New Meade Series 5000 Eyepieces - Taking a run at Televue

This could be interesting. Based only on this announcement ,
http://www.meade.com/authdealers/ser...000_lowRes.pdf
, it *looks* like Meade is taking a serious run at Televue in the
eyepiece game. I notice that Meade has gone back to the 5-element
design for the Plossls (which makes it no longer a Plossl, but that's
splitting hairs). This is a Masuyama design (i.e. Takahashi LE
series), and this design is very good, though Meade describes theirs
as having a 60º apparent field of view vs. the standard 52º.

The Super Wide Angle series looks like a direct competitor to the
Televue Panoptic line, and the Ultra Wide Angle series is a Nagler
competitor. I see that Meade has tossed away the silly (and
incorrect/false) marketing nonsense of one-upmanship in claiming
slightly higher specs than the comparable Televue products.

I also note the the current Meade 14mm UWA sells for about US$300 and
in the new series, the 14mm is US$100 cheaper. The old 14mm was/is an
outstanding EP, considered by most reviewers to be the best that Meade
produced and on par with the Televue Naglers. I had one and sold it. I
regretted that big-time and picked up another one off Astromart.

These EP's are scheduled for release over the next two months. I'm
betting that this is the reason that Televue is having a sale on it's
Nagler and Radian line (about 15% off) until the end of the year. I'm
betting that if the new Meade EP's live up to the claims Meade has
made in this early flyer, Televue will permanently lower the cost of
their premium Ep's. Look for a sale on the Panoptic line in the new
year. It will be interesting to read the first serious reviews of
these new eyepieces. It would be remarkable if Meade actually came up
with new eyepieces that could give Televue a run for their money. If
they did, it would result in more choice and lower prices for the
asto-consumer for premium-quality optics. Wait and see.

Cheers,

- Craig.

(P.S. - I own a couple of cases full of Televue products. I love 'em,
but I love competition more)