Re: More on 10.5 XL (Pentax Users Anonymous)

Greg, I have the makings of a similar addiction. It took me years before I broke down and bought a 21mm XL. The views and comfort were incredible. That got me over the psychological barrier of spending real $$ on an eyepiece, and so a 14mm XL joined the ranks soon after.

Then for a few years, barlowing kept me from buying more as I figured I was saving $. But recently I've started getting a little tired of barlowing and pondered getting a used 10.5mm XL. Instead an Astromart 10mm XW called me first!

Now the flood dam may be broken!

I'm wondering whether you ever barlowed the XLs or not. Did you try it and not like it? Was there too much strain on the diagonal? (I only used the Pentaxes in dobs myself as the couple of times I tried my Pentax in a spotting scope my worries about the potential twist, plop, & CRASH overcame any appreciation for the wonderful views!)

I, too, would be interested in hearing more about the XLs vs. XWs, especially on field curvature in the longer focal lengths (same? worse?) (I know the technical curves and user experience sugest the XWs have it, too, but was wondering the comparative amounts!). I do wonder whether to replace the 21/14 XLs. Although any replacement would have to be clearly sharper over a wider field of view and have similar comfort!

Oh, my aching wallet! 8)

Just found this here on AF

http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=449006&poll_id=&news_id=&page=

Larry,
I regularly barlow a 10.5 XL for 320X on the planets through one scope and for 350X on another. The wide field is marvelous on an undriven dob, and the views are comparable to any other eyepieces I've tried...just a little shy of what an ortho will provide. How it would work on a refractor diagonal, I couldn't say.
Larry

Larry, thanks for the barlow/planet observation. I have been depending on a Vixen 8-24mm zoom with a baffled Orion barlow for planet views (almost as good as those through the RKEs, equal to orthos in my climate). But I'll have to start trying the XL/XWs barlowed again. A little bit of weight, but I'm using dobs, so that should work.

Greg, thanks for the personal history. Gosh, you have the 7mm XL and barlow it... and still got the 3.5 XW ! They really are some eyepieces! Glad for the second confirmation about the barlowing. That could save me some $.

As you note, there is something magical about good nights with special equipment. I share your sense of good glass and OK, although sometimes there I'm surprised by how well the "OK" glass does. But I'm always pleased with the Pentaxes.

What's been your reaction to the field curvature on the 20mm?

I have a 21mm and 14mm XL, which are notorious for it, but really like the views. I think seeing conditions & my eyeglasses prescription may have more to do with the focusing imperfections I sometimes have than the eyepiece! I suppose I really should try an eyepiece with a really flat field sometime. I tried a 22mm Panoptic years ago and preferred the Pentax.