University Optics Super Erfle 20mm

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Brand and Model:University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
Price ($USD):$79.95
Type:Erfle
Focal Length:20 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:65.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:13 mm
Elements:5
Weight (lbs):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
I took the time last night (6/12/04) to compare the 20 mm UO Super Erfle EP with my 19 Tele Vue Wide Field, as it's close in focal length to the 19 mm TV WF. The TV WF's are said to be the "poor man’s Pan Optics". I find I use my 3, TV WF’s 15 mm, 19 mm, and 24 mm the most for DSO’s. I’ve been very happy with them for several years now.

Again, I like the look and feel of this UO Super Erfle as I’ve compared the 16 mm super Erfle prior to this 20 mm UO Super Erfle. It's well made and solid. The UO Super Erfles are made by the same folks in Japan that make both lines of the UO Ortho's. It’s fully multicoated and uses “better optical glass”. It's about the same heft as the 19 mm TV WF and comes with 2 dust caps. There is no field stop on this EP same with the 16 mm UO super Erfle, and putting it in the focuser and looking threw it showed it doesn't need one either. There is a clear and clean definition of the end of the FOV. The scope I used for this test was a 4" f/13 refractor. M13 was the target object in the EP. The UO Super Erfle 20 mm comes to a razor sharp focus with crisp pinpoint stars. The edge of the FOV looks sharp and centering a brighter star in the FOV. I slowly slewed the star to the edge of the FOV. It got slightly soft in the very last 3-5% of the FOV. I saw no field curvature, no ghosting, or sky glow reflected in the eye lens. I saw no black out either. It's a very comfortable EP to use with about 14-17 mm of ER. I'm an eyeglass wearer; with my glasses on I could see the entire 65* FOV.

OK now the Tele Vue Wide Field 19 mm goes in the focuser. A slight refocus and the same razor sharp focus with crisp pinpoint stars as the 20 mm UO Super Erfle all though it does seem slightly dimmer across the FOV compared to the UO 20 mm Super Erfle. The edge of the FOV looks sharp and centering a brighter star in the FOV. I again slowly slewed the star to the edge of the FOV of the 19 mm TV WF. It got slightly soft in the very last 3-7% of the FOV. I saw no field curvature, no ghosting, or sky glow reflected in the eye lens. I saw no black out either. My trusties TV WF’s have been my observing standard EP’s due to their very comfortable views. It’s got about 14-17 mm of ER and is great for eyeglass wearers as you can see the entire FOV. Only drawback is folks don’t put them up on astromart often so getting one is hard, as they are no longer made.

Conclusions:

I’ve found a worthy EP that compares to my beloved 19 mm TV WF. I have no qualms recommending this EP to anyone that wants a comfortable EP to use that is very made well and provides high quality views like a 19mm TV WF. Also, it’s currently a bargain at $79.95. I’d be interested in reading about some ones comparison to a Panoptic 19mm or 20mm Nagler T5.


Clear skies,

Mark Gibson
President ASSNE
Owner ClearVue Optics.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=365007

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
A very good deep-sky eyepiece at a bargain price.

Much sharper on the edge than I expected in my 6" F8 -
though there is some detectable astigmatism when out of
focus, in-focus even the edge stars are round. In my
12.5" F4.8, the "soft" area is larger, with some noticable
distortion at the extreme edge; even so, the sharp center
region still matches the FOV of a Plossl.

And the sharp region is *very* sharp and contrasty; in both
my scopes this eyepiece was both sharper and had noticeably
better contrast than a 20 mm Plossl (Orion Sirius) that I
compared it to, all with a far larger FOV - even in the
F4.8 scope the edge softening seemed confined to the area
outside the Plossl FOV. Much to my surprise, in use the
edge softness is seldom noticable - I tend to use the edge
of the field only for target acquisition and framing.

This has become my favorite low-power deep-sky eyepiece,
replacing my 17, 20, and 25 mm Plossls.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=164203

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
I recently ordered the following eyepieces from University: 4mm UO Ortho; 16mm Super Erfle; 16mm Konig II.

The 4mm UO or arrived in virtually perfect condition.

Not so either the 16mm Konig II or the 16mm Super Erfle.

See my comments re: the 16mm Konig II elsewhere on Excelsis.

For this review I'll focus on the 16mm Super Erfle. The eyepiece is nicely made overall, featuring a conical top, large eye lens, and decent multicoatings. The construction quality of the lense system, however, has what I deem to be a singificant quality control problem. Specifically, there is a black speck sandwiched between lens elements. This glitch detracts from what otherwise appears to be a quality product.

The speck probably doesn't impair performance excessively and is slightly off axis, which helps, but frankly an $80 eyepiece shouldn't have such defects, and while I could probably return it and get another, I shouldn't have to go to that level of inconvenience to accomodate shoddy quality control.

Certainly in casual use it performs similarly to my Meade Reserach Grade Erfle.

(Note: The 16mm Konig II was even worse. The lens system was loose, and there are several specs of varying sizes sandwiched between the lense elements on that eyepiece.)

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=336564

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
This is a fantastic bargain. It barlows very well. So much so that I sold my 10mm LV (which was a great eyepiece) and my 7.5 mm Ultima. I have a 2x Barlow which and a Klee and this eyepiece, in my eyes, outperformed the other two when used at their same focal lengths. The contrast was great and the level of brightness, but most of all, the field of view combined with decent eyerelief really make this eyepiece enjoyable at all levels. The price seals the deal for me. Do not hesitate to purchase this eyepiece.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=293481

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
Great value, perfect mid-power eyepiece for 11" SCT.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=167182

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
This EP is still made and purchsed it from a local dealer hear in NY called Astrotec. I find this ep with very good eye relief, very good on dso's, almost in the same class as the 16mm Koning but the 16 does do better as far as FOV sharpness when you get to the edge and faint star detection is better as well. It fills the gap between the 16mm and the 24mm ep's. It seem better than most of the 20mm plossl's I've owned like the Meade 4000 series, Celestron's and give the TV possl a good run. Coating are very good, full MC and made well from Japan. Its cost is well within the price range of the TV's, Meade's and Ultima's and is built as well. Recomended..

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=129717

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
Bought this eyepiece years ago. it is by far my most popular eyepiece when used with my 6"f/8, 8" f/6 (both now sold), or my 8" f/8, which is my planet telescope, but when I want to sightsee the heavens, I use the 20 University. In my main telescope (10" f/4.5) coma becomes pronounced at the edge, but it is still a servicable eyepiece even in that. Good eyepiece for medium too slow optics, at a good price when new, probably a better bargain when bought used. DMH, Kinsman, Ohio

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43685

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
Annoying eyepiece. Eyepiece vignetted the image even without a barlow. Couldn't "find" the view much like a 40mm eyepiece. Very uncomfortable. Wonder why they discontinued it?

Overall Rating: 2
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43684

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
Very sharp for a 65deg afov 5 element eyepiece. Small and light and eye relief leaves room for eyelashes. Beveled face of eyepiece facilitates holding the view, which is easy. Tested in a f/4.5 10" newtonian.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43682

University Optics Super Erfle 20mm
Hi,
I wrote the above review almost a year ago, with a f/4.5 10" starfinder reflector, and tonight I tried this same eyepiece in my new C102AZ refractor, which has great sharp optics by the way, and the Super Erfle was perfect! No star smear, no coma or astigmatism, but best of all, it passes a lot of light, is very sharp, and is just a nice compact lightweight eyepiece. In an f/10 scope like my new refractor, the UO 20mm Super Erfle is perfect.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43683

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