ES 6.7mm - good decision?

[MortonH]

Have been on a bit of an eyepiece buying frenzy recently and intended my final purchase to be a Nagler 7mm today. Instead, somehow I ended up on the VTI website and ordered an Explore Scientific 6.7mm instead. Price was $160 shipped v. $299 sale price for the Nagler at Bintel.

I've never even seen an Explore Scientific eyepiece before, but I've read lots of good things about them (and some bad things).

Any users care to reassure me (or urge me to cancel my order)?

Will be using it with the scopes listed in my signature.

Thanks

Morton

[casstony]

Most of the ES eyepieces are very competitive with the Televues regarding performance, providing you get a good sample. TV still has superior quality control and design IMO. I think you'll be very happy with the 6.7.

[MortonH]

Good point about QC. With Televue or Pentax you just expect it to be right. I shall test it carefully when it arrives.

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

The ES 6.7 is superb. Flat, contrasty and sharp all the way to the edge at F/5. Eye relief is a bit on the shortish side, 12mm I believe but its surprisingly comfortable to use. The 82 degrees field of view is easily usable at a glance.

You need this eyepiece in your life. This is not debatable. Alternatively you could buy something 2.5 times more for pretty much the same result.
I did consider buying a 7mm Pentax XW. But why the f*** would I?

Ive got a picture of it... hint its upfront.

[MortonH]

Where are your barrels???

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by MortonH

Where are your barrels???

That table has holes in it. Its an eyepiece rack. If you want to look at the barrel as well I can get a picture of it?

[MortonH]

Originally Posted by AG Hybrid

That table has holes in it. Its an eyepiece rack. If you want to look at the barrel as well I can get a picture of it?

Nah, I just thought you'd removed them for some reason!!!

[MattT]

6.7 is the best in the line according to my eyes. An excellent decision.
Matt

[Profiler (Profiler)]

No doubt about it the ES are easily the best of the clones around and superb value in terms of bang for your buck etc.

With respect to the previous comment:

"I did consider buying a 7mm Pentax XW. But why the f*** would I?

That's a no-brainer - this time next year Pentax XWs will no-longer exist (on the brand new market at least) and in roughly 3 years or so all lanthanum eyepieces (i.e. Vixen) will no longer be available to buy brand new due the increasing cost/scarcity of lanthanum.

On most (eg 85%) nights, locations and equipment ES will give you just as good performance as any of the premium brands. The painful and disproptionate increment in price is that the premiums will give you that extra 15% or so when factors permit - whether the premiums are really worth the significant extra price whack is a matter of personal choice and finances as to how much you treasure your observing opportunities.

I think a good way to view these issues is akin to the recent eclipse - some people travelled from acorss the planet to Cairns to view it, others drove to Cairns provided it wasn't too far and they could afford it while still others watched it from their backyard or on the TV or www. However, all of these people saw the eclipse.

Which is better depends on who you ask and what they prioritise in life depending on their finances etc.

[MortonH]

Thanks, Profiler. Since my observing opportunities are fairly limited these days I reckon I've made the right choice.

[Astro_Bot]

It must be catching .... I ordered a couple of ES eyepieces last week. So I figure the 6.7mm was a good decision.

[MortonH]

Cool. Let's see if we get to use them before the end of the year!!!

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Mine's a blinder in my 80 f6 and my 130 f7
Less useful in my f15 Mak tho'!

[MortonH]

Thanks, Peter. That's very reassuring!

[David Niven (David Niven)]

My ES 6.7mm arrived from VTI last Wednesday.
I am impressed by the quality, as it look like a very well made piece of optics.....now to try it out!
VTI service is very good IMHO.

[Astro_Bot]

My ES 68* 28mm and 40mm arrived on Friday. Haven't had a chance to try them yet. They do look to be quite well made. That 40mm is a big chunk of metal!

[slowflow (Barry)]

Got a 5 minute look at the moon about a week ago with the 6.7mm, it looks very good. Have been waiting on weather since, bugger

[MortonH]

Mine arrived last week and the sky was clear but terrible seeing. Viewed Jupiter from my balcony for a while with my 80mm. Seems like a good ep but need a proper test.

Was impressed enough to order the 8.8mm.

[bytor666]

The 6.7mm ES is indeed a really nice EP. I had one of those too and only bought mine to compare to my 7mm Pentax XW. I kept the XW and sold the 6.7mm ES to a friend. I liked the 82 degrees of the ES but I prefer long eye relief eyepieces and also found that the 7mm XW was all around sharper, but hardly enough to really notice. I really needed more nights of testing to really see a difference between the two as one night isn't enough for a full comparison. If you can't afford the XW, the ES eyepieces are an excellent alternative!

My 6.7mm ES was drift timed and it turned out to really be working as a 7mm eyepiece.

Cheers,

[MortonH]

I'm happy with the 6.7mm. Performed well in my 110ED and 200mm f/5 Newt. It seems more comfortable than the 8.8mm but I've only used that one once so need more time to assess.

Would I replace it with a Pentax XW 7mm? Yes.

Do I have the money to do so? No!