University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm

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University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Great eyepieces, see comments under 12.5mm.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Better than my Takahashi 7.5mm LE in light throughput - the difference was obvious the first time I used it. Resolution seems better, too. At 1/3 the price of the Tak, it's a bargain. Drawbacks? Small field of view, eye relief not as nice as the Tak or Radians, of course.

K. Michael Malolepszy

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43266

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
For doing what an Ortho is supposed to do, this is a gem. Tried this one with a Celestron 6" acro refractor last night. Not only watched Io's shadow transit Jupiter, I could also see Io transiting Jupiter. Well worth every penny.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43267

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Very fine eyepiece. Contrast is excellent, sharp star and planetary images. See lots of use in my F/4.5 Dob.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43268

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
A really nice little eyepiece for the money. Very sharp, great for planets and moon. I use it alot. Contrast is good, but not quite as good as my 8mm radian. It is a little sharper than the radian, but when I need contrast for seeing detail of the cloud bands on jupiter I use the radian.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43269

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Performs admirably in my etx90. Very sharp, with good light throughput with the small apertured etx for excellent views of Jupiter, Saturn & splitting double stars. Had no problem with eye relief, although it's on the short side, of course.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43270

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Even the narrow FOV doesn't matter with this one because the views are excellent in my 8" f/6 DOB. Combined with my shorty barlow, this EP let me see Saturn as I have never seen it before except in pictures--just not as large of course. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43271

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
This is one glorious eyepiece--exceptionally bright, perfectly sharp across the field at f/4.5, and very well made. Contrast is superb, false color and ghosts utterly non-existent. At any price it's a keeper; at <$60 it's almost too good to be true. Thank you, University, for keeping the orthoscopic design vividly alive!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43272

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
I have to admit, I was skeptical when I first opened the package and took out this tiny lens. After using this lens a couple of nights, I am very impressed. It is very sharp and bright. It is also clear to the edge. The 45" FOV doesn't bother me a bit. The eye relief is ok without glasses and unacceptible with glasses. This is my planet and globular cluster ep. It's a great value for the price.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 2 (Unreliable Vote)
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University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Add me to the list of admirers. I'm not as experienced as some, but this is the first eyepiece I've bought where I could *really* see the difference in quality compared to a less expensive eyepiece. If you're used to Kellners and lower quality Plossls, you've gotta try this! I'm sure you could do better if you paid more, but I'm equally sure that you cannot do better for under $60.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43274

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Matches anything I've seen in image quality - about the same as Radians and XL's. For hundreds of dollars you can get better eye relief and wider field, but not really superior images. Certainly nothing else in the price range can touch it. Zeiss and Pentax orthos are reputed to be a *little* better but you can't get those anymore - and they were alot more expensive anyway. If you can tolerate the limited eye relief these UO orthos are the answer for planetary EP's - use your savings for expensive low power EP's where the additional expense pays off more.
I've tried these vs. barlowed high quality plossls and the UO's win on contrast and throughput.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Please read comment on 12.5 mm.....

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43276

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
This is one of the recent "T" multi-coated models and has very good image quality in terms of sharpness, contrast, brightness, lack of ghosting, and color purity. Fairly narrow FOV, but consistent with other Abbe Orthos of this focal length. The image quality and eye relief are not quite as good, though, as in the 7mm Pentax SMC Ortho, and overall image quality very slightly lagged behind a 7mm Meade Research Grade Ortho. However, it is a very good value for the price and provided better images than comparable Tak LE, Vixen LV, Celestron/Vixen Or, Celestron Ultima, Celestron silver top Plossl, and Pentax XL.

I've compared quite a few eyepieces in f/5.4 and f/5.3 refractors, and am basing my ratings on image quality, not FOV.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
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University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Very nice e.p. in my 10" f/4.5 Dob! Great on planets; planetaries; doubles; faint fuzzies; globs; comet comas; the moon; you name it! Very satisfied with it in my fairly light saturated urban backyard! A little short on eye relief for those with glasses; with my contacts it's GREAT!Also, F.O.V. a bit narrow but the image quality is excellent! Fainter stars "pop out" compared to other e.p.'s of similar focal length. I own Vixen/Panoptic/Meade et al, e.p.'s and am very impressed with this economical jewel. Also ordered the 12.5 mm and am just as enthused with it.

Overall Rating: 9
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=86110

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
I bought the UO 7mm ortho as part of a set of four, including 25mm, 12.5mm, and 4mm (each reviewed respectively). I use these eyepieces with a small, off-axis dob (4" F/10).

