Nicely done! The 27mm is my low power sky-scanner too.
I do have to disagree with you on one thing though:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
...Another thing that swayed me in particular was the much brighter illumination; the 2inch diam and larger field stop make a huge difference here.
It's just the 13% or so difference in focal length (and hence magnification) are seeing here. A lower power EP will always show a brighter image than a higher power one. It's nothing to do with one EP being a 2", the other a 1.25". And the larger field stop is simply because field stop has to increase in proportion with focal length if the apparent FOV is to stay the same. The difference in focal length implies a 27% greater brightness for the 27mm over the 24mm. In the same way the 24mm would be brighter than the 19mm (and they're both 1.25"). Sorry to labour the point, but I don't want people getting the wrong idea here that the bigger barrel simply lets in more light.
Congratulations Fox on your choice of the 27 Pano. We purchased ours 2 months ago on the recommendation of the guys from IIS.
It's just perfect for us. When searching for DSO's it's superb for finding small galaxies and small planetary nebula they are just so easy to see in this EP because of the contrast and sharpness.
I know this is an old post, but I just thought I add my 2 cnets worth. I originally bought the Meade 24.5mm SWA but having a handfull of TV Radians, I thought it was a little cloudy.
The shop owner kindly refunded the money, and I bought the 24mm Panoptic which I love. But my favourite wide field eyepiece is my 27mm Panoptic, even above my wonderful 31mm Nagler.
I think you made the right choice.
I know this is an old post, but I just thought I add my 2 cnets worth. I originally bought the Meade 24.5mm SWA but having a handfull of TV Radians, I thought it was a little cloudy.
The shop owner kindly refunded the money, and I bought the 24mm Panoptic which I love. But my favourite wide field eyepiece is my 27mm Panoptic, even above my wonderful 31mm Nagler.
I think you made the right choice.
Hi Eric, that such good fortune the retailer refunded your money. Do you ever feel that the 24mm and 27mm Pano's are 'too close' together, or are you planning to delete one eventually? In the Genesis, the 27mm is simply magic. The image is so unbelievably sharp and luminous, right across the whole field, its such a big step up from my 17 year old TV 26 Plossl. Fox.
The 27mm Pan is a very fine chunk of glass, May you have many clear nights with it 
