Pentax XW suggestions

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #1 10-07-2006, 12:53 PM

Hi guys,

The time has finally come....yippee! I was waiting for some money from an investment to be paid into my account, and it came in today.

So now I am looking at joining the Pentax club. I have allowed myself to allocate 2 Pentax XW's to my collection of toys. Now I just have to decide which ones. I have a Celestron 200mm f5 Newtonian. Currently I have a Celestron kit (I bought this before I knew you guys existed) and find I use the 15 and 9 most of the time, the shorter ones are a waste of time trying, the 32 is good for wide fields but is only 44 degrees fov.

So, I was thinking a 10 and a 14? But a 20 would give a coverage similar to my existing 32 as it has a wider fov, so maybe a 20 and a 14? A 7 and a 14 would give similar magnification to what I am used to now, but a 2x would make the 7 redundant, but the 7 would be good for Jup!

I often have friends/neighbours over for a squizz (not lately though!) and a wow factor would be good. When they arrive, I don't have to say the price was "each", I can just say about "$400" and if I get sprung I can always say "oh, I thought you meant each, not altogether", then it isn't quite telling a lie....is it? I would like to push to around 30mm, but that would mean a huge 2" and a lot of weight, and a bit more money....especially if it is green and black.

Any suggestions for a quality 1 1/4 around 30mm? This would keep the exit pupil around 6mm or smaller...no point in catching light only to throw it away at the eyepiece. I could stretch the budget to fit a good wide angle in...so make a suggestion for me to look at.

I am looking at maybe a TV powermate, Ultima 2x or similar a little later, once I kill a few bills. This will allow me to up the power if needed so I don't need to go below 7mm.

Any suggestions of supplier? Star Optics at the moment, they seem to have a good name here.

iceman (Mike) · #2 10-07-2006, 01:00 PM

The 7 and 10 are better than the 14 (the 14 has some field curvature), and I think the 14 is better than the 20 (going by Rob's and John's reports).

The 7 and 10 might be too close together for you though, depends what magnifications you want.

I own the 7mm, and love it. I've looked through John's 10mm and that is equally as good.

Star Optics are one of the only suppliers of Pentax gear in Australia, but have heard nothing but good things about them.

Striker (Tony) · #3 10-07-2006, 01:04 PM

Definetly try star optics on the gold coast.....I have dealt with them on many occassions and they will give you good after sales service.

Speak to Lex(Owner) or Chris....actualy their the only 2 staff so you will get either one.
http://www.staroptics.com.au/index.php?a=telescopes

Nice eyepieces btw.

Tamtarn · #4 10-07-2006, 02:44 PM

We bought the Pentax XW 10mm as our first premium eyepiece on advise from guys from the forum.

It is a super eyepiece.

I aggree the best place to buy any Pentax's is Star Optics
Lex & Chris were great to deal with and supplied with well packed smart delivery

Barb & David

wavelandscott (Scott) · #5 10-07-2006, 03:30 PM

I own the 7 mm XW and rate it highly...I have looked through the 10 mm XW and believe that it is a cracker too.

I own and use regularly a Nagler T6 11 mm and I think I might give a slight edge to the 10 mm XW...

Can not add anything to the longer ones...

Dave47tuc (David) · #6 10-07-2006, 05:14 PM

I have the 10 mm and 14 mm. They are just awsome

With your scope maybe the 10 and 7 mm would be the way to go.
I got mine from Star Optics and had no problems.

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #7 11-07-2006, 11:07 AM

I own a box full of em.

I think the 7mm and 10mm would suit your present needs and scope perfectly. They are two of the best eyepieces ever made at any price.

CS-John B

Striker (Tony) · #8 11-07-2006, 03:53 PM

Congrats on the 10mm and the 14mm Pentax XW....I'm sure you will love them oneofone....little bird told me....lol

C.R kennedy the Pentax distributer are putting up the price of the pentax by another 20% as of August 1 so Star Optics will try to keep them as low as they can but thier will be an increase soon.

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #9 11-07-2006, 04:29 PM

Tony,

Thanks for the heads up on the price. I might order myself a 5mm Pentax XW before the price rise.

CS-John B

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #10 11-07-2006, 05:38 PM

Well it took me 58 minutes to decide that I needed another eyepiece

I have let the moths out of the wallet and ordered a 5mm Pentax XW, to go with the four others I already own. Gee just what I needed, another eyepiece. That makes 14 good eyepieces and 3 good barlows, I think I have most bases covered

My wife will think I have some sort of illness.

CS-John B

Dave47tuc (David) · #11 11-07-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

Well it took me 58 minutes to decide that I needed another eyepiece

CS-John B

I think you should have thought at least and hour on it John.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #12 12-07-2006, 07:49 AM

Star Optics have the XW's on "special" at the moment....$399, not much of a saving, but every bit counts.

I won't say anything at the moment for fear of offending the cloud gods! But I guess you could say I am expecting a "little bundle (or two) of joy".

Striker (Tony) · #13 12-07-2006, 11:37 AM

Too late...we know you purchased the 10 & 14mm so you will suffer the consequences of rain for 2 weeks.

I dont mind saying this as I am in Brisbane...wahooooo

wavelandscott (Scott) · #14 14-07-2006, 07:14 PM

Bring on the cloud and rain...

I broke down and ordered a Pentax 10 mm XW...

I could not stand the fact that the 7 mm XW was lonely in my eyepiece case...

Cheers!

RapidEye · #15 18-07-2006, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

Well it took me 58 minutes to decide that I needed another eyepiece

So how much wine can you pour down your wife in 58 minutes?

I'm doing good if I can get 2 glasses in my wife in an hour, and that wouldn't be enough for me to talk her into another XW

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #16 18-07-2006, 10:29 AM

Wine had nothing to do with it Jim. I haven't told her yet and it is already hiding in the eyepiece case

CS-John B

matt · #17 18-07-2006, 11:16 AM

You boys

RapidEye · #18 19-07-2006, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

it is already hiding in the eyepiece case

Well it won't do you any good in there! You need to put it in the Focuser

Once the requisite period of rain/clouds pass, let us know how it works in your 10"!!!

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #19 19-07-2006, 10:30 AM

Yes I know that. I had the entire process all planned. I slotted it straight into a hole I cut in the foam in the case a couple of months ago, planning for the imminent arrival in good time, of a new $400 baby

Now, with proper planning executed, when it comes out of the eyepiece case it will look just like it was always "part of the furniture". She knew I had "a few", not exactly how many, of "those big ones with the big piece of glass at the front"

Ignorance is Bliss

CS-John B

PS: Purchase funded courtesy of a very fast racehorse, which she also knew nothing about

matt · #20 19-07-2006, 11:16 AM

See how quickly one deception leads to another!