Sky-Watcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces?

[Mak the Night]

Has anyone had any experience of the Sky-Watcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces? If so do you know how they compare to eyepieces like the Celestron X-Cel, Meade 5000 HD 60 and TS Optics HR Planetary series and similar?

They seem identical to the Barsta (BST) UWA series. I'm guessing they're the same eyepieces rebadged.

[Don Pensack]

The same eyepiece is also sold under the Astromania, Knight Owl, Olivon, Omegon, and TMB labels as well as BST and Sky Watcher.

They are quite competent eyepieces and work well in scopes of f/6+ (shorter focal ratios will induce some edge of field astigmatism)

Among the various brands, they are available in 2.5mm, 3.2mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 15mm, 20mm, and 25mm

If I were starting out again, instead of the junk I used then, these would be on my radar screen as a "best buy" eyepiece, along with the Celestron X-Cel LX, Meade HD60, and the various brands of BST eyepiece sold as Astrotech Paradigms, BST Starguide, etc. (about 6 different labels for that one).

This inexpensive 58-60° type of eyepiece is more comfortable to use, has a wider field, and general better mechanical structures than the ubiquitous inexpensive Plossls sold under 50 brand names.

I like the eyecups on these (once the oil underneath is wiped off).

[Mak the Night]

OK thanks Don. I figured they were similar to the X-Cel series in many ways. I haven't noticed the eyecup oil on mine. The draw tube appears to have an integral Barlow inside it.

[Mak the Night]

[Mak the Night]

TS Optics 8 mm Planetary HR - 1.25" Eyepiece:

Almost certainly Barsta.

[Armand Popa]

did anyone compared a Skywather planetary to a TS planetary. 

Both of them are TMB designs, am I right?

I have a TMB planetary II, 2.5mm chine clone, but I am very pleased with it. It has good image and is is well corrected at the side of the field.

I want to buy a 3.2mm one but I am stucked at the differences between Skywather (5 elements) and TS (6 elements)

Thanks!

 

[Louis D]

58 minutes ago, Armand Popa said:

did anyone compared a Skywather planetary to a TS planetary. 

Both of them are TMB designs, am I right?

I have a TMB planetary II, 2.5mm chine clone, but I am very pleased with it. It has good image and is is well corrected at the side of the field.

I want to buy a 3.2mm one but I am stucked at the differences between Skywather (5 elements) and TS (6 elements)

Thanks!

 

I'm assuming you've already read this comparo, but it case you haven't:

Other than it, I don't know of any detailed shootouts across Planetary brands.

[Rob]

I have the 6mm SW.. would not part with it. Maybe lucked out, but its fantastic!. I've tried others (clones) and for me doe not touch it. As I say I bought it 12 years ago, so maybe the QC was higher back then??.. The SW version are great EP's

[Don Pensack]

4 hours ago, Armand Popa said:

did anyone compare a Skywatcher planetary to a TS planetary?

Both of them are TMB designs, am I right?

I have a TMB planetary II, a 2.5mm chinese clone, but I am very pleased with it. It has good image and is is well corrected at the side of the field.

I want to buy a 3.2mm one but I am stuck at the differences between Skywatcher (5 elements) and TS (6 elements)

Thanks!

 

These eyepieces are all made by Barsta in China and the number of elements varies according to focal length.

Most re-sellers simply copy the specs from one focal length to another, hence, a claim of 5, or 6 elements.

Over the years, some people have taken them apart and found there are 4, 5, or 6 elements, varying according to focal length.

I don't remember, and didn't note, which focal length had which number.

[Armand Popa]

Thank you for the advices. I bought the Skywatcher 3.2mm HR planetary. Should I wipe off that grease on the eyecup? I couldn`t try it yet due the clouds  

[Louis D]

7 hours ago, Armand Popa said:

Thank you for the advices. I bought the Skywatcher 3.2mm HR planetary. Should I wipe off that grease on the eyecup? I couldn`t try it yet due the clouds  

Probably wouldn't hurt to thin it out if it is exposed and could get on your fingers.  From there, it would get on all of your equipment.  It should work fine with a very thin coating.  It's not like it's a load bearing surface as an axle on a mount would be.

[runway77]

I do have the 4mm one. I was pleasantly surprised with the view of the moon and of the planets with this eyepiece.