Williams optics zoom vs Baader hyperion zoom

[Chippy (Nick)]

The WO ZoomII is a very sharp eyepiece and good on planets. Works pretty well with a barlow too. The only thing I don't like is the narrow fov at the longer focal lengths.

I think the Baader might be quite a lot heavier too. I'd love to try one out.

[Prickly]

Ive been very impressed with the WO gear Chippy. One of these days I'd like to get a williams optics diagonal. Ive little doubt the WO zoom is a class unit.

Like you though I think the extra 10 degrees or so at high powers really would make the world of difference as an "all rounder" eyepiece.

Perhaps someone out there can let us all know how the hyperion and WO zooms compare.

Cheers
David

[Chippy (Nick)]

Yeah I've got a fair bit of WO kit now, and I'm pretty happy. It's not Televue or Zeiss, but pretty decent in nearly all cases. Baader stuff seems very good quality too. To be honest if they are around the same price I might be inclined to go for the Baader. But that's without seeing one!

[Zuben el Genubi]

Can't really compare... but I've got the Baader Hyperion Zoom.

Bit extra FOV than WO (I think from memory). Sharp all the way across. Best between 8-20 (not much extra viewing with 24 click). Not parfocal, but only needs a little adjusting.

Watch out for quality control... friend and I bought one each, and both had different problems!! Were able to exchange them though... the one I've got now is suprisingly good

[Prickly]

Thanks Zuben,

What were the quality control problems that you and your friend encountered.

No doubt the majority of the eyepiece are ok but just be interested to know.

Thanks
David

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I've just returned the WO (Moonfish) Zoom eyepiece to the seller... got the refund...
Reason: I found after using it for a while on the Ha scope that there was a "shadow" in the image... I though it may have been something on the diagonal or filter... final traced it down to a "growth" on one of the internal glass elements on the Zoom eyepiece!!
This "fungal" growth was creeping in from one edge, with many "tendrils"...
The eyepiece was only 2 years old; and they said was kept in "dry" conditions.... Hmmmm
Buyer beware!

[Zuben el Genubi]

David,

One of the Hyperion Zooms had a spacer ring missing so the skirt couldn't be tightened and there was quite a bit of 'wobble'. We subsequently found out that this has been reported by others. At the time we knew, because we had the other EP to compare with.

The second EP had what looked like a 'hair' inside... no way to get it out, so must have been built into it. Even this problem has been reported by others! I noticed it by using the full zoom function and looking at a very bright moon... lots of light and you could see the contaminate rotate around with the lens elements.

But, as I said, they were replaced... and the replacements really are suprisingly good (given the bad reputation of zooms!). Just look carefully (if you can, at the shop... the problem with mail orders).

[Prickly]

Hi Zuben,

Thanks very much for the feedback. As is often the case there can be some systematic problems but overall I hear good reports about the hyperions.

Cheers
David