I'm looking for good eyepieces for planetary/moon observing, I'm choosing between the Edmund RKE and UO Ortho eyepieces. I would like to get comments that helps med decide which eyepieces to buy.
Edmund RKE vs. UO Ortho
Started by Johannes, 05/30/2003 01:12PM
Posted 05/30/2003 01:12PM
Opening Post
Posted 05/30/2003 11:30PM
#1
I had several focal lengths of the UO orthos. These eyepieces provide good images for the price on the planets and the moon. They exhibit much better contrast than the TV Nagler Type 1 eyepieces (4.8mm, 7mm) on these objects, and a tad sharper and brighter. Never tried the RKE line.
Posted 05/31/2003 11:31PM
#2
I have a 12mm RKE and a 12.5mm UO Ortho. I have tested them rather extensively visually (along with a number of other 12mm eyepieces). IMO the UO is significantly sharper on axis and transmits more light than the RKE.
Further, the UO images are relatively blue, the RKE images are relatively red, which to my eyes makes the moon, planets and red stars in the RKE's all more colorful, which I like. The RKE's have a slightly larger field of view and are more comfortable than the UO's, which are also reasonably comfortable.
On the basis of sharpness and light transmission, I like the UO orthos better than the RKE's. When the RKE's were $40 it was a closer contest, but to me no contest at the same price. Edmund is completely out of touch with the amateur community these days; if they weren't they'd at least multicoat the RKE's.
The new UO HD orthos for about $80 from Helix are also interesting. I bought several, including a 12mm but have not tested them enough to make a definitive statement. They are all parfocal like the RKE's and unlike the older UO's. Being parfocal is worth $$$$ to me even if the eyepieces are no better than the older excellent UO orthos. Clear skies!
Further, the UO images are relatively blue, the RKE images are relatively red, which to my eyes makes the moon, planets and red stars in the RKE's all more colorful, which I like. The RKE's have a slightly larger field of view and are more comfortable than the UO's, which are also reasonably comfortable.
On the basis of sharpness and light transmission, I like the UO orthos better than the RKE's. When the RKE's were $40 it was a closer contest, but to me no contest at the same price. Edmund is completely out of touch with the amateur community these days; if they weren't they'd at least multicoat the RKE's.
The new UO HD orthos for about $80 from Helix are also interesting. I bought several, including a 12mm but have not tested them enough to make a definitive statement. They are all parfocal like the RKE's and unlike the older UO's. Being parfocal is worth $$$$ to me even if the eyepieces are no better than the older excellent UO orthos. Clear skies!
