University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm

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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
This is a great wide field eyepiece, working well at f/5.6 and f/9 with enough eye relief for my glasses.

Overall Rating: 9
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
This eyepiece provides truly incredible views with my 18" f/4.5 dob - almost a 1.5* field. The only drawback for me, is that it reduces my 18" to (effectively) a 14" because of the size of the exit pupil. Nevertheless, the views are so spectacular that it's worth it for anything that deserves a wide-field view. Images are sharp almost to the edge, no chromatic aberration. At under $200, it's a bargain.

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
This eyepiece drove me nuts! It's about as sharp as a widefield eyepiece can get but I could not hold the view without significant blackouts whenever I moved my eye. Removed the top filter ring and still had the problem. Have spoken with other amateur astronomers who did not have blackout problems with this big hunk of superbly crafted glass so maybe it is a personal anomaly. I'd recommend that you try before you buy. Eye relief was pretty short because of the wide fov.

Overall Rating: 7
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
Fantastic sharp to the edge wide-field (70 degree AFOV) views, from an inexpensive 2" eyepiece that is well built (as nice to look at as it is to look through) and will give scopes in the f/5.6 to f/6 range the widest true field of view possible. Good eye relief (I can just take in the whole field with my glasses on) becomes great eye relief (estimating 20mm plus) when the top filter thread assembly is screwed off (it is threaded for easy removal). No problems with black-out or kidney bean effect. This eyepiece should be selling at a much better clip than it is currently! The biggest caviat is the lack of a rubber eyecup. 40mm Pentax XL beware!!!!

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
This is a generally excellent very-widefield 2" eyepiece, with excellent contrast and fine construction. Not as heavy as other eyepieces in it's FL range, it is nonetheless a substantial ocular. The only real drawback is inherent in the design, and that is astigmatism near the edge; a coma corrector won't fix this, and it will never be as sharp at the edge as, say, a 35mm Panoptic, which does fix astigmatism. However, given the substantially lower pricetag and the extremely wide field, it is a good value. I love to use it with my 18" for the Rosette Nebula and the M31 trio at dark sky sights, and the view is positively stunning - it makes an astronomy fan out of anybody.

Overall Rating: 8
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
Very sharp, flat field. Minimal coma. A bargain.

Overall Rating: 9
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
I purchased this eyepiece because I wanted the widest field of view possible in a 2" eyepiece. The actual field of view is almost exactly the same as a 2" 55mm
plossl with a 50 degree apparent field. The star images are very sharp with good off axis corrections. The eye relief is good. It doesn't have too much eye relief like some 40 mm eyepieces. I use it on my three newtonians with f ratios of f/4.7, f5.2 & f/7. You loss light on short focus telescopes because the exit pupil is too large. However, a actual field of view of almost 3 degrees on a 8" telescope is fun to use. A good buy in wide field 2" eyepiece.

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
belonged to a friend, really impressed with this for the money. compared favorable with my 35 Pan. The Pan had slightly better edge performance

Overall Rating: 9
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
I bought this eyepiece because like many others here indicate, it gives the largest FOV possible in a 2" barrel plus at f/6 the exit pupil isn't too large like a less expensive 55mm Plossl would be. After receiving this EP I was blessed with two weeks of cloudy skies so buyer beware! It finally cleared enough last night I set everything up and took my first view. My expectations were not let down.

WOW! It's full of stars! The field of view is absolutely breath taking (about 2.3 degrees in my 8" f/6). Stars focus sharp and there is no decernable false color. Only at the extreme edge of the field does the image start to break up with some astigmatism and rainbows. Eye relief is comforable and black outs didn't seem to be any problem--it was very easy to find and hold the view. The value of the top mount filter option questionable but the mounting ring does make a nice pseudo eyeguard to help keep ambient light out and position your head. Eyeglass wearers will likely have to remove this to see the whole FOV with glasses on (it simply unscrews).

Since my main purpose of this eyepiece was to help find DSO's, for the fun of it I did a mini Messier marathon. My telescope has small 3" setting circles so it is difficult to point it precisely. Coupled with the fact that I seldom do a precision polar alignment due to time involved, finding objects by the setting circles usually took a few minutes of sweeping and sometimes resulted in total failure. With the 40mm Mk-70, objects I dialed in were always in the FOV. In about an hours time I found 20 or so objects quite effortlessly. What amazed me was even in the extreme light polluted skies of smack in the middle of the Dallas/Ft. Worth/Denton triangle, it was very easy to detect even faint objects against the resulting blue-gray background. Can't wait to try it under dark skies!

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
good value. comfortable. edges not extremely sharp. edmunds 32mm 2" erfle
better. i still like it. this is my "finder" eyepiece. its wide field and
long fl locates everything.

