14mm/12mm Delos in fast Newt's anyone?

[Steffen]

If you don't need a huge AFOV you could always use sub-$100 Orthos. Apart from their relatively narrow AFOV and short eye relief (in the short focal lengths) they're pretty much perfect.

If we ever get a clear night at the air field again you can try my 12.5mm KK ortho, to see what it's like in a fast scope.

Cheers
Steffen.

[bytor666]

Alex,

You're gonna love that XW !!! Once you hit GOLD like that with the XW's you'll want more of them !!! I have the 10mm and 7mm XW and I barlow both for mags of 210x for Jupiter and some DSO's and I get 300x with the 7mm XW barlowed for Saturn, Mars and some small planetary nebs or globs.

I had the 13mm Vixen LVW and loved that EP too, but a friend of mine had a 14mm Denk and it sat for about a week or two not selling on the used market so I was being taunted by it and the reviews were glowing, so I sold the 13mm Vixen LVW and jumped all over that 14mm Denk !!!

So, now I have a 34mm ES 68 on the way after selling an Orion 38mm Q70, I have a 22mm Vixen LVW after selling a 20mm ES 68, I have the 14mm Denk and the 10mm and 7mm XW's. Now every one of my eyepieces work perfectly in my fast Newtonian w/o needing a Paracorr.

I have never had 5 Premium eyepieces at once in my entire life !!!

Enjoy that XW Alex....you're going to get addicted now,



Cheers,

[MattT]

I had a Denk 14 for a bit but found the LER and the bat wing guard really annoying so I sold it (sorry Suzy after all that) Many CNers refer to the Denk as a TMB Planetery 14mm which I didn't agree with as the contrast and all was if only it came with a better eyeguard I would have kept it.

[bytor666]

I had a Denk 14 for a bit but found the LER and the bat wing guard really annoying so I sold it (sorry Suzy after all that) Many CNers refer to the Denk as a TMB Planetery 14mm which I didn't agree with as the contrast and all was if only it came with a better eyeguard I would have kept it.

MattT,

Many CN'ers are incredibly awesome people, as I have bought and sold a boatload of eyepieces and other gear from the nice people on there! Then you have others on there who really have no clue as to what the deal is,

As far as the 14mm Denk goes against the TMB planetary, like you said, is EONS ahead of the TMB Planetary in every aspect. A good friend of mine sold every TMB Planetary he had and when I had asked about them, he told me to steer clear of them because they have bad ghosting, lame baffling etc.....so I took his word for it as he is an experienced observer.

Some over on CN seem to think that the TMB Planetaries are really good eyepieces. LOL!

As far as the eye guard goes on the 14mm Denkmeier, I removed the bat wing altogether and I just view without it ~ No problems at all with blackouts, etc and I can get in just right with my glasses on. When looking down into the 14mm Denk, all you see is PITCH BLACK. Try doing that with a TMB Planetary and you'll see GREY or some other cheap baffling.

I also tried viewing through the 14mm Denkmeier with the eyecup from my 22mm Vixen LVW and it fits on there nicely and the eye relief is perfect if you don't need glasses.

See attachments. The first pic shows the 14mm Denkmeier without any eye guard on it and the second pic shows the 14mm Denk with the eyecup from my 22mm Vixen LVW.

Cheers,

[Suzy]

Matt, you sold it *gasp*!
The bat wing on the ep is for bino viewing. I leave in the down position and it doesn't get in my way at all. Oh that's a shame it annoyed you Matt.

Alexander, well done on the XW10! There's no turning back now, you'll get addicted to them (I have 3 so far, 10,7&5). I can't wait to hear what you think, let us know.

TMBs & Denks the same? Whaaaat? Nooooo waaaaaaaaaaaay.
Tho having owned a TMB briefly- it wouldn't come into focus on my f/5 dob I was impressed with the colour of Saturn, some nice contrast I saw. Well, of what I could see.

The TMB monos (monocentrics) I believe are the hard to come by ones that are regarded highly and only available on the second hand market if you can get them.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Thought I'd update the story so far.

I've been able to give the 10mm XW a bit of a whirl. First light was in my 8" f/4 dobbie - by far the sharpest EP in my collection across the whole field. Very sweet to use.

Last night I was able to use it in my 17.5" dobbie. Seeing was the most stable I've seen for a very long time, AND it being summer too. Now, get this, the Trapezium in M42, A, B, C, D, E & F - well, yeah, BUT also G, H & I!!! Pin sharp a ney a shimmer in the EP due to thermals. The number of stars that extended beyond these was sensational. Testament to the conditions, but the quality of the EP too. I had seen Trap. E & F before in the 17.5", but never this level of detail.

I did a sketch of M42 last night using the 17.5" scope which I've posted in the DSO sketching sticky. It includes a close up of the Trapezium.

As for a 13mm or 14mm EP, I think I've found my silver lining in a sow's ear - my modified 13mm Hyperion! Last night it performed nearly on par with the Pentax! Not as sharp along the very edge, but it too was showing a flat field and pin point stars. It too was showing Trap. G & H, though I was more of a hint than definite - it really is faint- I used this modified 13mm to do M42 sketch. I think I'll give my hunt for a new 13mm/14mm a miss now. I'm very happy with this freakish mutilation of my sow's ear 13mm Hyperion,

Mental.

[bytor666]

My gosh Alex,

Those drawings of M-42 are gorgeous !!! Very nice work of art Sir.

Cheers,

[Kunama]

Great sketches Alex. I wish I could draw ............