Antares Plossl 15mm

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Brand and Model:Antares Plossl 15mm
Price ($USD):$74.00
Type:Plossl
Focal Length:15 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:52.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:11 mm
Elements:5
Weight (lbs):0.25
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Antares Plossl 15mm
I wanted a slightly higher power version of the excellent Celestron 18mm Ultima I already own so I could drill in a little bit more on some of the brighter faint fuzzies in my 4" APO. Well Celestron doesn't sell a 15mm and I've heard a number of sources say the Antares Ultimas, the Celestron Ultimas and the Orion Ultrascopics are virtually the same eyepieces, so I looked to the other 2 brands for the 15mm I was seeking. The Antares was about $20 cheaper than the Orion, so that's what I bought.

I've had it out for about 3 or 4 nights now and I'll have to say I am very pleased with my purchase. It is parfocal with the Celestron and is a virtual match in image quality with it's more expensive cousin. I must admit I really like these "next generation", 5-element plossl's. I find them ever so slightly sharper than the much vaunted TV plossls and somehow more engaging as well. I don't know how exactly, but the view through these feel slightly richer, deeper, more like you are out there. Hard to explain really.

You'll note I rated the optics a "9". As good as these are, the Pentax and Zeiss ortho's are sharper. If you can find them you'll easily pay 3x what the Antare's go for and often much more than that.

For a truly excellent, made in Japan ep, check out the Antares!

Mike

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=339755

Antares Plossl 15mm
i have to admit, this 1 of my favorite EP,s - very good 5 element japan quality EP at a most affordable price, definately outperforming many higher priced plossls, eye-reilef is quite good, great dso EP and high power planetary with a barlow,highly recommended

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=190036

Antares Plossl 15mm
I purchased this eyepiece from Sky Instruments in Canada at a very reasonable price ( less than the US dealers selling them) and have been most satisfied! This eyepiece is the same unit Celestron sells as their Ultima plossl. It compares very favorably with my Pentax 14mm wide angle in both sharpness and contrast in fact it probably beats the pentax ( although the field is smaller and much less eye relief). On the moon and planets it is excellent.Workmanship (japanese made) is equally fine and does'nt dissapoint. All things considered I don't think you can go wrong with this one.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=141790 

just received a 32mm antares plossl .looks good but not tested however clearly marked "made in china"  not japan as most folk here seem to say.
what's that about then?

regards
davethekelley@yahoo.co.uk



>I purchased this eyepiece from Sky Instruments in Canada at a very reasonable price ( less than the US dealers selling them) and have been most satisfied! This eyepiece is the same unit Celestron sells as their Ultima plossl. It compares very favorably with my Pentax 14mm wide angle in both sharpness and contrast in fact it probably beats the pentax ( although the field is smaller and much less eye relief). On the moon and planets it is excellent.Workmanship (japanese made) is equally fine and does'nt dissapoint. All things considered I don't think you can go wrong with this one.
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