Posts Made By: Chuck Lamkin

I have just received my 26mm Nagler Type 5 and have noticed the following as compaired to the 31mm Nagler:

(1) it is MUCH smaller in size than the 31mm (about 2/3 the size),

(2) it weighs almost exactly the same as the 22mm and 17mm Naglers (or the 35 Panoptic)

(3) The field of view is only slightly smaller in my 12.5 f/5 scope. It is only .2 degrees smaller and 9x difference in magnification. In fact, in actual use, the 26mm gives a similar feel for the wide field that the 31mm gives.

(4) I have NO balance issues that the 31mm Nagler gave me.

I sold my 31 and 22 Naglers to purchase this beauty and pocketed the extra $$ (I was using the 31 and 22 Naglers almost interchangably).

The 26mm Nagler gets a "Best Buy" tagging in my book. All in all, the 26 solved a balance problem, put some $$ in my pocket, and simplified my eyepiece case. Will it do the same for you? Only you can tell on your 26mm "Judgement Day."

Chuck

Hi everyone!

I would like to get opinions on the Tele Vue StarBeam finder. I would like to know how it works and actual use, and how heavy it is (is it much heavier than a Telrad?).

I would be using it (if practical) on my 12.5" f5 dob.

Thanks!

Chuck

Has anyone compaired the two. I had the 26mm Nagler but had to sell it due to a financial hardship. I am thinking about replacing it with a 27mm Panoptic until finances are in order. I see them selling for $250 - $280 used here on Astromart. Good decision, or should I wait to get the 26 Nagler? I have NO low power eyepieces at this time (lowest is the 17mm Nagler). Opinions please!

Thanks,

Chuck

Hello all! I am wondering if anyone has done a "head to head" comparison of the new 26mm Nagler to the 27mm Panoptic. I had the 26 Nagler (briefly) but needed to sell it due to financial hardship that I am suffering. I have looked through the 27 Pan, and have been impressed, but have never done a direct comparison.

The reason that I am interested is due to my hardship, I probably will not be able to afford the cost of the Nagler, but ***might*** be able to pull of the Panoptic at the right price used. Then maybe I can "upgrade" to the Nagler when things clear up. I just want opinions and possibly other options that may be available. My current collection of eyepieces are: 17mm Nagler T4, 12mm Nagler T4, 9,7,& 5 Nagler T6; so I need a "low power" eyepiece. My telescope is a StarMaster 12.5 EL. I also use a Paracorr.

For what it is worth, I have used the 31 Nagler and it was too heavy for the scope, and used to own a 35 Panoptic, but the magnification was too low for my taste. By my calculations, the 27 Pan should give me 68x and 1 degree of FOV.

Any ideas or suggestions??

Thanks!

Chuck

I understand and feel your pain. One star party that I attended, decided to have a kite making contest for kids. Needless to say, the kids wanted to FLY their kites. I literally saw kids running between scopes (looking back towards their kites) to try and get them "up and away." It was not until an LX200 got a direct hit when the contest ended.

At another event (at the same location) some teenagers began rough-housing which quickly turned into a fight. Two adults tried to break up the fight unsuccessfully. The two teenagers finally rolled into an expensive refractor and tripod. The two teenagers (both with bloody lips) quickly made up after the fight and left laughing. The owner of the scope was not laughing.

Bottom line? If your scope is set up at a public event or starparty, don't leave its side. If any newbies want to look through it, kindly give some "ground rules" on how the scope works and what NOT to do. I have had no problems since doing so.

Chuck

Hello everyone! Lets discuss what scope would be the best of all possible worlds for my situation.

I live smack dab in the middle of the city. I have a 12.5 f/5 dob but don't want to lug it downstairs to view (I live on the 3rd floor).

What I really want is to do some viewing from my small balcony. My balcony faces towards the North, so I can get a glimpse of some deep stuff, but since I am in the city, most of it will be washed out. Besides most of the neat stuff is behind me in the South, and my main interest is the Moon and the planets (after all, thats about all I will be able to see - I might throw in some bright open clusters as well).

Any ideas on what the perfect scope would be for such a situation?

Chuck

Hello everyone!

Does anyone here have any "real life" advice regarding which dew heaters work the best? I know that most people use Kendricks, but want opinions on the newer Thousand Oaks product or if anyone has made their own. I have a Short Tube scope that I would like to outfit with heaters, but don't want to spend a mint.

Thanks!

Chuck

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I have just received a TV76 and use a Panoramic mount. The mount is portable and easy to set up, but tends to get the jitters at higher powers. I love the TelePod head that is on it, but am thinking of replacing the tripod with something beefier.

I am thinking of getting a surveyor's tripod for the kind of stability that I want. Would this be overkill? Should I go for a Gilbralter instead.

If anyone has real life experience with different mounts using a Pronto/76 let me know your thougts. Thanks for your answers in advance!

Chuck

Does anyone know if there is a service that re-applys coatings to eyepieces?

Thanks

22mm has 17mm of eye relief, the 26mm has 16mm. A small but noticable difference.

I would have to say that the 26mm is about 95% as comfortable as the 22mm for viewing.

Hope this helps.