Meade 4000 QX eyepieces 70 degree FOV

Striker (Tony) · #1 01-03-2005, 01:27 PM

I have been trying to find some useful reviews on these eyepieces and found nothing......The only mention I found was a buyer who purchased one for his F4.5 DOB and commented how awful they were......

Meade QX Wide Angle Eyepieces

Has anyone purchased any of these as they are good value....not sure on quality though......

MiG · #2 01-03-2005, 02:19 PM

They sound a hell of a lot like the GSO SuperViews. 5 elements, 70 deg FOV and almost identical appearance.
The fact that it was used on a F4.5 scope is the problem.
I read somewhere that the radius/diameter of the coma free region goes up with the cube of the F ratio i.e. a F6 has a 2.37 times larger coma/seagull free area than a F4.5.

I think that with fast scopes you to spend more on eyepieces.
Here's a photo of my superview 30 mm

Striker (Tony) · #3 01-03-2005, 03:52 PM

Yeah another forum said the same thing about being the same as the GSO eyepieces then another gentleman replied saying they are nothing like the GSO.....different lenses and completely different make....?

ving (David) · #4 01-03-2005, 04:33 PM

not even spelt tha same!!!

look the same tho. wouldnt be suprised if they were made in the same factory

Striker (Tony) · #5 01-03-2005, 04:46 PM

Hmmmm...I dont think they look anything alike...the 26mm 2" is about half the height of the 30mm GSO and the meade 36mm would be shorter then the 30GSO.....internaly they may be the same but exterior they are very different.

RAJAH235 · #6 01-03-2005, 10:52 PM

Tony,Don't know about the QX series. I have a Meade UWA 14 mm. It works fine in my 10" f4.5. I get just over 1 degree fov @ 82 x mag. Granted it has an 84 degree app field but the image is crisp to the edge. It would want to be for nearly $700.00! Another member has the Meade Super Wide 68 deg,18 mm and the views thru his 10" f5.6 are really crisp as well. Meade make good E/Pcs. I wouldn't swap any of mine. (5mm,6.4,9.7,12.4,15,UWA14and32mm). All Super Plossls.
+ #140, 2x barlow. HTH.

ps. 18mm +25mm MA. for school work.
pps. The 5mm I just got off eBay for $10.99 US + $9.95.US postage ($26.50AU,saved about $145.00 AU).

#7 01-03-2005, 11:20 PM

Just for information, the Meade UWA 14mm are going for $199usd at OPT at present. I have just ordered one. With freight that comes to a tad over $300AUD. Just goes to show what sort of markup the Aussie dealers put on this stuff. Even at the full price in the USA they are only $100AUD dearer. It makes one want to throw up at the way we tend to get ripped off here.

RAJAH235 · #8 01-03-2005, 11:43 PM

Update. I bought mine in 01, when the ex rate was r/s. Had a friend of a friend bring it straight from the US. Beautiful E/P tho.
The 5000 series will be better than the 4000's, and poss. cheaper.

#9 02-03-2005, 12:06 AM

Yeah probably, but I could not let this bargain go. I notice the price for the 5000 UWA on OPT is $usd199 but as yet these ep's have not appeared anywhere to the best of my knowledge, hence no reviews etc. I know the 4000 UWA gets some brilliant reviews, so thought I would stick with what I know. FWIW the price shown for the 4000 UWA on opt is actually $189.95usd, a bargain really.

Cheers.

Peter

Striker (Tony) · #10 02-03-2005, 01:34 PM

I spoke to OPT yesterday about getting the Meade ultra wide 5000 series...they said they only have limited stock of these and have only been out for a short time to even think of a review.......they personaly said the Nagler series is the better choice because of their quality control and warranty.......meade cant compete in this area......anyway the meade series 5000 ultra wide are only slightly cheaper then the Nagler......?

From OPT by Email Quote "Having said all this, we cannot, regrettably send the Meade eyepieces directly to you."

Hmmmm Dam......

I am not going to bother testing the QX series....no one has them....lol

Astro_Guy · #11 02-03-2005, 01:46 PM

Tony,

We've had a few of the Meade QX Series pass through our shop, but I have not had the opportunity to put them through any testing under dark skies. Daylight testing suggests that the eye relief is fairly tight. You have to push your eye in pretty close to take in the entire available field. They seem pretty sharp in daylight when tested in a TeleVue 85 at f/7. One eyepiece was returned by a customer who had tested it in daylight using our TV-85, claiming that it really fell apart in a f/5 scope. That's a second hand opinion, for what it is worth.

As for the Meade Series 5000, they continue to trickle out. Thus far all we have seen are what they call the "Plossls". Apparently the three shortest focal lenghts of the Ultrawides are also shipping in limitied quantities.

Clear Skies,

Bob

Striker (Tony) · #12 02-03-2005, 02:10 PM

hmmmmmmmmm...considering I think they were advertised to be released early january and its now March and knowone has much of a range........looks like the Nagler will have to be the go........

Mike can you set up a donation page for my Nagler purchase's please.....its a good cause.

I will have to sit down an do my maths now.....hehehe

Thanks Bob