TV Nagler 13mm

[Mariner (Frank)]

Hi All,
Just had a chance to try out my new EP - many of you have this EP so I won't wax too lyrical about it. It is my first real wide field EP so the ability to look around from one side of the other through the field of view was really nice.

I tried it out the night before last but the seeing was some of the worst I have seen, giving me no indication of what it could do.

This morning between 0510 and 0540 hrs I put it in my 4" achromat (FL 800mm) and at reasonably low magnification was able to frame up Jupiter, Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto really well. Saw amazing (but quite pale) rings around Jupiter in great detail. I watched from one edge of field to the other and noticed no off axis errors at all. The images were very sharp right to the very edge of viewing. Also had a satellite (and a flying fox from next doors fruit tree) scoot across my field of vision while looking at Jupiter which, was pretty cool.

I then turned the scope on M42 which was rising in the east (pretty low altitude). I saw the best, almost 3-D images of it that I have ever seen. There is a lot to be said for the porthole view of space that these EPs will give you. the approx 60x mag. was perfect at framing it up. Again, the detail was exquisite, the shape and dimension was nothing short of mesmerizing. I would have loved to see the detail available if the moon wasn't so bright. Another satellite flew across the field of view which was also cool.

Lastly, a really bright satellite in a roughly Sth to Nth heading with an alt of about 30 deg scooted past and I tracked it - visually not much to look at of course but wide fields of view make them easy to follow.

This is the most enjoyable eye piece that I have used to date. If DSOs are what you like to see you could leave this EP in your scope all night with no need to change it out. Considering how bright the sky was and that seeing was still not perfect due to the wind in the atmosphere I would rate this EP two big thumbs up. If I were to pick any fault I would say that if you have to wear glasses to view then you may not like the shortish eye relief - it didn't bother me except that the biting cold breeze getting in between me and the inherent eye gap due to the small eye relief kept making my eyes water. Just had to cup my eye with my hand.

To sum up: I don't know of anyone who has this EP (on this forum or others) and doesn't like it. I am a convert.

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

You won't find many to argue with you on this point Frank.
Great to see you are enjoying the 13mm and committed enough to rise early to observe. I have not deliberately done that for years, any early morning observing has been incidental to rising early for wotk or watches!

[Groboz (Gino)]

Good one Frank

I'm a newbie and just ordered the TV 13mm (as well as a 24mm Panoptic) for my 16 inch Dob, so I was very interested in your assessment of it. Eye relief was also one of my concerns although I don't wear glasses, I'd just want it to be comfortable. If it turns out to be as good as most people say then I'll order the TV 7mm Nagler and maybe the 9mm Nagler to fill the gap. This should give me a good spead of magnifications up to 300x. What I like about this combination is that they are all 1 1/4 inch barrels that are parfocal and use the same setting on a paracorr.

Very interested to know how comfortable the Naglers are to use over an extended night of observing.

Once again congratulations, but I'm guessing it wont be your last TV eyepiece.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

The 13 Nagler has been a staple EP of mine for years.
I have yet to use a scope in which it does not perform beautifully.
The 9mm is another excellent choice and very under-rated IMHO.
I wouldn't bother with the 7mm tho', the 13 Barlows so well it's not worth it.

[Sarge (Rod)]

Frank,

I went for the 12mm Nag 4 instead of the 13mm due to the 1.25" and 2" barrel (fits both my scopes). Found it a wonderful eyepiece, used it every time the scope was out.

Then I made a big mistake (read as expensive) and bought a 10mm Ethos, now the 12 mm sits in the case a lot more often than before.

So to overcome the problem, I've ordered a 17mm Nag, so now I will be happy again, although a little bit poorer.

Rod

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

The 13mm Nag, great EP, great to see someone else enjoying one!