Swan eyepieces feedback

chunkylad (David) · #1 01-10-2005, 10:56 PM

HI everyone

Has anyone had any experience with University Optics' O.P.S. 'planetary' orthoscopic eyepeices?

Or, for that matter, William Optics wide angle EPs?

Both of these are available from Daniel at Frontier Optics.

Cheers

chunkylad (David) · #2 09-10-2005, 01:10 PM

Hi guys'n'gals

I can understand no-one having used the University optics OPS Ortho eps,

but surely someone has had some experience with William optics 'Swan' widefield eps

, enough to comment on their performance at least.

I have ordered a 9mm UO OPS ep from Frontier Optics. It should be here in a couple of weeks. Will give you all a comparison with my two GS short f/l plossls (6 & 4mm). I have my 2x 2" barlow to use with it. If it's good, I may opt for another barlow - 2.5x or 3x.

Cheers

chunkylad (David) · #3 10-10-2005, 01:32 PM

If anyone is intersted, I found a revue for these Swan eyepieces here:
http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/swan.pdf

Cheers

astroron (Ron) · #4 10-10-2005, 03:43 PM

Thanks for the thread Dave very good good report from Dave Knisely. astroron

davidpretorius · #5 10-10-2005, 05:49 PM

thanks mate, will have a read!

chunkylad (David) · #6 17-10-2005, 10:36 AM

My University Optics O.P.S. Ortho eyepiece arrived this morning. It's cloudy here (again!!!) to-day, so not very hopeful of first light for this ep tonight. Will let you know how it performs versus my GS Plossls when I get the opportunity.

Had some great seeing late last night, and was able to barlow 2x my 4mm GS plossl (750x). Excellent Martian surface detail seen. Only problem was the very narrow fov.

Dave

atalas · #7 17-10-2005, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunkylad

Hi guys'n'gals

I can understand no-one having used the University optics OPS Ortho eps,

but surely someone has had some experience with William optics 'Swan' widefield eps

, enough to comment on their performance at least.

I have ordered a 9mm UO OPS ep from Frontier Optics. It should be here in a couple of weeks. Will give you all a comparison with my two GS short f/l plossls (6 & 4mm). I have my 2x 2" barlow to use with it. If it's good, I may opt for another barlow - 2.5x or 3x.

Cheers

Hi Dave , PM (ausastronomer) A.K.A john B. , he is our expert on University Ortho's I'm sure he just hasn't seen this thread as yet .

chunkylad (David) · #8 17-10-2005, 01:56 PM

Thanks Louie

Will do, cheers!

chunkylad (David) · #9 17-10-2005, 11:20 PM

First light report for my UO OPS 9mm Ortho:

Target: Mars

Seeing: Poor seeing conditions 2/10 tonight, so perhaps not a fair comparison to last night's excellent viewing with GS Plossls.
Image not as sharp as I'd hoped, I put that down to atmospheric conditions.
Image contrast: good
Slightly better afov to GS Plossls.
Slight chromatic aberration towardsthe edge of fov. This I found the most dissapointing.
Inbuilt 'planetary' filter toned down harsh glare, without adding any apparent colouration.

I may have expected too much, especially given the conditions. But I am slighlty dissapointed. Given that this is a $190 eyepiece, it does not appear to greatly outshine my GS plossls.

I know I'm not being fair here, just my first impressions. I will naturally give this ep more of a chance to prove itself in due course.

Dave

asimov (John) · #10 17-10-2005, 11:44 PM

What's ER like Dave?

chunkylad (David) · #11 18-10-2005, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

What's ER like Dave?

I found the ER quite good, with my eye comfortably seated in the supplied winged eyecup. I would say it's quite short, around 5-7mm; but then I did not really measure this

as I've been using my very short ER 4mm plossl without any probs. I will take more notice of the ER next time I use this EP.

Dave

chunkylad (David) · #12 18-10-2005, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

Hi Dave , PM (ausastronomer) A.K.A john B. , he is our expert on University Ortho's I'm sure he just hasn't seen this thread as yet .

Hi Louie

I PMd John B, and he replied giving me the lowdown on his collection of UO Orthos. He holds these eps in high regard. Thanks for the tip.

Cheers
Dave

atalas · #13 18-10-2005, 03:11 PM

No worries Dave ! thats what where here for mate .... On the subject of false colour , I've seen false colour in high end eyepieces mate when looking at bright objects down low. Try testing the eyepiece up higher on a bright star where the seeing won't unfairly effect your test results .

chunkylad (David) · #14 19-10-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

No worries Dave ! thats what where here for mate .... On the subject of false colour , I've seen false colour in high end eyepieces mate when looking at bright objects down low. Try testing the eyepiece up higher on a bright star where the seeing won't unfairly effect your test results .

Cheers Louie

Thanks for the tip mate.

I haven't written off the OPS ortho yet. Conditions for its first light were very unfavourable, and I'm hoping for better things in the future from this ep.

Dave