Meade s4000 6.7mm UWA

[iceman (Mike)]

Anyone used these?

I've already got the 14mm in this s4000 range, and figure that for my premium planetary eyepiece, the 6.7mm would be a good addition, giving me 186x in my 10" f/5 scope.

It could potentially be barlowed @ 2x for nights of exceptional seeing.

If anyone has any comments on this EP, i'd like to hear them.

[iceman (Mike)]

Also interested in any comments of this eyepiece, versus a 7mm nagler or a 7mm UO HD.

Thanks

[ving (David)]

if they are anything like the rest of the range it should be a good purchase mike

[Dave47tuc (David)]

I used this Ep a long time ago and found the ER to small for me. The 4.7 is worse. I would prefer the 7 mm Pentax or Nagler.

But if you can stand the small ER the EP was pretty sharp.

[square_peg114GT]

Lawrence Sayer over on CN has said several times that this one is the best of the bunch (4K UWAs). I haven't had the pleasure, but if it's anything like the 8.8mm or 14mm it's gotta be fantastic. Bill Grass sold his 7mm Nagler after getting one. I suppose it's a personal preference thing, but I'd sure love one myself.

I was actually thinking about this EP just recently as a potential Mars EP. In the end I elected to buy 5mm & 7mm UO HD Orthos. One day I'll get that 6.7mm, though.

:iwantit:

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I find 7mm a bit on the low side in mag for 1250mm fl and might possibly invest in a good 6mm if I can find one that beats the 14mm pentax barlowed.

Wish I knew someone with a 6mm radian

[dhumpie]

I have one but I am Brissie

Darren

[shredder]

Well Mike,

I have one (6.7 UWA), along with the 8.8UWA and the SWAs in the longer focal lengths (13.8, 18, 24.5). So I can give you a reasonable comparison. For my money they are all great. I do find the 6.7 needs a really good night to be useful as it gives me approx x300 mag on a 8" SCT F10. But when the seeing is good, it is good.

And while I don't plan to change it I did have some thoughts after getting it.

Basically they went along this line, is a UWA at such a low focal length the right choice? While I am very happy with the eyepeice I believe that the design to get any UWA must produce slightly less sharp images than a comparable Plossl (or similar quality EP) as there must be compromises made to get the extra angle. Since this is a low focal length, you are talking about high magnification (probably planets, splitting doubles etc) and in this case do you really want / need the wider angle or would the sharper image be better? While it is great and I cant fault the EP, it doesnt produce the "out in space" feel of the longer focal length eps as you simply dont have a huge FOV anyway.

Well hope this make sense. I do plan to come to one of your nights out so you / others are welcome to give it a go.

Anyway if you can find one for the right price (as I did) you wont regret it, otherwise I suggest just getting a good quality low focal length ep from a reputable make and enjoy that in stead.

Oh, and I don't experience any problems with the eye relief, it is short and not for someone with glasses, but it is better than my celestron 7mm plossl.

Any questions just PM me.

[shredder]

Ahh and a last comment, it is no where near as big as the other UWA's no bigger than a standard plossl

[atalas]

Hi Michael , I was wondering If you would come and tell us about the 6.7mm UWA !
Thanks for the write up on the Meade's mate much appreciated and I know your enjoying them to the max ! Michael let me know If you want to join us this Saturday night at Kulnura I would love to chat with you again.

[shredder]

Would have told everyone about them sooner had I realised people were interested. I'm a slow reader and didnt see the post till just now......