Orion Optiluxe 40mm

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Orion Optiluxe 40mm
good eye relief

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44049

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I use this eyepiece with a Celestron CR-150 refractor and am very impressed with the deep sky views it gives. The views were clear to the edge and the resolution was stunning. I spend alot of time hunting galaxies and star clusters with this one and never get tired of using it. I would say out of my extensive collection of oculars, it's my favorite!! Eye relief is not overly long and black out effect is not bad at all.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44050

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
The quality of construction is very good and the current (2/2001) photos on Orion's website and catalog don't reflect how this eyepiece really looks. It is much taller than pictured with a wider grip ring and a setscrew recess on the barrel. I've used it in several different refractors and spent quite some time comparing it directly against a TeleVue 55mm Plossl. The Optiluxe exhibits some coma and loss of sharpness at the extreme edge - I'd estimate maybe the last 10% of the field. The field stop could be a little sharper. I detect no linear distortions (pincushion or barrel) and sharpness is excellent. There is no detectable difference in contrast between the Optiluxe and the TeleVue Plossl. These eyepieces are fully multicoated and give bright, clear images. Eye relief is just perfect for me with glasses. No kidney beans and it takes a deliberate effort to create blackouts (although without glasses, having your eye closer to the lens, blackouts might be more common). For an eyepiece of this focal length, it's not too fussy about eye position. Let's see, the Optiluxe 40mm gives you the same true field as a 35mm Panoptic with slightly less magnification and a very slightly smaller field than a TeleVue 55mm Plossl with significantly more magnification, all at less than half the cost of either of those other eyepieces. Sounds like a winner to me! A competive product to look at would be the new University Optics 2" 40mm Konig - it has about the same specifications and price as the 40mm Optiluxe.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 17 (Trustworthy Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44051

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
It has recently been established that this is the same eyepiece that University Optics sells as a 40mm König. See recent discussion (April 2001) on sci.astro.amateur.

Unlike most 2-inch eyepieces it does not have excessive eye relief; it's about 20 mm, which is comfortable with glasses but not elephantine. I'll post a review after I've evaluated its optical performance.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I was disappointed with this eyepiece. Sharpness and contrast left something to be desired. In my C11 at f/10, the outer 1/5 of the field was not sharp. Eye relief and fit and finish is very good, but I will be selling mine.

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44053

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I use it with an 8" SCT at f/10 at dark sky sites with fabulous results. Image sharpness and contrast are very good for the price. Eye position is well back from the glass with no light shield which is good for glasses but lets in a lot stray light when used near the city.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44054

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
EP of choice with my 150mm refractor and second with 300mm SCT. Edge distortion seems minimal but I tend to look at items in the center of FOV. I wish an eye-cup of some sort came with it as internal reflection from nearby lights can occur. A good value.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
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Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I use this with a 16" f4.5 dob. Yes, the exit pupil is way too big for my scope. Still, the eyepiece itself gives nice sharp flat views - images are much more defined at edges than 19mm axiom in the same scope. Some blackout, but I still sweep the milky way with considerable pleasure - and of course its great for finding things!

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=104167

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
Excellent EP with great eye relief. This is a fantastic priced EP. A very slight distortion at the very edges of the view, but by no means anything to whine or gripe over!
I personally think this is a great EP. The views are just breathtaking!!!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=203318

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
Great EP with nice finish. Great chunk of sky to view. A little kidney bean effect on the last 10-15% of the view, but by no means anything to complain about, after all, there are many worse ways to spend $139. Great buy for those wanting to upgrade to 2 inch barrel EP's. Orions scabbard and M41 and Sirius are just picturesque with this EP. Great buy!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=218379

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I purchased this EP about two months ago as an even lower power alternative to my Apogee 30mm Wide Scan 2 inch EP. I have NOT been disappointed! This is an incredible, 4 element, 62 degree FOV two inch EP that gives some of the most dramatic views I have ever seen through telescopes. I find it passed from scope to scope constantly at starparties, peole just LOVE the view it delivers, regardless of aperture or scope type. The very last 5-10% of the FOV does have slight kidney bean effect, but you will not notice it unless you are that picky to go looking for it purposely, even then, it is hard to notice. the center view is incredible, you can fit all kinds of Celestial Objects into this FOV. I had the Beehive Cluster and Jupiter in it the other night and it was simply gorgeous. M42 and the entire scabbard of Orion is a real special treat to view too....cannot wait to see the Southern Cross and its jewelbox...and Scorpius and the Summer Milky Way will be incredible...hey, for $139, this EP is a utter bargain. Plus, Orion are fantastic for their Customer Service, call them and check one out

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=238290

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I did not expect an eyepiece with such a low magnification to become one of my favorites. It not only gives great views of clusters but I use it for solar viewing.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=352925

Orion Optiluxe 40mm
I picked up a used 40mm Optiluxe after I heard these were the same as the UO Konigs. I have the 32mm Konig and am quite pleased with it.

When it arrived I put the two of them side-by-side and had to agree, they sure look like they came from the same place. The 40mm Optiluxe was only an ounce heavier (11 oz.) than the UO 32mm. Very nice if you don't like re-balancing your scope, (I certainly don't).

But under the stars I did have some concerns. First of all, you may have noticed Orion advertises this at 62* AFOV while UO only claims 60*. How Orion gets that extra 2* is by removing the fieldstop, (or reducing it to nil actually). this made for a rather fuzzy edge visually. Not a big deal but wanted folks to be aware.

The other concern was blackouts. This eyepiece is very sensitive to eye position. When you get your head in the right position the views were pretty good but I just could never relax with it. I was always adjusting my head to avoid blackouts which took away from the enjoyment so I ended up selling it. Pity, I liked the weight and what views I did see.

Try before you buy.
Mike

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:7 Value:8
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=536856

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