Orion Lanthanum 5.2mm

Obviously has great eye relief for a 5mm eyepiece (20mm), especially compared to a plossl of this FL. The field of view is a little narrower than the plossl but it is so uncomfortable with your eyeball stuck to the eye lens that I don't mind giving up the 5 degrees of afov. Sharp to the edge in my XT8 (f6), Starmax 102(f12.7), and ST80(f5!!!). A little more light loss than a fully multicoated 3 or 4 element design, but not by much. Excellent chromatic and spherical correction. I'd recommend this and any of the short FL Lanthanums.

Clear skies!

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Value:7
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 03/05/2003 09:34:17 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.33.164)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=203149

Reply Replies: 0

Orion Lanthanum 5.2mm

I sold an 5.2mm Orion Lanthanum ep to finance the purchase of other equipment and have since regretted doing so! This is a very nice ep; specially for less than $100.00.

I used it with my Orion ED80, and coupled with a shorty plus, I was able to see the most magnificent views of Saturn that I have EVER seen, with any scope of any size. The Cassini division was extremely well-defined as was the shadow of the planet on the rings. Three friends and I literally sat there and viewed Saturn for about an hour and half! We couldnÂ´t get enough of it! It was that good!.

Now, here is the surprising thing: The theoretical mag limit of the ED80 is only 160x. YET, we were viewing at 240x with absolutely NO distortion/degradation whatsoever in image quality!!! Views of the Cassini division were so sharp that one of my friends said: "Wow! That's a GREAT eyepiece!" My other friend who owns an 8 inch SCT was speechless. Granted, we had much better than average "seeing" from my suburban home in Colorado Springs.

I can't say whether the TV Radian 5mm ep will out-perform the Lanthanum because I don't own the Radian. But I know what I saw on that clear December night through the Lanthanum and the views have since been etched in my mind.

I am currently in the market for a 5mm ep. I know that I will probably not have many nights of near perfect conditions that will allow me to stretch the theoretical mag limit of my small scope. These might occur, but maybe two or three times per season. Given that, my question is: "Is it worth spending the extra $100 for the Radian(over the Lanthanum), knowing that I won't be able to use it very often with my 2x barlow?

I'm sure that the Radian will be a GREAT eyepiece at 120x; I'm also certain that the extra FOV will be a HUGE plus on the Radian's side. These reasons alone may justify the additional $100.

However, I KNOW what this Orion 5.2mm Lanthanum can do and would probably be VERY upset if I buy the Radian and find that it only matches the Lanthanum's performance.

That being said, I will be placing an order today for a new 5.2mm Lanthanum from Orion. They are currently selling for $99.00 and that price can't be beat.

BTW......(Although I will refrain from using any expletives).... To the fellow who used this ep at 400x I will say: "Step down the mag and enjoy this ep. Use it within reasonable mags and you will find that it is a GREAT ep."

To conclude, I will give this ep a vote of 9. I don't believe ANY ep is a perfect 10.

-JR

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 12/29/2004 03:07:01 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.96.125)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=410727

Reply Replies: 0

Orion Lanthanum 5.2mm

I sold an 5.2mm Orion Lanthanum ep to finance the purchase of other equipment and have since regretted doing so! This is a very nice ep; specially for less than $100.00.

I used it with my Orion ED80, and coupled with a shorty plus, I was able to see the most magnificent views of Saturn that I have EVER seen, with any scope of any size. The Cassini division was extremely well-defined as was the shadow of the planet on the rings. Three friends and I literally sat there and viewed Saturn for about an hour and half! We couldnÂ´t get enough of it! It was that good!.

Now, here is the surprising thing: The theoretical mag limit of the ED80 is only 160x. YET, we were viewing at 240x with absolutely NO distortion/degradation whatsoever in image quality!!! Views of the Cassini division were so sharp that one of my friends said: "Wow! That's a GREAT eyepiece!" My other friend who owns an 8 inch SCT was speechless. Granted, we had much better than average "seeing" from my suburban home in Colorado Springs.

I can't say whether the TV Radian 5mm ep will out-perform the Lanthanum because I don't own the Radian. But I know what I saw on that clear December night through the Lanthanum and the views have since been etched in my mind.

I am currently in the market for a 5mm ep. I know that I will probably not have many nights of near perfect conditions that will allow me to stretch the theoretical mag limit of my small scope. These might occur, but maybe two or three times per season. Given that, my question is: "Is it worth spending the extra $100 for the Radian(over the Lanthanum), knowing that I won't be able to use it very often with my 2x barlow?

I'm sure that the Radian will be a GREAT eyepiece at 120x; I'm also certain that the extra FOV will be a HUGE plus on the Radian's side. These reasons alone may justify the additional $100.

However, I KNOW what this Orion 5.2mm Lanthanum can do and would probably be VERY upset if I buy the Radian and find that it only matches the Lanthanum's performance.

That being said, I will be placing an order today for a new 5.2mm Lanthanum from Orion. They are currently selling for $99.00 and that price can't be beat.

BTW......(Although I will refrain from using any expletives).... To the fellow who used this ep at 400x I will say: "Step down the mag and enjoy this ep. Use it within reasonable mags and you will find that it is a GREAT ep."

To conclude, I will give this ep a vote of 9. I don't believe ANY ep is a perfect 10.

-JR

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 12/29/2004 01:57:36 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.96.125)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=410671

Reply Replies: 0

Orion Lanthanum 5.2mm

Using a NS8GPS I found that the EP was not very clear and did not focus that well.
Seemed well made but it just did not shine with use.
At best seemed fuzzy.
Might be my scope and this EP comination are not that great.
Other EP's work very nicely and focus is very clear.
2 Siebert EP's (15&21) were my biggest surprise, they were extremely clear and contrast was great compared to the Orion EP.

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:7 Value:6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 03/05/2003 03:12:05 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.211.231)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=203031

Reply Replies: 2

You must be a clueless dumbass!  Of course it wasn't clear... With a focal length of 2000mm on your NS8GPS, you were getting almost 400x!!!  What a maroon!  Don't bash equipment when you don't know a thing about how it works!


&gt;Using a NS8GPS I found that the EP was not very clear and did not focus that well. 
&gt;Seemed well made but it just did not shine with use.
&gt;At best seemed fuzzy.
&gt;Might be my scope and this EP comination are not that great.
&gt;Other EP's work very nicely and focus is very clear.
&gt;2 Siebert EP's (15&amp;21) were my biggest surprise, they were extremely clear and contrast was great compared to the Orion EP.

&gt;Using a NS8GPS I found that the EP was not very clear and did not focus that well. 
&gt;Seemed well made but it just did not shine with use.
&gt;At best seemed fuzzy.
&gt;Might be my scope and this EP comination are not that great.
&gt;Other EP's work very nicely and focus is very clear.
&gt;2 Siebert EP's (15&amp;amp;21) were my biggest surprise, they were extremely clear and contrast was great compared to the Orion EP.


With a NS8, the Orion 5.2mm was giving you power in the vicinity of 380X.  Of course it was fuzzy !!
Please get a clue before posting reviews.

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