Who are the best eyepiece manufactures today?

Just to throw out an opinion and start some discussion, who does anyone think is/are the best overall eyepiece manufactures today?
I'd vote for University Optics and TeleVue. Both have been producing excellent eyepieces for decades and have great customer service. I won't argue that some people don’t like a specific line such as the TV Radian, but IMHO overall, both companies generally make excellent eyepieces for the price and bend over backwards to ensure customer satisfaction. I've called both and spoken directly with the owner who's been more than willing to spend a lot of time discussing optics and optical principals. I've had rare occasions where issues with a particular eyepiece were correct immediately without question, by both companies. (and I’m not saying you should “Love” TeleVue just because everyone else seems to either.)
To a lesser extent I've had similar experience with Gary Russell (lower end EPs) and Harry Seibert both of whom seem to have found a nitch. I have a couple Russell EPs that are great fun and some of Harry Seibert’s custom & Observatory Grade EPs are as good as anyone’s in their price range. Both companies provided me with excellent customer service & product but neither have the decades of multiple eyepiece lines that a U.O. or TeleVue has.
What do the rest of you think? Sounds like there are mixed reviews regarding TMB/Burgess at present, but what about any others? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly comments welcome.

Clear Skies, Bill

>>>Just to throw out an opinion and start some discussion, who does anyone think is/are the best overall eyepiece manufactures today?
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Not to be too picky and certainly I am not in a position to make any actual judgements but it is my understanding that neither of these companies actually manufacturers any optics in the sense of pushing glass. UO has had a long term relationship with some Japanese manufacturer. TV, obviously TV designs the stuff and tests it but again I believe TV farms out the actual fabrication to others.

I know very little about Zeiss but it does seem possible that Zeiss actaully manufactures optics...

Jon

TV
Pentax
Tak
Vixen

UO I don't really consider a "manufacturer". The others at least design there own proprietary eyepieces even if they don't build them themselves.

I bought a set of Brandon eyepieces and I think they are pretty good. Anyone else have experience with the Brandons?

Hey Bill,
I like the Televue EPs for consistent quality. I like the University Optics for quality at a lower price. I like Pentax for having some gems in their line, but they are not consistent in their quality of view.
There are others out there, like Siebert, Russel, Baadar ect, that have some good and some not so good EPs.
I have chosen mostly TV for my EPs. I have some Pentax, Meade, UO and a few other misc makers.
I like the Pentax XL series 5.2-7-10.5mm EPs and use them a great deal, but I sold the 21mm & 14mm due to field curvature which is why I do not put Pentax on the top.
All my Televue EPs are of excellent quality. I have not seen a bad Nagler or for that matter a poor TV EP of any type.
So, I give Televue my #1 status for good quality, with excellent service and the ability to have them repaired after purchase.

By Reputation:
1. Televue (duh)
2. Old Zeiss
3. Pentax
4. UO

By Experience:
1. Televue Nagler and Panoptics
2. Vixen LVWs (amazing. I prefer the 5 and 8 to comparable radian and naglers, even with the different FOV)
3. Televue Plossls

Star Party or Budget:
1. Burgess UWA
2. Orion Expanse
3. GSO Super View

I have only looked through a few from Celestron and Meade, and was not impressed. I realize it's a small sample, so I'm not flaming here. Everything I've looked through from Orion (save the ED-2) has been better than expected for the price - especially the expanse line. Orion's customer service has always been great to me.

IT's fashionable to give Bill Burgess a hard time, but his stuff is fine - i picked up some UWA's at a star party and they bested the Expanses of the same FL and FOV, at half the price...

We'll see how he improves his QC and customer service - i'm optimistic.

verdict:

TELEVUE AND VIXEN
(wait, they're the same company as far as North America is concerned! surprise!)

I'll take a Siebert Star Splitter over a Burgess TMB any day, and that goes double if it's to be used in a binoviewer (or double-double, since it would be bought in pairs).

A Celestron Ultima is as good, if not better, than a Tele Vue Plossl. Comparing the Celestron 50mm Axiom (which behaves like an Ultima) to the Tele Vue 55mm Plossl, the 50mm Axiom even costs quite a bit more! I have the 50mm Axiom, and it's a killer EP. The Ultima was once made all the way out to an 80mm, I think. There is a 60mm for sale on eBay right now.

Don't forget Baader Planetarium and their Ortho, Eudiascopic and Hyperion series. Buyers in Europe probably won't get a better deal from anybody else when quality is figured in. All Baader gear is top shelf stuff, and I own quite a few of their filters and accessories.

Phil