AlexB67
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Everything posted by AlexB67
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I still got me old Pentax XL 10.5mm, the predecessor of the XW 10mm but got at about half price years ago, it was my first high end ep. I still love it, I vouch for Pentax, the few eyepieces that remind me of ortho likes views but with wider views, comfort and eye relief to boot. It took me a couple of nights to get the adjustment right, but then I never looked back. Keep an eye out on the second hand market, You never know, but I expect XLs may be relics by now, and more likely to score an XW. If you are like me I get a kick out of buying something used at half price when it still works like new.
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Congrats, Looks like a very nice scope. the weight of it is even significantly less then my 10 inch Skywatcher Flextube ?. Even got the curved spider vanes design, nice thought, and a friendly F ratio. My only deterrent would be the assembly time if you have to do that each time, taking it out of the house, or fitting it in car. The main reason l love the flextube design is for travel in a small car , yet it is very quick to setup each time. The tube is build like a tank too which make it quite heavy, but you'll not dent it .... unlike the much more expensive Orion UK Dobs I saw last year at a party. ?
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A 14mm Delos incoming, thanks to the lounge :) Managed to sell two BSTs in the space of 30 minutes and the Delos obtained a few days later. People don't hang about here do they ? :)
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Never tried a TV plossl as yet, not doubt lovely the only thing you'd be missing I suspect is the extra FOV. The 6mm Radian is super isn't it, got one too :) TBH honest had a generous offer of a 14mm Radian for rather a lot less and was strongly tempted, but since it is my birthday this month felt a bit of extra extravagance was in order with the Delos, I always wanted one anyway. Since both my 10mm Pentax and the delos are in the of 2 - 3 mm exit pupil sweet spot I like to use a lot...
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Alan did a review of the 14mm pentax versus delos at one time if I recall, it is somewhere in this subforum, or perhaps it was a 10, not sure. One of the man criticisms of the longer focal length pentax range is field curvature in faster Newts getting quite noticeable, though the paracorr does a very good job of removing most of that from what I gather that it is hardly visible, which wil be added to my stable at some point anyway so not too worried. My next purchase is a 14mm and likely will be the Delos, but I've not decided a 100 percent. perhaps it may be a XW or if an older XL tuned up. Often the second pentaxes can be got a bit cheaper too wich is another consideration for me as well. I am firmly stuck into that second hand buying though for those premium eyepieces, as Michael said in another thread there are many happy enough to shift stuff along on a frequent basis, and I'll happily grab a bargain and wait a bit for something to turn up
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I can see why I only have the 5mm BGO and love it, so even if I did have a pentax XW5 I would not sell the BGO, they are great on doubles too and I've been be using it for that too a lot lately, and in my 10 inch Dob the 5mm delivers 240x on saturn it is a marriage made in heaven, sharp contrast laden views, as crunchy as crisps. I can dig the ortho experience after owning one and it is a very pleasant one even if the eye relief is tight and FOV small. I can only imagine how good some of those real top end orthos must be like, but I am hapy with the BGO, I may even get a few more atsro hutechs or second hand BGO in time, since they are not that expensive. When I look through a pentax though it is the nearest thing that reminds me of an ortho in how it renders things, even if I haven't got one in the same focal length to compare that's the feeling I get looking through them, there is that next to no glass feeling when you look through them, yet pentaxes are full of glass. sorry for the OT.
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Very interesting read Alan. I have yet to sample that Delos range. Having looked through a couple of pentaxes though they are my favourites in the case as overall performers considering ease of use, wide FOV,eyerelief as well. I can dig why RikM ended up with a set of them, I am not jealous ......Who am I kidding The only downside of such eyepiece once you have looked through them is I want more of them, and they ain't cheap, but worth the money and saving for IMHO. I don't every see myself ending up with the 3.5 anytime soon, but the 5mm some day perhaps if I am getting too lazy for my beloved 5mm BGO.
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4 nights observing last week. Looks clear again. The nights may be short, but I love the mild temps and actually getting some observing done these days. :)
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A golden oldie tv radian 8mm arrived in post, to kepe my 6mm company. Came with box, eyeguard and all this time. Looks mint. Can't wait to give it a run.
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Enough to open your own telescope house, we know where to go when items are out of stock
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Nice and compact, and even the BGO colour mixes well with the TV, not that it matters. Imagine the same amount of ethos and delos, the case would be weigh like a concrete block
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Righto, expensive month, The pentax XW 7mm was hard to resist, and one huge fridge freezer for the kitchen, that's it for this month.
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Gave a couple of my oldie 2nd hand eyepieces a bit of the Baader wonder fluid treatment, now the eye lenses look pristine again. Good stuff that is :D
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Orderd some of that Baader wonderfluid plus microfibre cloth, then forgot to order the lens pen. Should I get the pen as well ? Got an existing cleanign kit that worked well anyway, but thought to get the best. I Doubt a lens pen would even be able to touch the tiny lens on the Baader BGO 5mm anyway.
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I wouldn't bother, Alex. It's probably a unique experience but my own really made a mess of an old X-Cel EP. Better a pear shaped blower and a little liquid and gentle rub. Incidentally, I've had my own BGOs for a number of years now and they have never needed a clean. You eyelashes will do that very well :-)
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BGO orthos rock, Good conditions for moon and Jupiter tonight. Never sees as much detail on Jupiter bands in little 5 inch scope like the Heritage 130p as with the 5mm BGO Ortho. Happy man :D Less glass is more I say :)
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Finally, It was clear, got up around 4, good time to bag SN2014J in M82, near zenith. Good views. :)
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scoping out some small clusters around cassiopiea, then dew. Some marvelous views of the dragonfly, but also sailboat, and some smaller NGCs and Caldwells, heaven for the rigel circles to find stuff :D
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A small break in clouds for a few hours this evening ... allegedly. Two new toys to try, surely cannot be ? I live in hope :)
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What's new this month ? One 68 degrees 20mm maxvision at a bargain 60 quid, plus a UHC ordered, plenty to keep me busy :)
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Suddenly clear skies here, righto .. I am out with scope :)
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Righto. Ordering a 1.25 inc UHC for the Heritage, and for the time being can be used in the 10 inch too. That's me done for a while now. Start saving again for the ep wear. < 6 weeks, ~ £ 600 gone. Darn, this hobby sucks ..... money :D
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Only ordered a Rigel reflex from FLO yesterday lunchtime, it was here this morning using the standard delivery option. Now that is fast. Is that even possible ?? I guess it must be :D
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This new 250 flex rocks. it has been the first time in weeks with even a half decent sky. A few clouds appearing though. A quick brew and see if there is more to come. :)
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First time buying big item from FLO, cracking service. Quick dispatch and excellent communication throughout, nice :).
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Righto. A 10 inch flextube DOB ordered from FLO. I look forward to it arriving. Seeing skies have been so bad here lately, I have a funny feeling it wil clear up later in the week to test it out. :)
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Right, holiday was somewhat cheaper than expected, now I have £ 500 left. I think you know what that is going to buy in th next few weeks :D
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