Takahashi Erfle 32mm

Info	Votes	Messages	More Stats	Up One Level

Brand and Model:	Takahashi Erfle 32mm
Price ($USD):	$240.00
Type:	Erfle
Focal Length:	32 mm
Barrel Size:
Apparent FOV:	62.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:	0.0 mm
Eye Relief:	0 mm
Elements:	0
Weight (lbs):
Description:	Superb but non-standard threaded eypiece --- adaptable to 2".

Vote Highlights

Takahashi Erfle 32mm

The 62-degree Takahashi MC Er 32mm (Erfle) is a superb eyepiece that sadly is no longer imported to the US, but - as of 11/02 - can still be found new at several Tak dealers. It mounts with the M43x0.75 thread that is used by most Taks after the visual back (it's the thread used by the Tak extension tubes).

It can be adapted for use with other brands of scopes and in 2 inch diagonals, with an adapter made by Takahashi. Yes, a hard to find, non-standard eyepiece... So, why go to the trouble?

Well, I've always had problems with distortion, blackouts, and 'kidney beaning' with Naglers, and the otherwise wonderful Panoptic 27 and 35s suffer from pincushion distortion that makes visual slewing uncomfortable for me. (I even briefly owned the new 26 Nagler, which in addition to pincushion distortion suffers from the 'red ring at the edge field on bright objects' that annoyed me in the 31mm Nagler.) Ok, so I can't live with 4 of the best eyepieces ever made, maybe I'm the problem.

Perhaps... but now I think I've finally found my perfect widefeild eyepiece! This Takahashi 32mm Erfle is the 'cleanest', sharpest (edge to edge!), most distortion free (rare in an Erfle), best all-around wide field eyepiece that I've ever used.
Its contrast and color fidelity are phenomenal. With it, my Newtonian has contrast that approaches my APO refractor.

It has one slight failing... There is some ghosting when onserving a bright moon. (But as this wide an eyepiece would almost never be used for lunar observing, this is really a non-issue.)

Eye-relief is great without glasses and just enough for use with glasses (around 20mm). The 'feel' is natural and intuitive. No training or preparation is needed to use this eyepiece, just look into it! (It's great for public events...)

In my Takahashi Newtonian it screws in with no adapter, and in my 4 inch refractor's diagonal I use a Tak adapter ring that converts the 'MC Er 32mm's screw thread to a standard 2 inch eyepiece barrel. (The actual barrel of the eyepiece itself is just under 2 inch.)

Erfles aren't exactly the flavor of the month in eyepieces these days (Anacortes even lists this one as a 62 degree Ortho!) but don't let that stop you... In short, if you can find one of these beauties, buy it.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 11/14/2002 05:48:44 pm PST
By: von_Werner
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=146735

Reply Replies: 1

&gt; (I even briefly owned the new 26 Nagler, which in addition to pincushion distortion suffers from the 'red ring at the edge field on bright objects' that annoyed me in the 31mm Nagler.)   

&gt;It has one slight failing... There is some ghosting when onserving a bright moon.  (But as this wide an eyepiece would almost never be used for lunar observing, this is really a non-issue.)


Just curious as to why the double standard.  False color in the Naglers - at the edge no less - annoyed you.  But, ghosting which is right in the line of sight did not?

Again, just curious?

Thanks,
john

Click here to see all votes (1 total)