Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm

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Brand and Model:Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
Price ($USD):$227.50
Type:Misc Wide Angle
Focal Length:10.5 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:65.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:20 mm
Elements:6
Weight (lbs):0.8
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
This is another superb Pentax eyepiece that can be attained for about $170 to $200 on the used market today. The optics are fantastic and provide a sharp contrasty image across the entire FOV. The eye relief is amazing and the eyecup is easy to use. I love the Pentax XL line and would recommend it without hesitation.

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=590935

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
I rate the optics at 9 because I think the XWs are a little sharper and better contrast. The optics are great for a widefield, I find the views nicer than the Naglers. The eyerelief is great, works great in a f/5,6 dob, sharp all the way out. Even gives nice views of planets.

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=430968

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
I have the 10.5, along with the 14 & 21mm XL's, and they make the Pentax 80 the class of the spotting scope field. I've been out to the local lakes birding areas a few times and set it up; the other scope users invariably wander over to see what I'm looking at and take a peek....look at me, then take another, longer look....look scope over and notice the huge ep's, then nearly always ask something like, "what's a rig like that set ya back?", or "where'ja get that?" I tell them the scope is really no better than their Zeiss, Swarov, Kowa or whatever...it's the ep's that make all the difference. They can't get over the wide, bright, long-relief, across-the-field sharp view...so it is. And for nitesky gazing, the same. A prismatic 80 shouldn't really be this good for astro work...it's these ep's. Contrast, resolution, and color neutrality make the XL line maybe the overall best there is (at least for general consumer use). Haven't tried the XW line yet (5* more field and $100 more checkbook drain...they will hafta be awfully good to be a better value), but as a full line I believe this is the best...an individual TV or Vixen might be as good in a given focal length....maybe....but certainly no better overall. One thing I might mention in reference to an above review....the XL's do NOT all weigh the same....the 7mm is a really hefty piece, a good 6 oz more than the 28. Each step up in length decreases the wt a couple oz, it seems. But that's to be expected, right?

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=344515

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
Well I've had a chance to test my Pentax 10.5mm out. In a C14 it yields 370x so this is not an eyepiece for every occasion. But it gives a view of M5 that can only be described as startling. Some of the stars look like you cold reach out and touch them. I saw no distortion (but of course f/11 it is not a huge test). Anyhow it clearly outclasses the Apogee 9.5mm which is my other eyepiece in this magnifcation range (as well it might, at 2x the cost).

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=235145

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
The best overall eyepiece I have owned. I love the long
eye relief even though I do not use glasses. The long eye
relief makes this a great eyepiece to show off your telescope
to casual viewers. More lightweight than a Nagler. Sharpness is neck and neck with Naglers, but the Pentax will barlow a bit better.

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=204098

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
As with the 21mm and 14mm Pentax XL,this is a superb eyepiece giving sharp,high contrast views in my 16" F4.5 dob.No kidney beaning or blackouts.The most comfortable series of eyepieces I've ever used.Excellent light transmission as in all Pentax products with their superb multicoatings.Highly recommended!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=85223

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
I truly love the Pentax XL line with my TV-85; I have to date the 14 mm, 10.5 mm, and 5.2 mm. These are easy to use for newbies. No blackouts and tricks to position your eye. The field lens is large with a nice 20 mm eye relief. Images snap into focus, sharp across the field with great contrast. The FOV is perfect - I don't have to move my eye to look around and find blackouts. They are comfortable to use. They perform like a Panoptic, but with flatter fields. If you don't have a Pentax XL get either the 14 mm or 10.5 mm for starters. I bet you will buy more of them. I bought mine at Adorma - very good prices.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42943

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
I sold my 10mm Radian for this eyepiece and it is an improvement. It is easier to keep my eye positioned correctly, and there is no ghosting that was present in my 10mm Radian. The construction of this eyepiece is excellent with nice touches like a beveled barrel and I like the screw type eyecup adjustment much better than the Instadjust, whatever it is, that Tele Vue has gone to. The edge sharpness is better than the Radian as well and I cannot tell a difference in contrast however from the Radian. Lateral color is the same as the Radian, which was practically non-existent. Maybe I had a bad Radian, but I like Pentax XL 10.5mm much better.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42941 

>I sold my 10mm Radian for this eyepiece and it is an improvement.  It is easier to keep my eye positioned correctly, and there is no ghosting that was present in my 10mm Radian.  The construction of this eyepiece is excellent with nice touches like a beveled barrel and I like the screw type eyecup adjustment much better than the Instadjust, whatever it is, that Tele Vue has gone to.  The edge sharpness is better than the Radian as well and I cannot tell a difference in contrast however from the Radian.  Lateral color is the same as the Radian, which was practically non-existent.  Maybe I had a bad Radian, but I like Pentax XL 10.5mm much better.
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These and the Pentax XW's ,( the 40mm, 10mm, 7mm, and 5mm), are the FINEST EYEPIECES on the entire planet bar none. Al Nagler doesn't hold a flame hot enough to come close to these sharp eyepieces....stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
I cannot find a fault in this one: Great contrast and sharpness from center to the edge, a nice wide 65 degree field of view, very comfortable to use with 20mm eye-relief. No kidneybeaning, very little pincushion distortion (tested during daytime), great eyecup system. It has been said that this is one of the truly superb eyepieces in the world. I tend to agree, and thus give it a full score.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42940

Pentax SMC-XL 10.5mm
This is one of the finest eyepieces I've seen. The wide 65 degree field is sharp to the edge in my 12.5" Discovery dob without any aberrations. Contrast and detail on Mars was very impressive. The dumbell nebula was spectacular in combination with a filter. The eyepiece is a tad heavy but no balance problems on my dob. Very comfortable eye relief withouy blackout effects.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42936

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