Overall Rating: 8
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
I recently used this eyepiece on some medium sized dobs (12.5" and 15") at a star party, and was very, very impressed with the views. The Orion Nebula actually seemed to be in color! M81 and M82 were spectaculer, as was Andromeda. The field of view is excellent and the transmission of light through the eyepiece was exceptional as well. A nice experience.

Overall Rating: 9
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
In my f/6 newt the exit pupil isn't too large eyerelief was shorter than I expected but I found it just right for me. The colour I pick up in brighter objects is up there with the best eyepieces. Stars images have an Orthoscopic like sharpness. The field is massive, I get that space walking fealing, took me a bit to get used too the wide feild and now I love it. The thing I like most is I do not have to move around my eye to get see the whole feild because the exit pupil is not too large, not like some other low magifaction wide angle eyepieces. I love looking at galaxy clusters with this eyepiece.

Overall Rating: 9
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
A great wide field EP for my 10" f10 SCT. I can get the entire Double Cluster into the field of view, without using a focal reducer. This only was worth the move to 2" EP's. Only a very small amount of coma on the extreme edges. Good contrast and sharp images. Highly recommend this one.

Scott Baker
San Diego Astronomy Association

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
Huge field! I get about 2.3° in my 8" f/6. Very sharp on-axis and for most of the field. The outer 10% or so is quite a bit softer. It's fun seeing objects like the planets look so tiny with so much space around them. Eye relief is very abundant, in fact a bit too much for non-glasses wearers. Probably perfect for those with glasses.

The field is about the max for a 2" focuser! I sold my Panoptic 35 eyepiece in anticipation of getting this one, and I'm not disappointed. Performance is very much like the Panoptic but the field is wider. Plus the Panoptic has some annoying "blacking out" issues while looking around. With the Konig the field stop can just be glimpsed at the right distance from the eye lens. Of course, the huge exit pupil means that you need dark skies to take full advantage of this eyepiece.

The eyepiece is very large, about as big as my Nagler 22 but lighter. The lenses in this Konig are massive. Overall, a great buy! Cheaper than the Pan 35, significantly wider field (around 30-40% more), and slightly less "pinpoint to the edge".

Overall Rating: 9
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
i have bought alot of good ep's but this ep is the most fantastic feeling i have ever had at looking through. WOW! if you have a 2 in. focuser . you must get this ep. i rate this UO EP A 11.to get this veiw and quality the only other ep is the 31 nag or pentax 40mm. at $195 this is a steal. bob hart

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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
I've felt that eyepieces should be rated against their cost and the UO 40mm
forces me to rate it a 10. I am very comfortable with the eye relief and there was minimal blackout/kidney-beaning. The view is wonderful. It is fully illuminated in my Celestron 9.25 w/2" visual back. I really like this eyepiece.
Edge to edge seems sharp to me and I couldn't detect any false coloration.

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
I am in a transient state of swearing off more expensive toys so I do not more become a janitor to my possessions. I wanted the 31mm Nagler but refused to spring for the $600 it costs. The Panoptic 35mm was the next choice, but it is pushing $400. I have the 22mm Panoptic and a gaggle of Radians. Wanting a wide field 35-45mm eyepiece, I decided to try the University 40mm Mk 70 and bought it from the Company which has a satisfaction or money back guarantee. I was shocked at how good the views were, by both day and stary night. The contrast is better than the Panoptics 22mm and 31mm and close to the Radians, but with a hugh field of view. I read but not not agree with the comments here that hold the 40mm significantly deteriorates toward the edge. I doesn't in my Tel-Vue 102 to any noteworthy or bothersome degree and I much prefer the better contrast, the lack of kidney beaning or blackout, the comfortable eye relief without glasses, the support to the eye and head alignment afforded by the screw-in filter holder, the lack of hugh eye relief longer focal lengths too often afford,and the massive bang per buck. This is a fun eyepiece and great for landscape viewing as well. I have not been able to find a better buy in new eyepieces.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 9 (Veritable Vote)
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
It is a close call between this and the 40mm Pentax XL. The Pentax is about $40 more. I found it easier to hold the view and liked the eyecup better, so I went with the Pentax. Optically I saw little difference. The best thing of course would be to compare them if possible. You can't go wrong either way I think.

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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
The first 2" eyepiece that I bought to use in an 8"SCT and Intes 2" diagonal setup- Superb performance! Used at f/10 I could tell no vignetting and the entire field was clear and sharp. Every bit as good as a friend's 35mm Panopotic when used in my SCT. Eye relief may be tight for some, but I don't wear glasses and the ER is perfect for my tastes.

Overall Rating: 10
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University Optics Konig MK-70 40mm
I bought it to be my workhorse eyepiece with a C14. On the C9.25, in
the 'burbs, you don't get as much contrast as you do from the UO 25 mm,
but that's a natural consequence of mangification.

It's about as much fov as you can get when you're f/11 3910 mm fl.
Buy this, buy the 25, and buy the UO barlow, you won't regret it.

Overall Rating: 10
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