Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Eyepiece Reviews:Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm

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Brand and Model:Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
Price ($USD):Discontinued
Type:Orthoscopic
Focal Length:7 mm
Barrel Size:0.965 in
Apparent FOV:42.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:6 mm
Elements:4
Weight (lbs):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
This is the eyepiece that first sold me on orthos. I was using a Nagler 7mm ( the latest Type ) to look at M13 cluster. Wow... I thought... dark,crisp and gorgeous, no way this is going to be bettered... then I plopped the Pentax 7mm ortho into the scope. The contrast was greater, more stars were visible as pinprick dots, much "fuzz" disappeared. Recently did the same comparison on Saturn... more cloud detail became visible in the ortho and the separation of the ring from the planet was evident. Don't get me wrong, the Nagler is marvelous given the FOV and eye relief vs the Pentax ortho... it has it's own uses and advantages... but if one is reaching for the ultimate in detail, the Pentax takes you that extra step closer.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=136556

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
This is an excellent eyepiece. All of the above reviews are right on the money. I found this eyepiece sharper and brighter than my 7.5mm TAK LE. While the TAK had better eye relief, I much prefer the Pentax ortho.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43677

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
This eyepiece offers exceptional image quality in terms of sharpness, contrast, and brightness. It is sharp to the edge of it's fairly narrow FOV, no ghosting, color pure image, and flat field. A perfect match in image quality and *truly* parfocal with the 6mm. The 7mm Pentax SMC Ortho clearly was superior (although maybe slight in some cases) to comparable 7mm UO, Meade RG, Celestron/Vixen Orthos; 7.5mm Pentax XL, Vixen LV, Tak LE. Eye relief is tight, but okay if you don't wear glasses.

I've compared quite a few eyepieces in f/5.4 and f/5.3 refractors, and am basing my ratings on image quality, not FOV.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43676

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
I just purchased my first Pentax EP a month ago. I am so impressed, I feel compelled to voice my input. WOW! This is definitely not just another high quality EP. The coatings must be helping to minimize light scatter, thus improving contrast. Under moments of steady seeing, the Pentax provides a bit sharper edges to planetary and lunar detail than my Televues. It also gives me a slight edge on faint double stars due to it's higher level of light throughput compared to the more complex designs. I already knew this, but now I can avoid doubling up on certain focal lengths. I also own cheaper orthos, but they seemed to scatter on bright stars and planets. The Pentax ortho can do it all now. I'm now in the market for the 9mm(Nagler,Radian,and UO owners need not apply).

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43674

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
Great eyepiece. The whole Pentax series is as good as it gets - sharp, bright, terrific contrast.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43673

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
Another amazing eyepiece from Pentax. I just bought the 6 and 7. Now have to buy the 9 and 12 - probably the 18 also. These eyepieces are simply the best - hands down.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43672

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
See comments on the 6mm Pentax Ortho. Similar performance with a bit more eye relief. Eyepieces do not get any better than this.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43671

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
Very high contrast, image sharpness. One of the ultimate planetary eyepieces.
Excellent light transmission, extremely low scatter. Just a notch below the best of the SMC ortho series, the 6mm.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43670

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
Awesome occular. Tiny & sooo lightweight. If short eyerelief doesn't bother you, this one will impress you with its contrast.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43669

Pentax Orthoscopic 7mm
Wow! Tiny little eyepiece that I use in a 1.25" to .965" adapter. Provides absolutely stunning images of any target but especially great on planets. Eyepieces do not get any better than this. Usual short eye relief and limited fov inherent in the Ortho design but if you want the finest image fidelity your telescope is capable of, this is the eyepiece that will do it. They add nothing, they take away nothing, they show you EXACTLY what you are looking at.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43668

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