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What software is that Stu?

Barlows are like teleconverters that magnify a lens prime image as I understand it. An eyepiece can give a larger image , so I guess is an image enlarger anyway. What matters is the area & objects you want to observe or record is filled to your satisfaction. Having a close focusing macro lens on a camera might be interesting to just photograph a reflected image from a diagonal or flat, not sure about other though. Has anyone tried that?

On a 35mm film 50mm gives x1. On a 6x6 120/220 medium format film it is wide angle. In short depends on the size of media. DSLR media will be different, & medium format digital different again.

Without an ep, the scope is a telephoto lens for your camera. So divide the scope's 700mm by whatever focal length gives 1x on your camera to get magnification. On a 35mm film camera, the magnification would be 700/50 = 14 as 50mm lens is 1x for that format.

Many thanks! Seems better than the Baader or Vixen/Tele Vue 8-24 zooms. Lots of points worth considering.

How is the zoom performance optically for 10 to 20mm focal lengths compared to the XW 14 & 20? Is eye relief less?

Glad the XW 20mm is good for you after varying reports. My LVW 22mm rocks! Yet to be tested the 20mm 2 inch 80 deg from Orion, also Lanthanum - a possible rival for 22mm Nagler T4.

I have the LVW 3.5 & doubt it will be used much. But am glad I bought the 5mm XW now. Checking Ricoh though 3.5 to 20 are all listed.

Not with Tele Vue, but in respect to Pentax XW, one argument in favour of "gotta buy 'em all" is how long the eps will be made. Already the 30 & 40 have gone, & all XL seemingly. Vixen discontinued their LVW range. If enough equivalent cheaper Chinese eps affect sales, the remaining XW range may go.

Lengthening must effectively be what a Powermate does with its extra optics I guess.

For shorter FL eps, the extra eye relief from a Barlow is small compared to longer ones. That aside, price for top end Barlows & Powermate's etc can be more than an extra ep sometimes, but the former are good when extra eye relief is needed.

Larger diameters, theoretically anyway, make splitting double stars easier. Can anyone advise on significant magnification & aperture increments for increasing arc & resolution etc?

I would say 7mm if you have to choose Alan. A barlow with the 10 will get you a 5mm equivalent. The 7mm with a barlow gets 3.5 fl.

XW are designed for Pentax spotting scopes initially (as were XF & XL). Not sure if that had a bearing on the optics placing. I am sure though it had on XW eye cups. They seem made for eye socket rim comfort as much as distance ease. Vixen SLV & Plossls are probably spotting scope user targetted for comfort too. I like the eye placement guide TV include with some eps.

Pentax XW 7mm Comparing my 3 XW eps (5, 7 & 10) with Vixen LVW eps (5, 8 & 11) I find the Pentax eps less comfy to hold in the cold, but their eye relief is marginally better, though both advertise as 20mm Pentax eye cup movement is smooth turning. An unexpected aspect of the XW eps for me is viewing eye comfort without wearing glasses, when eye cup height adjustment and feel is luxurious. Seductive - I can understand why the discontinued 30 & 40 are cherished or sell for high prices. Hoping for a star wide field test soon.

Mini frac, Altair 80mm super finder. Lighter & longer than the Lumicon I also have. Comes with a cross hair eyepiece, 1.25 diagonal, tube mounting rings & chrome fixings. Smooth but not loose helical focusing but no focusing lock.

Very interesting, especially the top-down strip! I like black rubber (!). "Undressing the XW & XL good for cleaning & photos (!!), however each time makes their "clothing" a little looser & less clingy. *ahem* The Pentax (& Vixen) whole FOV aesthetic mentioned appeals to me. More than TV "spacewalk" maybe because I am a photographer at heart, not a movie director, so a still picture - perceived or recorded on a media - is what I like to study & lose myself in. A still rather than a movie. Being an unguided mount viewer, bigger FOV has always had more practical than pictorial value. My XW 5mm will give 100x in the Genesis. About the realistic limit for both viewing unguided & for a 4 inch scope.

Good ebay buy! Pentax XW 5mm Good enough with eye cup screwed down. No need to prise off the rubber volcano top. Dark green coating. Competition from TV Radian & Vixen LVW. Probably sell the Radian Completes my 1.25 inch A-Team of eps, of which the XW 10 is a member. The 7 is tempting... Where can those screw top plastic tubes be bought?

Nice selection. Vixen LVW 22 & XL 10.5 are forever eps!

I would go for 2nd hand. The ES 40mm MaxView "Lenzilla" must outweigh both big TV eps.

Moonshane, what bino viewer & plumbing did you choose?

HR Vixen eps eye relief is too short. LV-anything are all 20mm min. W have 65 deg AFOV so suit me well Only the 41 & 30 I bought new, rest are ebay or swapped-for pre-owned eps. I was lucky! Well eyepiece Pokémon is over. Santa is bringing an XW 5mm. I think 2018 will be about mirrors...

It is! I assume that as the 50 only has 45 deg AFOV, it's not a "W".

My 42 is a LVW not LV, so is in the main range. 30 has the jacket of Vixen's NLV range that succeeded the LVs & was superceded by their SLVs, which are still current. Never seen an original 42 or 50, they must be rare. There was a 50 NLV for sale in the states earlier this year I remember.

The "full metal jacket" 30mm is 65 deg AFOV & is a LVW, though puzzling it's not got the same form factor as the 42mm.