A big problem with many of these shot-outs is that they are unbalanced comparisons in the sense of comparing apples with oranges. For example when I mentally picture a ZAO and a 13MM Ethos I am looking at one EP which is almost 10x the size of the other. The ZAO wins on portability but then the ethos gives 100 fov so how do we fairly matriculate the 2
.............
But the upshot seems to be that phrases like "small margin" and "slight difference" seem to crop up regularly in these comparisons.
Going back to my earlier comment on price, the DeLite eyepieces will cost double the value of a used Radian, but certainly won't have double the performance.
I seriously doubt you will be able to detect any difference in the view between the two..... but it is a very clever thing for Televue to do, they have seen that the removal of the Radian from their lineup left a lot of people looking elsewhere and looks like they have fixed the only complaint people have about the Radians, that is, the way the eyecup operates.
Then they release the information on their site to get the forums talking, then remove the information to keep people guessing ........ no doubt they will sell like hotcakes but they really do seem to be a Radian in disguise.
I had a brief chance at NEAF to look through the new DeLite eyepieces both singularly and in a binoviewer.
While indoors and moving through a line of people also interested in looking did not give me much time but my first impression was positive.
Lots of eye relief and very easy to look through. I just walked right up and looked...it was that easy. View of an indoor target was solid and everything you have come to expect from Televue. Compared to the Ethos and Delos these seem small and light...I felt they worked well in the binoviewer and suspect where weight is an issue these will work well.
I do not know if I have need for any in my case but they appeared to me to be well executed and I found them real easy to look through.
I had a brief chance at NEAF to look through the new DeLite eyepieces both singularly and in a binoviewer.
While indoors and moving through a line of people also interested in looking did not give me much time but my first impression was positive.
Lots of eye relief and very easy to look through. I just walked right up and looked...it was that easy. View of an indoor target was solid and everything you have come to expect from Televue. Compared to the Ethos and Delos these seem small and light...I felt they worked well in the binoviewer and suspect where weight is an issue these will work well.
I do not know if I have need for any in my case but they appeared to me to be well executed and I found them real easy to look through.
Have you ever used a Radian as it would be good to hear some comparison between the 2
... Bintel Price $379.00 .... I'll stick to my Vixen LVW's @ $299.00. TeleVue products are getting ' way out of hand ' in $$ value since the AU$ dropped in recent times.
eg: 24mm Panoptic now retails at ~ $450.00 ea + Postage. ( I remember when they were $329.00 ea.... not that long ago either )
Col.....
People have short memories as we all know Col, just look at the Bintel prices published in a S & S mag circa 2003.
"DeLite" sounds like the name of a well known yoghurt to me by the way, they should have called it Delos Jr or even Radian MkIII
" People have short memories as we all know Col, just look at the Bintel prices published in a S & S mag circa 2003. "
WOW ....makes today's prices look cheap ... well beyond my budget back then .....
When the AU Dollar drops, it certainly has an effect on our ' spending ' ... I for one ' resist ' opening my wallet, as previously I didn't hesitate to do so.
Personally, I think kudos to TV for recognising there was a market. The price at Bintel means that the only premium EP close to the $379 they are talking about is the 19mm Pan at $369 but that only has 13mm ER!
I am an unashamed TV fan and simply have loved all my TVs I have owned over the years.
"My new 7mm Delite is definitely an upgrade from the Radian series optically and functionally. The Delos-style eyecups are much better than the old click stops of the Radians. The optics are pretty impressive right to the edge (actually a stunning sharp clean edge) and the on axis sharpness, contrast and clarity appeared slightly better than my 7mm BGO on the Moon. I was actually quite impressed with the lunar images of the new 7mm DeLite against my BGO 7mm. On Saturn it was too close to call last night, the light scatter and transmission appeared identical while detecting Saturn’s moons, but the much larger field of view of the DeLite is very appealing.
It was only one 3 hour observing session with my AP155EDT, so I’m looking forward to more time to enjoy this 7mm DeLite. My initial impressions are quite good and I plan to purchase any DeLites available <10mm focal lengths. I would even replace my current Radians with DeLites if their focal lengths become available. The DeLites are indeed a worthy upgrade both optically and functionally.
