Pentax XW-7, LVW-8, or Radian-8?

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #1 26-10-2005, 05:40 PM

Tis the season to be Martian, so which planetary EP would you guys go for? (I already have a Vixen LVW-5, BTW, and it is excellent.)

At the following local prices, which, in all your repected humble opinions, represents the best value for money?

Pentax XW-7 $479
Vixen LVW-8 $365.00
Televue Radian-8 $385.00

(Tell me quick. I want to order it in the next day or so.)

Thanks,

Brian.

RapidEye · #2 27-10-2005, 12:55 AM

Pentax - but then again, I'm biased =-)

#3 27-10-2005, 03:51 AM

It's a no brainer... Pentax, but then again I have the 3.5mm, 10mm & 14mm
XW's so the 7mm & 5mm are definitely on the list. You should be able to get
the XW cheaper than that if you shop around. All my XW's cost $445.00 each.

I should also add I have tried an 8mm Radian but not the Vixen, Still I would
go for the Pentax, but then you already a Vixen LVW-5 so keeping to the
same line of ep would be something I would look for. btw, the 3.5mm XW
is my favourite Mars ep but a x2 barlow on the 7mm would give you the 3.5mm
equivilent.

regards,CS

davidpretorius · #4 27-10-2005, 08:02 AM

Brian, who is local with that stuff, I hunted around hobart before I got my dob from sydney and couldn't find anyone???

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #5 27-10-2005, 09:02 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for your input, guys. Yes, I would like to try a Pentax. I don't feel a huge need to be eyepiece-consistent with the Vixens. (Although, are they parfocal?)

Er, well, David, when I say "local" I mean within Oz. Remember, mainland Australia is really a pair of buttocks, with Perth a pimple on one cheek and Melbourne a bigger pimple on the other. Adelaide is located near the unmentionable fundament, and Tasmania, well, let's just say it's bobbing around in the toilet bowl of the southern ocean.

Of course, no one in Tas that I know of carries any decent equipment. (I am trying to cultivate Walch Optics in Hobart, though.) The "local" suppliers I refer to are places like Star Optics in Queensland, a nameless mob in Adelaide, Astronomy Online, or Bintel. (When it comes to amateur astronomy, it really pays to think global.)

Cheers,

Brian.