Pentax SMC-XW 7mm

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 05/06/2004 01:48:10 pm PST
By: rodgerraubach
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=357995

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 06/03/2004 11:15:04 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.218.102)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=363565

>Using e.p. with Tak FS60C & TeleVue NP101, comparing with TV Radians (5mm & 10mm), 12mm Nagler T4, and Tak HiLE 2.8mm. Just received e.p., so limited observations reported on moon, sun, and Jupiter.
>The 7mm Pentax is more expensive than the Radians, less than the Nagler, and you could buy two Tak e.p. for the same price.
>Observing notes:
>Lunar: The 12 Nagler has the best contrast of this group, though less mag., the Pentax 2nd best contrast (noticeably better than Radians, less than the Nagler). Tak LE amazing clarity for such hi power, maintains hi contrast despite hi power. Radians both just a shade less contrast. Depending on needs for lunar observing, the Nagler has the most "OOOh-AAAH" impact (very scientific term, that...), the Tak has amazing ability to resolve detail, the Pentax a great overall view.
>Solar: Pentax wins this one. Wide FOV, incredible contrast on faint sunspots. With the 10:1 microfocuser on the Tak you can dig around for minute detail with all of these (except the 12mm), but the 7mm had the best overall feel to me. Very easy to get onto focus, good depth of field.
>Jupiter: I wanted the Pentax to win this one, but feel the 5mm Radian was best (resolved banding with better contrast); the 12Nagler was really sharp, but simply not enough power to compete. The Tak was - again - really sharp and contrasty (seeing about a 6 out of 10) and did fine in both these refractors. The 10 Radian is no match for the 12 Nagler. I'd rate the Pentax as a close second in this match-up. 
>Threw in a 1.25" TV 5x Powermate on Jupiter...results: weird!
>12Nagler, as expected, best overall. 10 Radian...put it away! 7 Pentax...image held up quite well...considering. 5 Radian...well...how does boiling water look!?! The weirdo: the 2.8 Tak! Less boiling image that any other e.p. except the Nagler! You do the math. Doesn't add up.
>If I had to live with any three of these five, I'd keep the 2.8 Tak, the 7 Pentax XW, and the Nagler 12T4. If I could only keep two, it'd be the 2.8 and the 12. Only one, the 7 Pentax. If I was looking for one e.p. to do planetary, solar, lunar, globs, and doubles: the Pentax.
>The bugaboo: haven't tried the Tak 5 or 7 LEs. But I think I will, and soon!
>Another aside: the Pentax works very well indeed with the Scopetronix DSLR eyepiece projection system and my Canon EOS1D. Both the Tak and the 12Nagler will not come to focus. The Radians work well.

This particular eyepiece is crisp right from edge to edge in my 12" f/5 sky Mentor scope. I saw details on jupiter that rivalled my 9mm type 1 nagler. Even at the very edge of the fieldstop in my F/5 scope, the image of Jupiter was completely round without and field curvature whatsoever.The eye relief is perfect too without ant "blackouts".I would rate this eyepiece a 10 out of 10