TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm

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Brand and Model:TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
Price ($USD):$355.00
Type:Ultra Wide Angle
Focal Length:12 mm
Barrel Size:Dual
Apparent FOV:82.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:17.1 mm
Eye Relief:15 mm
Elements:6
Weight (lbs):1.1
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
Being a fairly inexperienced observer my comments are mainly to do with the general veiwing characteristics
rather than the optical performance. My telescope is an Orion Optics (UK) 6"/f8 reflector, for which the 12T4 gives 100x. I also have a Panoptic 22mm, 9mm Nagler T6 and a Pentax XL 5.2mm.

Initially, I was rather disappointed that when I put my eye close enough to see the whole FOV I found annoyingly large amounts of the much talked about Kidney Bean blackout. I often said to myself 'if it wasn't for these blackouts these views would be fantastic'. However, over time I've learned to use the instajust to set the eyepiece at it's natural 'operating point' where the on-axis performance is about as comfortable as the 22 Panoptic and I can move my eye around to see the extremes of the FOV without significant blackouts. For me this means the instajust is 4 'clicks' out with the rubber eyecup folded back. This gives similar operation to the 9mm type 6 with its eyecup folded out. The only problem I have is when viewing the moon, where the blackout effect is strongest - stable eye position required. I would say there is slightly less kidney beaning with the 9mm type 6, which initially can also feel rather small and cramped compared to the big eye lens 12mm Type 4 � although after I get used to the 9 again this feeling tends to disappear.

In this setup, even though the entire FOV is not visible in one go, I find there is still plenty of the characteristic Nagler feel to the image compared to a 68 degree eyepiece. The image has a very natural feel to it. It is clearly wider and also feels closer whereas the 68 degree designs in comparison have a slightly distant and 'tunnel' like view. The Nagler image seems to 'hang in the air' rather than 'sit on a screen'. Now I've got the hang of this eyepiece I'm starting to like it a lot. I also find the big eye lens nice and comfortable to look through.

I hope these comments are useful to those concerned about the Kidney Bean effect in this eyepiece. As far as the competition is concerned, comparison should be made with the Meade 14mm Ultrawide (of which I've no experience) as this eyepiece gets consistently good reviews.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Value:8
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=51570

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
A very good eyepiece, but I found this Nagler to be the worst of the Type 4's, 5's & 6's when it comes to kidney-beaning, so it required a more critical eye placement.

But even moreso, I also found that I preferred both the 12.5mm UO Ortho, and the 14mm Leica over this eyepiece. The UO & Leica, despite having a lower resulting magnification, definitely had better resolution & contrast. I could see more stars, both in clusters & in the background, with either of these than I could in the 12mm Nagler T4, which surprised me a bit.

The 14mm Leica simply gave me better views, more stars visible, & sharper images with zero lateral color. The color purity in the Leica was also better than the 12mm Nagler, so I finally sold the Nagler.

As much as I love Naglers, I just found that the 12 T4 was not up to the level of the 22mm & 17mm T4's, and I think there are better alternatives out there in this focal length range, such as the 13mm Nagler Type 6, or the 14mm Leica.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Value:8
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=354782

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
I do not like to give 10 in my reviews. This eyepiece is great, I love it! I give it a 10 overall and because I have owned almost every type of eyepiece you can think of, Vixen, Meade, Celestron, University Optics, Harry Seibert, Pentax, it gives better views than any of these eyepieces. Buy one, you will be glad you did.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=139400

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
great medium power uw eyepiece! pinpoint stars all the way across the field good eyereliefe! & also includes the instajust eyeguard. this is one of the better additions to the tv eyepiece line!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=81102

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
I love the FOV but the eye position is a bit tricky due to kidney beaning. I don't like the insta-adjust. Its a pain. Optically, you can't beat Televue eyepieces.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:10 Value:8
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=80848

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
I was blessed to purchase this wonderful eyepiece as like new on the used market for a decent price. Yes, it was still expensive, but WOW, what an awesome mate to my C8 f/10. I have used with 1.25" and 2" diagonals, 6.3 reducer, on both planetary and DSOs with great results. This hunk, and I mean hunk, of glass is the absolute best eyepiece that I have looked through! My other eyepieces are feeling rejected. A great plus is that it allows me to continue using my 1.25 filters, even though I use it mostly with the 2" diagonal. Just beware, this sucker is heavy and will definitely mess up the perfect balance of fork-mounted scopes.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=78542

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
When I ordered it, I thought "Wow! My first Nagler". First night out I was very disappointed: a lot of internal glare and not very sharp. Yes a wide view, but what good was that to me? I got an RMA and sent it back to Televue for an evaluation. They charged me $10 for return shipping and said it performed to specs. :(

I quickly sold it and bought a Pentax 10mm XW. A *world* of difference! The Pentax is very sharp, and has great contrast. I also bought 15mm, 23mm and 50mm Axioms... all of which give a much more pleasing experience than the 12mm T4.

I believe many others have Naglers they really like, but I would NOT recommend the 12mm T4.

- Roger

Overall Rating: 4
Optics:4 Value:2
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=437539

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
This is my standard medium power eyepiece in my Takahashi TOA 130 APO , yielding 83X. It gives very bright and outstandingly sharp images of DSO's. I love the way it performs on open star clusters , such as M35 , M37 , and M46. Sharp stellar images across the entire field of view.

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=332030

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
This is my favorite and most used eyepiece on my 102mm Apochromatic Refractor and 10" F5 Dobsonian. It is sharp right to the edge and eye placement is easy compared to other similar eyepieces. I like the Instadjust. I just pull it out 3 clicks and it's perfect. Contrast is excellent as dim, hard to find objects are easier to see in this eyepiece then any of the many others I own. Highly Recommended!

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=298792

TeleVue Nagler Type 4 12mm
A friend of mine had bought one and I used it in my 7" (180mm) Russian made Mak-Newt and was totally blown away (and so was he) so I got one a week later. The views are stunning especially the Swan Neb. with an OIII filter. A friend with a 25" scope (pegasus mirror) looked through it and was totally impressed. He was rather shocked when he realised he was looking through a 7" scope. Great brightness and contrast. I have put alot of EP's in this scope but this is THE one. Looking at doubles or DS objects, its the cats meow. Eye placement is more critical then other EP's but the views are worth it 100 times over to have to excercise a little bodily co-ordination for the views it provides.......I could go on but its all been said. A great EP. (side note: I hate being crtitcal of other peoples opinions, but giving this EP a rating of a 5 or 6 is totally unrealistic. I have yet to meet someone who has looked through this EP in my mak-newt who wasnt totally impressed with the excellent views)

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=134748

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