Alan White

Chris

When I had my Giro I tried it on the same Manfrotto tripod, but the Carbon version I have for photography and it was wobbly as heck with the ED100.

I then used the 1.75" steel legs and it was better, but 

I then used CG5 2" steel legs and it was solid and I mean solid in use.
 

1 hour ago, rwilkey said:

I have just bought the XW10 from a fellow SGLer and am looking forward to using it soon, loved your report, so thanks for that.

I hope you are as pleased with it as I am with my one.
 

So pleased for you John,

Not any rambling in your report at all, just clear explanation and excitement at achieving a long term observing goal, wonderful.

I know what you mean about the seeing last night, very so so here to.

You should enjoy it a lot.
The 22mm LVW I have is a very treasured astro possession.
 

Looks great Chris, I was awaiting a picture and first light report.

But with all this cloud, knew it would take a few nights or more to happen.

That is a nice compact scope, looks far more petite than my ed80.

9 minutes ago, Louis D said:

All this talk of Marmite makes me want to search it out and try it now.

Really Louis, but you might hate it!  Nice on toasted bread.

Also sold around the world as Vegamite and other similar names, Vegex in the USA perhaps.
 

Oh yes, so true and often at quite a cost when it and you are not suited.
 

As Dave says, eyepieces are so personal and subjective.

Both Dave and I love our LVW 22mm units, probably for the same reasons; 
Comfort of use, clarity of view, edge to edge sharpness, how it renders the image to our liking.
Others may not like them at all.

The 10mm XW was similar for all my criteria;
Comfort of use, clarity of view, edge to edge sharpness, how it renders the image to my liking.

I have a Tak LE 7.5mm and a 5mm too.
The criteria are almost met;
Clarity of view, edge to edge sharpness, how it renders the image to my liking.
I do not find it as comfortable as the XW or LVW to use, but they are easier to use than orthos.
These may and I only say may be joined or replaced by XW as funds allow.
We will see, they may just stay.

Michael suggested Vixen SLV being just as easy to use,
I did not find that myself, the twist up eye-cup did not work for me and I could find the eye placement fussy at times.
The clarity of view, sharpness edge to edge all were wonderful.
Many folks on here really rate the SLV and rightly so, if it meets your personal criteria, it's a winner.

 

Interesting Michael, 

I didn’t like the SLV could not get comfortable with them, sold them all.

The Vixen LVW is rather nice, love my 22mm one.

6 minutes ago, John said:

Great report Alan

It was the loan of a Pentax XW 10mm from FLO that pursuaded me that my excellent Tele Vue Nagler T6's could be bested

 

I have not viewed through a Nagler, have through my TV Plossl and looked through a 24mm Panoptic a few years ago.

Problem is, I want more now, I knew this was a slippery slope!!!   and I am still on beans until payday already.

Second light with my XW as it got dark this afternoon and before the cloud rolled in from the east.
I used my ED 80 and did some lunar observing, having worked from home today I was ready to roll at 4.15.

What a comfortable eyepiece it is, at native 10mm a nice 60x and what a sharp and enjoyable view.

Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis  very defined with some very fine detail visible.
Mare Crisium gave up its four small craters well and the raised peaks.

Decided to do something I do not normally do and Barlow it with my 2x Televue Barlow, wow. 

120x with the Barlow and as good as at 10mm 60x just bigger, probably at edge of the seeing for me today though, or so I thought: 
then I did something wild and set the barlowed ep into my tal 2x barlow, wow again, still held together but getting rough at something like 200x?

Rolled it back to just the 10mm and brighter and crisper due to the magnification and fine eyepiece.

This are the best lunar views I have had, ever, the XW is that good.

I have been using TV plossl and also Tak LE So was very surprised by the view.

The eyepiece is so comfortable, eye placement is simple and just so nice to use.
Makes me a very relaxed observer and that makes for good observation when conditions allow.  
Clearly this may vary from person to person.