My old 7mm T1 Nagler is officially retired from filling the gap in my Radian eyepiece set."
... they really do seem to be a Radian in disguise.
While they certainly look similar to the Radians from outward appearance, having used both the last thing I found them to be was a Radian in disguise! Radians had a host of flaws IMO (finicky eye positioning, lots of lateral color, disfunctional eyeguard mechanism, overly heavy, poor transmission on the early ones, some felt a bit of a warmer tone, only so-so on planetary to my eye). By contrast the DeLites have none of the Radian's shortcomings. Quite an engaging eyepiece to use surprisingly with just a 62 degree AFOV. In my field usage I compared them to my XWs and found they met or exceeded them across all my tests. Quite surprising.
While they certainly look similar to the Radians from outward appearance, having used both the last thing I found them to be was a Radian in disguise! Radians had a host of flaws IMO (finicky eye positioning, lots of lateral color, disfunctional eyeguard mechanism, overly heavy, poor transmission on the early ones, some felt a bit of a warmer tone, only so-so on planetary to my eye). By contrast the DeLites have none of the Radian's shortcomings. Quite an engaging eyepiece to use surprisingly with just a 62 degree AFOV. In my field usage I compared them to my XWs and found they met or exceeded them across all my tests. Quite surprising.
Can't comment on the DeLite perse as I haven't look through one but having extensively used Radians and virtually every current eyepiece Televue make in a 7mm FL or close to it I can accept that the newer designs of Televue are certainly better than older designs. It would be pretty poor show if they didn't.
With these points in mind and putting aside the variables of AFOV and ER I haven't seen any Televue eyepiece which wasn't easily beaten in optical performance by some Japanese made simple ortho's which can be bought for about 25% the cost of most Televue eyepieces
IMHO extensive marketing is the key factor to the Televue production formula - look at every astronomy magazine who perpetually does all the full page advertising. I can't recall the last time I saw an advert for KK - ironically I am also even surprised when I come across ads for Takahashi
With these points in mind and putting aside the variables of AFOV and ER I haven't seen any Televue eyepiece which wasn't easily beaten in optical performance by some Japanese made simple ortho's which can be bought for about 25% the cost of most Televue eyepieces
Forgive the ignorant newbie here, but can you please link me to these Japanese made eyepieces that easily outperform Televue for a quarter of the price? I'm not doubting your claims at all but if these eye pieces were really that impressive, why do so many people (even dedicated people on this board) still go down the Televue route?
I've only been here for a little over a month but I can't help but think you have some sort of vendetta against Televue as just about every post of yours that I've read has been running them down!
To many/most people ER and AFOV form part of the optical performance. An ortho with tiny field and eye relief is no use to me since I like simple alt az undriven mounts.
To many/most people ER and AFOV form part of the optical performance. An ortho with tiny field and eye relief is no use to me since I like simple alt az undriven mounts.
Having two unguided 10" dobs I totally agree. That's why I went down the Delos route as I wanted a comfortable middle ground between ER and AFOV.
I'd love an eyepiece range with 20mm ER and 72+ AFOV for a quarter of the price of the Delos, though.
I am not trying to promote any brand but lately I have developed a fondness for the Takahashi LE eyepieces. They are not exactly cheap but in my view at least they sort of give the best of both worlds with eye-relief and optical clarity akin to a top shelf ortho.
When you want a larger field of view with them simply switch to the 18mm or 30mm LE which are both fantastic and give that widefield experiece with plenty of eye-relief.
I'd love an eyepiece range with 20mm ER and 72+ AFOV for a quarter of the price of the Delos, though.[/QUOTE]
Try and find yourself a second-hand Baader Hyperion - all things considered they really aren't too shabby an eyepiece.
You have to keep in mind astronomy equipment is a game of diminishing returns. The more you spend does 'tend' to correlate with improved performance. However, the ratio of improvement drastically decreases as you progress.
... Bintel Price $379.00 .... I'll stick to my Vixen LVW's @ $299.00.
