Overall Rating: 4
Optics:4 Value:4
Weight: 7 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 11/27/2003 01:30:39 am PST
By: RobertFos
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=322367

>I'm very disappointed with this eyepiece.
>During nights of good seeing I can easily see the 5th and 6th stars of Orion's trapeze when I use the UO Ortho 18mm or the Ultima 18mm but I barely see the 5th star with the TV 17mm and the nebula  shows less contrast, sharpness and extension when use it.
>Even with a chinese Plossl 17mm I can see more details.

First of all I own both the UO 18mm and the TV 17mm Plossl.  Both are fine eyepieces and work well for what they are in both my f/6.9 80mm refractor and f/8 6" Newtonian.  I understand that you may have received a bad sample, but most disagree with you.  BTW, your frustrations are not justification for putting down the Chinese.

>I'm very disappointed with this eyepiece.
>During nights of good seeing I can easily see the 5th and 6th stars of Orion's trapeze when I use the UO Ortho 18mm or the Ultima 18mm but I barely see the 5th star with the TV 17mm and the nebula  shows less contrast, sharpness and extension when use it.
>Even with a chinese Plossl 17mm I can see more details.


You should check out this guy's voting record! He hates EVERYTHING. I have owned this EP and consider it a nine at worst.  I think Mr. Fos might consider a different outlet for whatever frustrations are ailing him.  In fact, I would prefer it.  Go somewhere else, Robert.

Most people consider this site a valuable resource for info on astro-products. It does not deserve to be a forum for misdirected venting of some sort.

Let's see. 6 people give it a 9-10, you give it a 4.  Hmmmm.  Ever consider that you could have a defective EP?  Or perhaps you're not rating the EP based on its qualities?  A wider FOV w/ a Chinese plossl?  Doubtful.  Too bad this forum gives you a 7 as a "reliable vote".  So what would you consider a 1, 2 or 3?  Not much room for the 75% of EP that below TV plossl standards, huh?  Do us a favor: stop posting reviews.

PS It's not the "trapeze".  It's the Trapezium.  Can you say rank amateur?

>I'm very disappointed with this eyepiece.
>During nights of good seeing I can easily see the 5th and 6th stars of Orion's trapeze when I use the UO Ortho 18mm or the Ultima 18mm but I barely see the 5th star with the TV 17mm and the nebula  shows less contrast, sharpness and extension when use it.
>Even with a chinese Plossl 17mm I can see more details.