I never believed eyepieces could be so different until the last 12 months when I have moved through a number and getting more expensive.
Now at Pentax XW and Vixen LVW and can see a lot of selling going on and a little buying with the resulting funds.

Did I saw WOW?   

14 minutes ago, Sky-J said:

I love binocular astronomy, a great way to start any session and I always travel with at least one pair.

Here are some of my faves:

• Canon is 10x30 (most used)
• Canon IS 15x50
• APM ED APO 10x50 (amazing glass!)
• Nikon 8x42
• WW2 Canadian 8x50
• Celestron 10x42 (surprisingly good!)

Now that is a fine collection of Binoculars, I use the 's' because you display more than one instrument.

Is the Canon 10x30 non stabilised?

20 minutes ago, Timebandit said:

It a good job then I saved you from yourself and pulled the trigger on the LVW first. Otherwise you would of been on a diet of bread and water ? ?  ?

Indeed it was.
Even worse I nearly had the 5mm XW too.

Thankfully the Finance Officer noted my budget extension plans.

3 minutes ago, Dave Smith said:

That is how I managed to get my 10mm XW Pentax. On AB&S it was the very latest ad so was able to snap it up.

Yesterday the postman brought this one along and the last two nights have been clear!!

I'm just getting back into observing (rather than imaging - which I will continue) and it has been great seeing old friends back in the sky. My view of M42 was the best I have ever seen in the 17mm (in a 10" SW flex tube dob)

and also had nice views of M81,82 the eskimo neb, M1, M36 and the double cluster. No more eyepiece spending from now on as I'm also on beans on toast for some time to come. I'm really looking forward to the next Kelling with dark skies.

Dave

 

It's like the OK Coral at present Dave.

How comes you are still able to afford the toast as well as the beans after two eyepieces?   
That's not fair, we are on a diet of beans only till payday ;-) so best keep away from this end of Essex for a while!

1 hour ago, John said:

Ain't that the truth !

I have one empty eyepiece case at the moment - it's whispering "fill me, fill me" from the corner of the dining room.

John, Voices in your head huh?

Listen to them, it's a sign.

1 minute ago, Piero said:

I'm actually waiting for 2 Baader adapters and something from Switzerland , but they will take a while to arrive...hopefully for Christmas..    

oh well, they will arrive at some point!  

An AYO mount perhaps?  If yes, please tell us more, I rather hanker for one.

If not I hope its a nice chocolate bar ;-)

Looks like we are all buying nice eyepieces at present.
Also it's a fastest to the draw situation, some you win some you loose.

2 hours ago, Timebandit said:

 take it you are not a fan of my LVW Alan?. I Maybe looking for a 22 if all goes well. Maybe you are looking to move your 22LVW on ??

 

No, I like your 13mm very much, you beat me to it in the For Sale section when Dave f15rules put it up for sale.

As for the 22mm LVW, Oh No, that's not moving from me.   
 

50 minutes ago, Timebandit said:

 

 

Present, and its not even Christmas?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vixen LVW13 ?

Grrrrr 

That is one amazing project, looks really great.

I can see why you feel a need to wrap it up and protect it.

25 minutes ago, faulksy said:

nice one alan, need to alter my signature now

Sorry Mike.

Nice Mr Postman has delivered today:

Very pleased with the nearly new Pentax XW 10mm purchased from a forum member.
But have to say, its far bigger than I was expecting, build quality is superb, the best EP in my present stable.
Makes my 11mm Tele Vue Plossl look a tiddler, as indeed it is.

Bought on a whim, now on Beans without toast for quite a while.....
I now very much look forward to first light, of course its clouded out, but of late when isn't it.

Nice post Nojus, perhaps post it up in DIY Astronomer section.

5 hours ago, Louis D said:

I found 6 ads for various LVWs just for the month of October on CN classifieds.  Perhaps they were more common on this side of the pond.

I think that may be due to the higher number of people and therefore astronomers.

Where on earth are you finding the LVW's?
I am most jealous of the 13mm.

Hope they and the LV's all provide visual delight for you.