The new Pentax XW eyepieces

I would be interested in any information on the performance of the new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard

Hi Leonard,
Read the posts here by Marcus Ludes:
http://www.astromart.com/messages.as...id=92831&page=

Ed


"Leonard" wrote in message
om...
I would be interested in any information on the performance of the new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard

"Edward" wrote in message thlink.net...
Hi Leonard,
Read the posts here by Marcus Ludes:
http://www.astromart.com/messages.as...id=92831&page=

Ed

Hi Ed ,

Thank you for pointing me in that direction .

Leonard

I loaned a 40mm XW to one of the Cloudynights.com reviewers at Astrofest.
I think you will see something independent real soon, not from a dealer.
Gary Hand



Leonard wrote:

I would be interested in any information on the performance of the new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard

At Astrofest Peter Smitka set up his Portaball scopes next to me. Since we
are from the same old neighborhood we talked, and covered a number of topics
(has John Diebel REALLY retired?). Eventually he suggested that we compare
his new 21mm XW to my 21 XL in his 12.5" F5. Same night, same place, same
scope, same object. We agreed that their resolution is pretty much the same,
that the XW had a wider field (duh) and that it also provided more contrast.
Pete saw more contrast than my aging eyes, but it was easily apparent to
both of us. This doesn't exactly make a controlled labe experiment and it
lasted for only 15-20 minutes, but FWIW we both agreed on the basics. It's
up to the buyer to decide whether the additional cost is worth it.

Bob Schmall

"Gary Hand" wrote in message
...
I loaned a 40mm XW to one of the Cloudynights.com reviewers at Astrofest.
I think you will see something independent real soon, not from a dealer.
Gary Hand



Leonard wrote:

I would be interested in any information on the performance of the new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard

I bought the 7mm XW from Gary Hand at Astrofest and used it two nights
so far. I was very impressed with my initial observations and plan to
post a more detailed review here sometime soon. I can say that I'm
very impressed with the coatings and the mere size of the eye lens is
huge especially for a 7mm eyepiece.


"Bob Schmall" wrote in message ...
At Astrofest Peter Smitka set up his Portaball scopes next to me. Since we
are from the same old neighborhood we talked, and covered a number of topics
(has John Diebel REALLY retired?). Eventually he suggested that we compare
his new 21mm XW to my 21 XL in his 12.5" F5. Same night, same place, same
scope, same object. We agreed that their resolution is pretty much the same,
that the XW had a wider field (duh) and that it also provided more contrast.
Pete saw more contrast than my aging eyes, but it was easily apparent to
both of us. This doesn't exactly make a controlled labe experiment and it
lasted for only 15-20 minutes, but FWIW we both agreed on the basics. It's
up to the buyer to decide whether the additional cost is worth it.

Bob Schmall

"Gary Hand" wrote in message
...
I loaned a 40mm XW to one of the Cloudynights.com reviewers at Astrofest.
I think you will see something independent real soon, not from a dealer.
Gary Hand



Leonard wrote:

I would be interested in any information on the performance of the new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard

Anyone have any comments how these compare to the Nagler type 6?

Mike.


"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I bought the 7mm XW from Gary Hand at Astrofest and used it two nights
so far. I was very impressed with my initial observations and plan to
post a more detailed review here sometime soon. I can say that I'm
very impressed with the coatings and the mere size of the eye lens is
huge especially for a 7mm eyepiece.


"Bob Schmall" wrote in message
...
At Astrofest Peter Smitka set up his Portaball scopes next to me. Since
we
are from the same old neighborhood we talked, and covered a number of
topics
(has John Diebel REALLY retired?). Eventually he suggested that we
compare
his new 21mm XW to my 21 XL in his 12.5" F5. Same night, same place,
same
scope, same object. We agreed that their resolution is pretty much the
same,
that the XW had a wider field (duh) and that it also provided more
contrast.
Pete saw more contrast than my aging eyes, but it was easily apparent to
both of us. This doesn't exactly make a controlled labe experiment and
it
lasted for only 15-20 minutes, but FWIW we both agreed on the basics.
It's
up to the buyer to decide whether the additional cost is worth it.

Bob Schmall

"Gary Hand" wrote in message
...
I loaned a 40mm XW to one of the Cloudynights.com reviewers at
Astrofest.
I think you will see something independent real soon, not from a
dealer.
Gary Hand



Leonard wrote:

I would be interested in any information on the performance of the
new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard

Anyone have any comments how these compare to the Nagler type 6?


Very, very similiar in performance--excluding the obvious greater eye relief in
the XW and the greater FOV in the Nagler.

Lower cost and smaller size made me choose the 13mm T6 Nagler over the 14mm XW.


Todd

http://www.backyardastronomy.com
http://www.skynewsmagazine.com
http://www.simpleastrophotography.com

"Bob Schmall" wrote in message ...

We agreed that their resolution is pretty much the same,
that the XW had a wider field (duh) and that it also provided more contrast.
Pete saw more contrast than my aging eyes, but it was easily apparent to
both of us.

That's pretty impressive; my XLs already have the best contrast of
any EPs I have ever used (by my own utterly subjective estimate).

- Tony Flanders

Are the new 20mm XW's the same diameter as the 21mm XL's ? I am
thinking of a pair for my binoviewer.

Joe


"Bob Schmall" wrote in message ...
At Astrofest Peter Smitka set up his Portaball scopes next to me. Since we
are from the same old neighborhood we talked, and covered a number of topics
(has John Diebel REALLY retired?). Eventually he suggested that we compare
his new 21mm XW to my 21 XL in his 12.5" F5. Same night, same place, same
scope, same object. We agreed that their resolution is pretty much the same,
that the XW had a wider field (duh) and that it also provided more contrast.
Pete saw more contrast than my aging eyes, but it was easily apparent to
both of us. This doesn't exactly make a controlled labe experiment and it
lasted for only 15-20 minutes, but FWIW we both agreed on the basics. It's
up to the buyer to decide whether the additional cost is worth it.

Bob Schmall

"Gary Hand" wrote in message
...
I loaned a 40mm XW to one of the Cloudynights.com reviewers at Astrofest.
I think you will see something independent real soon, not from a dealer.
Gary Hand



Leonard wrote:

I would be interested in any information on the performance of the new
Pentax XW eyepieces . How do they stack up to the XL's ?
Anyone try the 30 mm yet in an F 7 ,8 or 9 refractor ?
Thanks , Leonard