Clean, simple, and lightweight, I use the UO 7mm ortho on a DGM Optics OA-4 for a usable high power. At F/10, the field of view is flat to the field stop and sharp. On a 1010mm focal length scope, I find the 7mm useful not only for lunar, planetary, and double star work, but for select deep sky objects (such as bright planetaries and small globular clusters).

Theoretically, a 7mm on this size scope provides maximum visual resolution while still maintaining reasonable brightness. Anything higher provides greater image scale but at an increasing, if arguably subtle price to brightness and contrast. I can confirm that the 7mm is indeed a fabulous focal length for this size scope and may just be my favorite in the set.

While presenting a narrow field of view, what is there is sharp. To ease tracking on my small dob, I don't hesitate to start viewing an object well off axis and let it drift through the entire field of view. At 146X, I haven't found tracking on the dob to be especially challenging.

Eye relief is snug, but usable if you view without glasses. (I found this eyepiece much more comfortable than a 12mm Koening.) An eyecup will help with positioning and seated observation eases tracking at higher powers.

I give the optics a 9 only because I've heard that Zeiss and Pentax orthos are even better. Frankly, these no-nonsense, solid little eyepieces strike me as flawless. Value is obviously a 10 and overall 9, only because I think it would be nice if they had integral eyecups. (The Orion full eyepiece cups work well.)

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 2 (Unreliable Vote)
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University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
Views are very clear but the 45 degree fov combined with the tight eye relief is annoying. On cold nights I fear my eyeball will get stuck to this one.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Optics:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=172765

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
My review is on the 7mm classic design, not the newer HD eps. If you like maximum performance at a minimum cost, the University Optics are for you-period. I had originally bought the 9mm HD, but returned it. I found it too close to my 10mm Sirius plossl as far as power and overall view goes-same contrast.

The 7mm classic, however, is obviously different, I prefer the classic coatings, and will probably get one or two more just in case they discontinue these-hopefully not.

This is my first upgrade ep from the standard 25 and 10 Sirius plossls included with my orion xt4.5 f/10.
The contrast is better on the UO, the skies are black, velvety, the stars do jump out-pinpoints. In low constrast situations, nice detail and gradations can be seen. I could swear I could make out the North American nebula at the first light with this ep. I stayed out 2 1/2 hours with this ep.

I live in the country, and besides a couple of streetlights, I don't have urban lighting to contend with. We have an open field behind our house and a cow pasture to the north-so it gets pretty dark. The views were exceptional that first light. I think my next UOs might be the 6mm or 4mm, and maybe the 16mm Koenig.
Not having looked through higher end TVs, Taks, or Pentaxes, I don't have those to compare to, but what I saw, and the low cost I paid, I'm a believer. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=308846

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
I am currently waiting on my THIRD new 7mm UO Ortho. Everytime I have one, I try it, I love it, and then mistakenly think I can trade away for something better. Simply put- Nothing beats the AFFORDABLE quality this EP presents. Super sharp, good light throughput, and more effective eye relief than you might think. The volcano style top makes it much easier to get your eye near the lens than a flat top with an eyeguard. That is the primary reason I am (so far) staying away from the UO HD Orthos.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=344073

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
I purchased this EP based on reviews here. I must say that it's a solid high magnification performer for me!

I use it with my Orion Mak (1540 mm fl, f12.1) and Stellarvue SV4 (650 mm fl, f6.4) as the highest power ep that I regularly use.

Views of the planets and the moon are incredible, with ZERO ghosting or contrast problems. Of course, FOV is tight, but when dealing with planets, that's not a big deal. Double star work is easy with this ep, since there are so few elements and it stays sharp across the field.

I have used it for afocal digicam pictures and it works well, so long as I'm prepared to keep the target in view. In this case, a larger FOV would be nice.

For the $, it can't be beat to try out a magnifcation to see if it works for your setup.

Stephen

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Value:9
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=368533

University Optics Orthoscopic 7mm
I had heard such great things re UO orthoscopics, so I ordered the 7mm to use in my MK67 and Skywatcher 120mm ST refractor. The eyepiece did well on planets and moon, but to my eyes the contrast and light transmission was low compared with other types of eps. That, coupled with the cramped fov and eye relief, would make the 7mm a poor choice for deep sky viewing, in my opinion.

Overall Rating: 5
Optics:7 Value:5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=391664

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