My Pentax collection is now complete

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

I couldn't wait any longer, I have just received my final addition to my Pentax family. I am the proud owner of an XW-30. This will give a magnification of 33 and an exit pupil of a tad over 6mm, any more would risk throwing light away. FOV of around 2 full degrees...that's about 4 Moons across. I just need a clear night to test it.

First impressions are, as with all the others...impressive. Packaging is excellent, finish is the expected quality. Can't say much about the optics yet except that looking through it appears almost like there is nothing in there! It is not quite as big as a similar Nagler, but still pretty massive...I just hope when I slide it into the scope, it doesn't point to the ground under the weight.

Now I just need a case to put them into....good thing Father's Day is coming up....

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Nice one !

If you think its heavy, the 31mm nagler weighs about a kilo

[davidpretorius]

i vote that your signature is the best looking ie highest drool factor


"Pentax XW-7, XW-10, XW-14 & XW-30, Panoptic 24"

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

The Panoptic looks a little orphaned, maybe I should swap it for an XW-20?

[iceman (Mike)]

That's a nice collection you're acruing. I hope you're getting a bulk buy discount from star optics!

If you get rid of the 24 pan, I would certainly be interested in it

[RB (Andrew)]

Very nice collection indeed.
The 24mm Pan, is a very handy EP to have BTW.

Wouldn't mind the Pentaxs'.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

The Panoptic looks a little orphaned, maybe I should swap it for an XW-20?

No!!!!! The 20mm Pentax XW is the worst of all the 1.25" Pentax XW series.

FWIW, I own the 5mm,7mm,10mm,14mm and 20mm Pentax XW's and 27mm TV Panoptic. I never use the 20mm Pentax XW. This has more to do with it's focal length than it's optical performance. Don't get me wrong it is still a very good eyepiece. On axis light transmission, sharpness and contrast are better than anything else available, but it suffers some field curvature from about 60% off axis. This field curvature is not so pronounced when used in a longer F-Ratio refractor, where the eyepiece performs very well. For instance it will work very well in Rocket Boys TOA-130. It won't work so well in a scope with an inherently curved focal plane like an 8"/f6 newtonian or a SCT.

Owning the 20mm Pentax XW and having used the 21mm Denkmeier I can tell you the Denk is a better eyepiece for similar money. I will be selling the 20mm Pentax XW and buying the 21mm Denkmeier when my Texan friend returns from the USA in a few months time.

CS-John B

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Owning a couple of pentaxs and a 24mm panoptic myself i feel that the pano is the odd one out with its shorter eye relief. If only it had the ER of the pentaxs I would be perfectly happy with it.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Geoff, you are just plain greedy when it comes to eye relief.
I find the 19mm Pano has just about enough eye relief (1mm more would be good), and the 27mm has too much. I expect that for me the 24mm would be about right or a tad too much for the Panoptic eyecup design. With more ER you'd need an adjustable eyecup like on the Pentaxes (I wish the 27mm had one).

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Looks like a great collection (we have similar tastes in eyepieces)...one question...

Is any eyepiece collection ever truly complete?

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

Is any eyepiece collection ever truly complete?

I guess a collection is complete when you have one of everything...so by that definition I guess I am half way there! But the money I had allocated is well and truly gone. If you get something you weren't expecting, it doesn't matter if you spend it on something else you weren't expecting to afford!

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Geoff, you are just plain greedy when it comes to eye relief.
I find the 19mm Pano has just about enough eye relief (1mm more would be good), and the 27mm has too much. I expect that for me the 24mm would be about right or a tad too much for the Panoptic eyecup design. With more ER you'd need an adjustable eyecup like on the Pentaxes (I wish the 27mm had one).

Fair call, but i dont remember the 27mm having too much I found it a very comfortable eyepiece to use.
The 24mm isnt bad, it just feels slightly cramped after using a pentax

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Fair call, but i dont remember the 27mm having too much I found it a very comfortable eyepiece to use.

Individual preferences/eyes/face make a difference I suppose. If I rest my face on the eye cup of the 27mm I get blackout. I have to pull back a few mm. I should probably try and hassle Bintel about getting a few Televue eyeguard extenders in. The 35mm Pano definitely needs it if you don't wear glasses.

[bytor666]

I'd have to agree with Starkler about the eye relief on the 27mm Pan. It's perfect!....even a 22mm pan has nice eye relief on it !!!!

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by OneOfOne

The Panoptic looks a little orphaned, maybe I should swap it for an XW-20?

I own a few XW's myself and the 20mm is one you prolly dont want. I
swapped the 20mm out for a 20mm t5. This gives me another 2" ep at
that focal length. Which also gives another 2"er for the 2" filters. Will
be interested in hearing what you think of the 30XW it will prolly be
my next ep.

Edit: I should add that the 20mm t5 has an ER of only 12mm, but I have
no problem with this even though I primarily use XW's

regards,CS

Rob

PS: IMO no XW collection is complete without the 3.5mm it's the best
planetary ep I have ever used period. But that is just me

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

IMO no XW collection is complete without the 3.5mm it's the best
planetary ep I have ever used period

Now why did you have to say that! Now I am going to have to start saving. Once the skies clear, I will be able to give the 30 a go, just got to find a large open cluster.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

I would also be keen to hear how the 30mm Pentax XW performs, particularly in terms of it's Edge of Field performance. I currently have the 27mm TV Panoptic but have been contemplating the 30mm Pentax XW for a couple of years as an alternative.

CS-John B