Pentax XL 8-24 Zoom V Baader Hyperion 8-24 MKIII Zoom

[avtaram]

How does the Pentax XL 8-24 Zoom compare with the Baader Hyperion 8-24 MKIII Zoom?

The Pentax is more the double the price of the Baader so one would think that it better than the Baader but in what way?

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[emadmoussa]

The Hyperion is brilliant piece of kit in scopes over f/5. I use it a lot in my 102ED, but in the 10" f/5 reflector it shows a noticeable amount of kidney beans around the FOV edge. I can see you have one. Dont know about the Pentax though

[avtaram]

Yes I have the Baader Zoom and use it in my 120ed, I think its realy good.

Just wondering what the Pentax was like.

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[E621Keith]

I had a Pentax 8-24mm until recently. It was a well built eyepiece. The field was sharp, the colour was neutral and it had less scattering than most sub £100 fixed eyepiece. The background is darker than the Nikon's MCII zoom. 

The zoom ring was very stiff because of the waterproof sealing. It's not a problem if you used compression ring type eyepiece clamp, but I put a big scratch on the barrel the one time I use it in a diagonal with set screw. From what I read online, it's an upgrade to the Hyperion zoom, but I will not recommend it at the moment. 

Pentax 8-24mm XL is a 6 element design that retails for around £400. Ricoh has a new 9 element 3 group zoom packaged with their new Pentax PR 80mm sporting scope. The new PR-XL 8-24mm zoom has a slightly wider field (43-63deg) and more importantly an RRP of £280. I haven't seen any store selling the new eyepiece yet, may be Ricoh want to clear its stock of old 8-24mm before they start to sell the new one. 

If you are interested in the Pentax, I'd wait for review of the new model. 

If you can't wait and is willing to pay £400 for a zoom eyepiece, I would spend another £100 and get the Leica.

[avtaram]

Thanks Keith, that was very useful information.

I think I will stick with the Baader zoom for the time being.

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