To Nagler or Not?

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by Dazzler

Thanks John - I'll look into the XW 10. Any idea on Australian vendors?

I got mine from Star Optics...but I think there are a few others too...

[matt]

Me too.

[casstony]

If you're not concerned about ultrawide field, astro-optical have an add in the latest 'Australian Sky & Telescope' for Vixen Lanthanum Wide angle eyepieces: buy one, get a second at half price (works out to $260 each). These are premium 65 degree eyepieces. I thought they were worth mentioning at that price.

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Yes the Nagler and pentax eyepieces are superb. Finding which is better is a personal choice imo.

But I do agree with Tony, the Vixen LVW is right up there in the high end eyepiece market.
You can pay half the price at the moment as Tony said, of the so called big two. But I think Vixen LVW’s are tops for value for money.

It’s just a pity Vixen does not have a 30 mm LVW.

[matt]

Dave.

I'd be interested to get your opinion on the 17mm LVW?

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Originally Posted by matt

Dave.

I'd be interested to get your opinion on the 17mm LVW?

hey matt,
I don't have the 17 mm but I have the 22 / 13 and 8 mm. So I can not say, but if the 17 is like the 22 and 13 which I'm sure it is, one word "superb"

I do hope to get the 17 / 5 and 3.5 at some stage, but who knows when. If i had the money it would be now with the great deal you can get at the moment.

[matt]

Oh OK. For some reason I thought you had the 17.

I used to have the 5 and the 3.5.

The 5 was fantastic in my 8" f5 newt. The views it gave on Jupiter and Saturn were very nice.

I can back everything you've said about the Vixen LVWs

[Dave47tuc (David)]

But to Darrens firts post, I think apart from a big wide field like a 31 Nagler or 40 xw or such, for me I don't see much improvement in going from what you have. Save your money and enjoy what you have.

[Dazzler]

Probably good advice Dave.

It is easy to covet thy forum neighbour's toys when you read too many reviews on these things.

Thank you for going to my original post as I am particularly keen to hear from those that know as to whether or not I will be blown away by the extra fov available with further eyepieces or, as you say, stick with what I have.

We actually have clear skies in Adelaide for the first time in weeks so tonight I might do some observing rather than just talking about it.

Cheers!

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Darren,
Happy viewing tonight, or over the next few nights.
When I had a 10" LX200 http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...6&d=1110106725

I used a 35 mm Panoptic and found it a fantastic wide field eyepiece.
If you want one big wide field eyepiece then either the 35 pano, 41 mm Pano, or 31 nagler or 30/ 40 xw or Vixen LVW 42 mm http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-084b

any of those and some others would serve you well as a stand alone BIG wide field Ep.

[MarkN]

Dazzler.

I have two Naglers; 17T4 and 9T6.

Until the 10" Newtonian arrived I would have to say that I was rather underwhelmed with them in the 8" LX90. The 9T6 in particular is generally useless in that scope in suburban skies. Too much magnification.

Different story entirely with the Newt. While they are both superb in this scope I have no plans for more Naglers. They are definitely 'warm' as far as viewing goes.

I've been looking for an excuse to try a Pentax but already had most of the focal length range covered. Whilst I have an 11 mm TV Plossl a longer ER ocular in this focal length range would be nice. Ergo, the 12 mm XF Pentax comes to mind. Price seems right -$215 from Frontier Optics (www.frontieroptics.com.au).

Daniel handles the Pentax range so you might like to drop him a line.

Mark.

[Dazzler]

Thanks Mark

No one has really talked about the magnification issue in suburban skies yet which was one of my concerns on choosing a new EP. As last night showed 14mm or therabouts may be a good max. allrounder rather than the 10mm I have been recommended earlier. Or perhaps I am just doing my head in!

I take note of your experience between your two scopes but don't know much about Newtonians and your focal length etc.

You look like you are going to upgrade within a similar fov for better ER. I on the other hand am only looking to expand on my collection to experience the wide fov's available out there.

To dumb down the question I have on whether to get some wide angle EPs - is the experience going to be similar to upgrading your old 4:3 CRT TV to a 16:9 widescreen plasma or LCD? I certainly have enjoyed the upgrade on this at home!

[casstony]

Darren, I alluded to the magnification issue in an earlier post when I suggested you buy an eyepiece at your most used focal length. If you're going to dump a load of cash you need to use it frequently. Provided you regularly get 113x magnification, a 22mm Nagler is a very nice but very expensive eyepiece. I picked mine up second hand as I can't justify the new cost of these eyepieces.

[MarkN]

Dazzler:

Keep in mind that you might be doing outings with a local astro club to a dark site. If, on the other hand, that's not on the plans then 10 mm may be too much for suburban skies. Sad, because I don't think I've ever read one adverse word about the Pentax 10 mm.

With the LX90, I'm actually much more comfortable using the 18 mm Radian with its 60 deg. AFOV and the 27 mm Panoptic.

You'll notice the difference you mentioned vis a vis television. 65-70 deg. AFOV EPs are noticeably more involving than 50-55 deg. Plossls. More so if it's quality glass like Pentax or Televue.

Mark.

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Dazzler

To dumb down the question I have on whether to get some wide angle EPs - is the experience going to be similar to upgrading your old 4:3 CRT TV to a 16:9 widescreen plasma or LCD? I certainly have enjoyed the upgrade on this at home!

I would say it is more like going from a 32" TV to a 42" TV - you will see the same but more magnified (up to about 70 degrees FOV as most people have said already). Beyond this as you move to the ultrawide FOV of the naglers I would describe it as seeing the extra FOV as 'peripheral vision'. Not all peoples eyes are the same though. Your best bet is to attend an astronomy meetup/starparty and try looking through all the different eyepieces you are considering and then you will know what you want.

[Dazzler]

Thanks Mark & Tony for your input.

The dark sky expeditions are few and far between at the moment with the young family situation I have. That will change as the boys get older though so perhaps I'll take your advice Tony and keep an eye out for some second hand WA EPs at low mag to start with.

Mark, like you I am yet to see anything but glowing commentary on the 10mm XW anywhere not the least of which is contained in this thread.

Cheers.

[cck]

I prefer the Pentax XW10 on my TV-85, because of the 20-mm eye relief coupled
with consistant sharpness across the field. The Nagler Type-6 is also great, being
light and compact, but I get tired quickly trying to push my eye against eyepieces
with ER's <12 mm. I also own the TV Plossl 11 mm, which in my opinion are
noticibly sharper and higher-constrast than either the Nagler or Pentax on-axis
(not to mention much cheaper), but its smaller field of view (50 degrees) and shorter
ER makes it less than ideal for me. Again, personal preference, one look is worth
a 1000 words.
----------------------------
CCK.

[Stephen65]

I have the Pentax 10 and 7XW and I think they are both superb eyepieces, the 10XW in particular is my most used eyepiece. The twist up eyecups work well too and I like the 20mm eye relief.

As for the 70 v 82 degrees, I don't have any Naglers to compare but I do have two of the WO UWAN's (82 degree) in the long focal lengths and I don't notice any apparent difference. In fact, I prefer to have the FOV just framed by the focal stop instead of moving my eye to see the edge of the FOV. That's just a personal preference, many other people like the extra wide field of the 82 degree eyepieces.