The Three Planeteers: Enter the XW5

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

So, the XW5 joins the XW7 and XW10, and now we have the three planeteers: Porthos, Athos, and Aramis. The Delos 8mn must be D'Artagnan. Very pleased at the arrival of the third planeteer, thanks to PaulAstro!

[John]

Very, very nice set Michael

[MarsG76]

Nice collection...

[Mike73]

I cant put my finger on it but I'm sure we are both missing something from our line ups Michael? 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I cant put my finger on it but I'm sure we are both missing something from our line ups Michael? 

Just wait what the future brings

[Mak the Night]

They look great.

[Mike73]

Theres one other thing were missing.......some planets!! 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

There's clouds aplenty, however. Might try the XWs in the SolarMax-II 60 tomorrow

[alan potts]

Congratulations, all of you with a XW 5mm coming into your lives, I feel a 6mm Delos in the mix wouldn't hurt, I do enjoy spending other people's money.

[Mr Spock]

Nice collection

[triton1]

Nice collection there but where,s Milady

[Pig]

Very nice collection indeed Michael   the 20mm works great with the Quark  

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Nice collection there but where,s Milady

Milady would be very beautiful EP to look at but quite rotten inside. I cannot quite think of a suitable candidate.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Had a look at the sun with the XW5, using the SolarMax 60mm, and compared it to the SLV 5. Both show magnificent detail, but the XW shows the entire disk with room to spare, unlike the little SLV. The SLV is much lighter, however, so keeps the balance better. It might still be useful in a travel package

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Congratulations, all of you with a XW 5mm coming into your lives, I feel a 6mm Delos in the mix wouldn't hurt, I do enjoy spending other people's money.

Yes the Delos 6 would fit there, but I might prefer getting an SLV6. Much closer to parfocal with the XWs. A Morpheus 9mm night also squeeze in there

[John]

Yes the Delos 6 would fit there, but I might prefer getting an SLV6. Much closer to parfocal with the XWs. A Morpheus 9mm night also squeeze in there

Thats the one annoyance that I find moving between my XW's and Radian's - the focal point of the latter is a good bit further out than the former. You can loose an object at high power when making that adjustment with an undriven scope. The Delos and I guess the Delite's will be similar because TV seem to like their "B" par-focal point, when the design will allow it, but it is a fair way from most other eyepieces. I believe the 17.3 and 21.2 Delos reach focus closer to the XW's.

Pity the Vixen SSW's did not fare a bit better and have better eye relief for you - they are very close to par-focal with the XW's and their central 75 degree FoV is very "XW-like" in performance. Maybe Vixen should review the design, reduce the field stop a little and push out the eye relief ?. Might have a real winner then