer the edge, very dark when barlowed). Ultima style plossls do not have this problem and are the best all-rounders (more immersive on deep sky), while TV plossls are the best for planets IMO (superb contrast).

DobDobDob (Ron) · #13 23-03-2007, 10:45 AM

I guess the only real way of telling what you like personally is to try as many different EP's as possible under real dark site conditions and then keeping track of what you see. Keeping some sort of score card and for consistency always view the same object.

Of course that is if you have access to be able to do that and remember we are talking about doing this prior to purchasing your EP's. If you had to purchase every type just to try, it would be pointless. This is where societies really come into their own where you can get a look through many different set-up's and sort of try before you buy.

Once again (due to inexperience) I would assume that the best EP's probably comes down to (a) the overall quality of the manufacturer and (b) a fair amount of personal preference.

The second point is important because we are all different and your perfect EP may not be mine and so on. So I guess it comes down to personal research, like what I am doing right now, plus getting outside and looking through as many different EP's as I possibly can.

I further assume that in time, you develop a preference for what you enjoy observing, and once that is known, the choice of EP becomes somewhat smaller because it is horses for courses in this respect.

Astrolabe · #14 23-03-2007, 10:45 AM

Hello Ron

I have a full set of Meade Plossl series 4000 and also several Televue Panoptics and Radians. I bought the Televue eyepieces because of their large eye relief as I need to wear glasses when I observe.

I live 10-15 minutes from your place and you are very welcome to come and try them out.

If you are interested, please email me on g.vasilareas@optusnet.com.au

Regards
George (Astrolabe)

DobDobDob (Ron) · #15 23-03-2007, 10:51 AM

That's a fantastic and generous offer George, Thank you very much and I just might take you up on it. I'll PM you about details. Speaking of which, I must also publicly acknowledge that Alex offered to loan me his EP's for a month so I could get used to different ones before I purchased my own.

This type of friendly, unselfish and generous community spirit is extremely refreshing and I doubt that it would exist to the same degree in too many other communities.

davewaldo · #16 23-03-2007, 11:06 AM

Hi Guys,

I bought a 26mm s5000 plossl from Stirker a few weeks ago and I am very happy with it! I use it in my f5 dob and it does show some aberations in the last 10-15%. But it is a very easy EP to use and nice and sharp across most of the field. Has great eye relief and great build quality.

I enjoy using this EP however it might be different story if I had paid full price. Like a lot of people seem to be finding, your money may be better spent going for a similar EP from Televue or Pentax.

It was a great upgrade for me, however whether it is good value when buying new is something I can't coment on.

Cheers

Dave

Starkler (Geoff) · #17 23-03-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailwag

Once again (due to inexperience) I would assume that the best EP's probably comes down to (a) the overall quality of the manufacturer and (b) a fair amount of personal preference.

I noticed a number of references by you re manufacturer A vs manufacturer B.
It's not a very accurate guide to assume that because a product is manufactured by company A, that its a good one for your needs, even when that company is Televue. Naglers for example vary widely in character across the different model lines and focal lengths. Whereas one might give you a delightful viewing experience, there may be another that you cannot stand.

Getting back to the original topic, latest model Meade eyepieces are AFAIK all manufactured in China and suffer variations in build quality and are so-so in performance. IMO they cannot be included in the premium category with the likes of Pentax and Televue.

DobDobDob (Ron) · #18 23-03-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

IMO they cannot be included in the premium category with the likes of Pentax and Televue.

Thanks for your input Geoff, you added a few new points for me (and others) to think about, this has been a more than worthwhile thread.

taminga16 (Greg) · #19 23-03-2007, 04:40 PM

Ron, I view(no pun intended) eyepieces in the same way that I do wine,
I am a connoisseur, I know exactly what it is that I enjoy. Regards Greg.
P.S. If it wasn't eyepieces it would be engine sizes, or tattoos, perhaps even *****es on the table, just get a good observers chair and enjoy the veiw.(and those Mead's(Meade's)).
Greg.

Apocrisiary (Michael) · #20 24-03-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Televue plossls aren't perfect either. Due to a design compromise to do with maintaining good eye relief, they don't have full field illumination (becomes dimmer nearer the edge, very dark when barlowed). Ultima style plossls do not have this problem and are the best all-rounders (more immersive on deep sky), while TV plossls are the best for planets IMO (superb contrast).

Where does this information come from??
Televue uses a classic Plossl design. There are no special changes to improve eyerelief. They do however design them so that they have a sharply defined field stop. I believe the compromise in Plossl designs made by any manufacturer is trading field curvature for astigmatism. If you want no field curvature you have to accept some astigmatism and vice versa. The Televue Plossls are optimised to minimise astigmatism.
Field illumination is governed by the optical design of the telescope. If you are keen enough to detect reduced field illumination at the edge of an eyepiece start by checking with problems in your telescope. For example a Newtonian with an undersized secondary mirror would show a drop in illumination towards the edge of long focal length eyepieces (or a medium focal length eyepiece that has a wide apparent field of view). Other sources of reduced field illumination are the inside of small focuser barrels cutting off (or vignetting) light.
Ultima style Plossls do not have this problem? I have a TV 32mm Plossl which is one of the most exceptional eyepieces I have ever had the opportunity to look through - especially for deep sky objects. I also have a 12.5mm Ultima which is a ripper on the planets. Both of them get darker when Barlowed which is to be expected when halving your exit pupil.

Anyway the important thing to keep in mind is this:
There are many eyepieces that will give decent views in many telescopes for most people. A truly good eyepiece though is like a treasure. You will hold it dearly forever. Get good ones whatever they may be. Pay enough that it hurts a little bit. That pain will go away when you look through it and if you keep it for 10 years and see lots of really good things through it you will look back and chuckle. The pain of how much you paid will be a distant memory compared to the window it opens on the Universe.
Michael
BINTEL