TeleVue Radian 10mm

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Eyepiece Reviews:TeleVue Radian 10mm

 Info  Votes  Messages  More Stats  Up One Level
Brand and Model:TeleVue Radian 10mm
Price ($USD):$240.00
Type:Misc Wide Angle
Focal Length:10 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:60.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:10.5 mm
Eye Relief:20 mm
Elements:6
Weight (lbs):0.5
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
TeleVue Radian 10mm
Since its release in 1998, Al Nagler's Radian line filled our drawers with long eye relief, mid-high magnification (3-18mm) eyepieces made for eyeglass wearers. Even the 3mm has a long, 20mm eye relief. It seems similar to the lanthanum EPs, which like the radians have a lens made of lanthanum and a long eye relief, but it has a larger FOV.To mantain long eye relief, a barlow-like lens is placed above the field lens.

With the inadjust eyeguard, both eyeglass and non-eyeglass wearers can see the whole field by positioning the eyeguard closer (for eyegalss wearers) or further.

It's my favorite EP to use as a general purpose (40x) and high power (120n w/ 3x TV barlow) on my 80mm short-tube refractor (It was my first good telescope I've used from 1999) until now. The 10mm Radian is far superior compared to my other EPs (cheap SMAs and Super Plossls). The Moon is very sharp. I could see many craters in craters and lunar rilles. The Appenines really stand out, especially when the moon is at it's quarter phase. Jupiter shows all four transits of the moons, five of its bands, polar regions the GRS hollow, and sometimes detail in one of the EQ bands. Cassini's division in Saturn is easy, as well as 2 of it's bands. Remember, this is only an 80mm refractor.

It was also an excellent eyepiece for the 8" Schmidt-Cass I've used at a star party one night! Jupiter showed a wealth of sharp, crisp detail in its bands at 200x, even less-than-average seeing conditions. It barlows well under steady seeing. Compared to a lower power 10mm lanthanum, views were of noticably higher cantrast and with a wider FOV. Views were also color-free in the radian (lanthanums showed a trace of color around the moon).

But what about the Naglers and Panoptics with similar focal lengths as the Radian? The Naglers and Panoptics are great, wide-field eyepieces, but many people can't take in the whole field due to it's smaller eye relief.

Overall, the 10mm Radian is a great eyepiece. I'd reccomend it to anyone who wants to get the best out of their scope. It's excellent for eyeglass and non-eyeglass wearers alike with it's inadjust eyeguard. It's a great EP for general purpose observing in RFTs. With a 3x barlow in the RFT, it's an excellent planetary scope. The Radian throws up a sharp, contrasty, flat fielded, color-free FOV. Very highly reccomended for any lunar/planetary gazer with any scope.

PROS- wide 60 deg. FOV, sharp & contrasty images, color-free flat field, long eye relief, barlows well.

CONS- quite expensive, a heavy half-pound, a bit of the kidney-bean blackout effect

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 18 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=118282

TeleVue Radian 10mm
I have the 8, 10, 12, 14, and 18mm Radians. All are really good eyepieces. The 10 mm however seems to me and my eyes not as sharp as the others.The contrast is not what my 12mm is for planets. Maybe I just got the Monday morning production line bad apple. Its still a good eyepiece and the eye relief is there if you need it. I'm still not sold on the adjustment thing though. Mine never seems to stay where I put it. Another thing I see when I look through it and compare it to other Ep's is that it has a slight yellow tint
on bright objects.It does not bother me but its there.
Still it does have good contrast nice FoV and super eye relief.
Is it a good value? Not really. It is over priced for what it does. I do like the eyepiece but for the money there are others that can do just as well for less.

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:8 Value:5
Weight: 9 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=135647

TeleVue Radian 10mm
Wow. Well corrected, wide field with just a hint of lateral color (green). A recommended eyepiece for anyone, especially for the comfort (20mm ER). The adjustable eye guide did help with kidneybeaning, but was a bit clumsy IMO. Sold it when I bought my SCT because my skies will hardly ever support 280X.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Value:7
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=509307

TeleVue Radian 10mm
A first-rate eyepiece that works extremely well with TeleVue's 2x Barlow. Good contrast,and very sharp across the field. Excellent for glasses wearers. Pity about the insta-adjust, though...It feels cheap.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43510

TeleVue Radian 10mm
Yet another winner from Uncle Al. My previous 10mm eyepiece was a plossl and while the views were good through it, I found that the short eye relief was horrible. The Radians never fail to amaze me. You would expect some sort of compromise to gain generous eye relief and wider field of view but somehow they seem to be sharper with higher contrast as well. I also have the 12mm, 8mm and 6mm and so have a good selection for planetary use depending on atmospheric conditions and they are that good in my opinion that they all get a 10.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43509

TeleVue Radian 10mm
Excellent eyepiece. It does show a bit of lateral color, but only on jupiter, as far as I can tell. You should have seen M13 on the 18" Obsession...

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43508

TeleVue Radian 10mm
First I bought a 10mm TV Plossel thinking I would start a plossel collection. The first time I dropped it into my C9.25 I couldn't believe how critical the eye relief was. I took it back and traded for a 10mm Radian. WOW. I love it.
Lunar work at x235 is just wonderful. It is so crisp and clear and 20mm of eye relief is just great to have. I am going to have a series of Radians. The eyecup adjustment is a little funny because if you touch it a little too hard, you are riding it down to the lens. I understand there is a tightening procedure on the TV website. I plan on trying that. Great piece of glass.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43507

TeleVue Radian 10mm
Absolutely superb EP! Bought it for planetary veiwing. The contrast and sharpness when veiwing Saturn (300x on my scope) has to be experienced to be believed. I'm so impressed with it that I'm going to buy an 8mm and 12mm Radian as well. (Meade 12" LX200)

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43506

TeleVue Radian 10mm
Finally, I've found my high power EP. Went through a 10mm Plossl (poor eye relief, narrow FOV, low contrast), 10mm Lanthinum (narrow FOV and bad contrast), 9mm Nagler (size, weight, too much outfocus) and now this. Just about perfect. Sharp, high contrast, flat field, easy to use. Highly recommended in this focal range.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43504

TeleVue Radian 10mm
Great eyepiece. Sharp throughout entire field of view. I was able to get
my first excellent split on the Double Double with this eyepiece in my
8" SCT. Downside: Now I'm spoiled...and realize how mediocre my other
EP's are!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43503

[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!

Jay Freeman's Eyepiece Primer
Starting out in Amateur Astronomy
 
How to use This Site
Why Register?
Voting Guide