new Burgess\TMB planetary eyepieces

[davidpretorius]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

The new Burgess/TMB planetary eyepieces with 60 deg AFOV and 16mm of eye relief at about $150 also look a very attractive alternative. I am thinking of buying a 6mm and trying it.

CS-John B

any local suppliers of these John?

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

The new Burgess/TMB planetary eyepieces with 60 deg AFOV and 16mm of eye relief at about $150 also look a very attractive alternative. I am thinking of buying a 6mm and trying it.

Im also very interested in this

[iceman (Mike)]

I don't know of any local suppliers, DP.. You'd have to import it, which isn't a drama. But they are receiving good reports in the US.

[chunkylad (David)]

Here is a link to a US distributor. They appear to be an interesting alternative.http://www.astronomics.com/main/cate...5JSCVC2/Page/1

[davidpretorius]

great link dave!

nice looking ep.

the 4mm would be the one for me as i am looking at the 4mm vixen lv????

[davidpretorius]

ok i have emailed high point scientific and astronomics in the USA so check whether there is a supposed "retaining ring" glare issue. and am very tempted to bring in a 4mm if things look ok.
___________________________________ __
Features:

• Designed by Thomas Back of TMB Optics
• 60° Apparent Field of View
• 16mm Eye Relief
• Fully internally baffled
• Every Air to Glass surface has Multi Broadband coatings!
• Internal spacers have flat anodizing to reduce reflections.
• Twist-up eyecups with flexible eyecups on top.

___________________________________ ________________________

[davidpretorius]

wow, that was quick, a reply from astronomics:
___________________________________ __________

Our new stock is supposed to have them in place already.
Clear Skies,
Pete

www.astronomics.com
www.cloudynights.com


www.astrofieds.com

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I have heard that have what is known as the "retaining ring" glare issue, but that this was being fixed and a replacement ring should be included when you purchase one. Is this correct?<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

They look like a great eyepiece!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Kind Regards<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

David Pretorius<o:p></o:p>

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

David/Geoff

You can't buy them in Australia. A number of US dealers have already been mentioned. Also if you go to the Burgess Website there is further information on the eyepieces there, also some links to worthwhile comments from Thomas Back re their design. If you go to their buying page it tells "non US" residents how to order them via email direct from Burgess. Be wary of the discounted 6mm for $US49, it is an early design that has now been improved upon slightly and the new version will be on sale very soon at the normal price of $US99.

http://www.burgessoptical.com/EPs.html

http://www.burgessoptical.com/EPs/Planetary.html

http://www.burgessoptical.com/OrderE-Mail.html


I have had recent discussions with Tom Trussock and John O'Hara about these eyepieces, here are some extracts:-

CS-John B

*********************************** ********************
>Tom Trussock wrote:

>Hi John,

>I worked with the prototype 4mm, as well as a final 4mm and 9mm (both
>with and without improved retaining rings).

>My experience is here:

> http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/Burgesstmb.pdf

>It includes a discussion of the glare issue - interestingly it was
>non-existent in the prototype (and possible homemade solutions), a
>record of my e-mails with TMB about the glare issue, and an update that
>includes how they perform with the replacement retaining ring.

>Frankly, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better all around
>eyepiece at that price. True the naglers have em in AFOV, the radians
>in eye relief - but for $100?

>Good deal.

>Tom T.

>>John O'Hara wrote:

>> One thing I'd like to see in the book are the new Burgess Planetary
>>eyepieces. I had a chance to do a detailed review under the stars,
>> and the 9 mm version compared very favorably, except for field of
>> view, with my 9 mm Nagler T-6. The AFoV of the 9 mm Burgess was
>> advertised as 60 deg., and mine came in at 61.6 deg., determined by
>> timing a star at the celestial equator. I'd be interested to know if
>> anyone on the "review team" has had an opportunity to uses any of
>>these eyepieces?
>
>> John O'Hara

[davidpretorius]

thanks john!

[davidpretorius]

very good read, i may be tempted away from my beloved vixens??????

John,

would you recommend a supplier from the states, I was thinking of taking onto one of the other forum members orders from the US to spread the freight.

thanks

dave p

[chunkylad (David)]

Thanks John

After that read, I may have to wait a little longer before purchasing more planetary eps. While my UO HD Ortho gives me the contrast and sharpness I'm looking for, I thought I would be hard pressed to find a comparable quality planetary ep in this price range - 60 degrees AFOV would be a blessing for my non-driven 12" dob.

BTW< does anyone know of the Burgess Planetary's off axis performance at F5 or faster? ( the article by Tom Truscott mentions testing at F6)
Dave

[barees63]

would you recommend a supplier from the states

FWIW, since highpointscientific were mentioned, I recently received a Tectron sight-tube from them and found them to be friendly and reliable, the freight cost was more reasonable than many US suppliers (they basically charged actual cost plus $1 P&H for airmail).

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

David,

I was planning to order mine from Burgess Optical themselves or Astronomics. If we get a few people that wish to purchase 1 or more of these I would be happy to handle the order and then distribute when I get the goods. It would certainly save everyone about $10 to $12 if we did this.

Is anyone interested in pooling the purchase ?

CS-John B

[davidpretorius]

yes, i would be john for a 4mm

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I'm interested in the 6mm . Any idea when the new improved version 6mm are due ?

Are there still savings to made considering im in Vic and the extra shipping cost?

[iceman (Mike)]

hmm they look pretty good.. 60deg AFOV, 16mm ER..

As chunkus said, any reports of how they perform at f/5 out to the edge?

I could be interested in bringing in a 6mm to Oz.. how much would that be?

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Loads of info on CN, Mike.
I was tempted to get one but decided to wait till they've completed the whole line and got all the bugs out (like the "retaining ring" glare issue, e.g.).

[davidpretorius]

$99 @ .75 + taxes etc = $160 ish????

plus the discount john B can get out of his good mates at every optics place in the known universe!

[davidpretorius]

retaining ring issue is fixed!

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

As David said the retaining ring issue is fixed on all of them. However they are clearing out the old design 6mm before they bring in the new design, this is why I am waiting. There is nothing wrong with the old design, just the new version is better. All focal lengths other than the 6mm are of the new design.

Geoff, Yes if we can get an order up for 6 to 12 eyepieces you will save a bit. Postage from Sydney to Hobart for David's collimator he bought off me was only $3.60. plus about $1-00 for the padded bag.

Lets assume 8 eyepieces. Postage from US would be say $24 for 8 eyepieces which is $3 each plus local postage of $4-60. Hence total postage cost if we buy 8 eyepieces is about $7-60 each. If you buy 1 eyepiece and ship direct from USA its going to cost you a lot more than $7-60 postage I would think.

I just realised we would need to keep the order under $AUS500 to avoid duty and GST, anyone know what the import limits are on this stuff at the moment?

CS-John B