I've used this eyepiece for quite a while now. Sharpness is just ok in the center but drops off badly in the outer third FOV in any of my scopes (from F6 to F11). Also, unlike the previous posters' comments, it fits way too loosely in my 1.25" eyepiece barrels. I only paid $25 for it but I was still a bit disappointed. Maybe I got a bad one? (the 10.5mm was much better), but since Apogee is clearing them out I can't return it.

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:6 Value:6
Weight: 20
Date: 08/21/2007 12:57:05 pm PST

Replies: 0

Very pleased. Works very well on planets in my F6 Mak-Newt or my F11 refractor. Very sharp and bright with lots of contrast and images are cool and not coffee toned like some of my other plossls. I like it as much or better than my 7mm UO HD. Has only a very tiny bit of lateral color - not much at all. Eye relief is tight, but what do you expect for an 8mm plossl? Also, my filters don't fit on it. Give this eyepiece a try, for only 19.95 + shipping, you won't go wrong.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 5
Date: 07/13/2006 12:57:27 pm PST

Replies: 0

Unlike Mr. Gibson's review I wasn't as pleased with my 25mm Super Erfle. Color correction is very good, better than a average plossl. However, my biggest complaint is the astigmatism starting at around 70% at the edge of FOV in my F11 refractor - and it's worse in my F6 MN56 Mak-Newt and F7 APO. The stars aren't pinpoints, but starting to look either squashed or like crosses. I didn't find the field as flat as Mr. Gibson stated in his review of his sample.
Overall, an average value knowing that some of my comparable plossls work much better with almost wide FOV. I just expected a bit more.

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:7 Value:5
Weight: 5
Date: 09/01/2005 07:12:40 pm PST

Replies: 0

I suppose I have the "2004" version. I paid Edmund $199 plus shipping for it. Mine came with two Edmund plossl eyepieces - 32mm and 15mm and the box noted that the scope is made in China. The 32mm eyepiece is horrible - lots of lateral coler and I have a hard time positioning my eye over it. I use my 25mm UO Erfle (which is $90 by itself) and find the views much improved. The 15mm is an excellent eyepiece however - wider and brighter views than the average plossl. When I first used it, it noticed it was way out of alignment - mostly because of a misaligned secondary. On my scope, the secondary mirror stalk is glued rather sloppily to the optical window. In my effort to align the secondary, I removed the optical window and place small bits of tape around the edges so that I could tilt the secondary appropriately. I then reinstalled the optical window and found the images consequently improved slightly. However, the primary is still a bit out of collimation and slightly pinched with no way to adjust it. I really don't enjoy the low power views of stars very much, because of the excessive coma and astigmatism. My eyes were checked two weeks ago and I don't have any astigmatism. However views of the moon are pleasing and can be focused reasonably sharp. Ironically, higher power views are actually quite good - I used my UO 7mm eyepiece with a 2.8X Klee barlow ($160 combo for 178x) last night and was able to focus reasonably well on Jupiter. I also found the that the finder peep sight my Astroscan came with difficult to use.
I really had high expectations for the Astroscan as this is the scope I always wanted as a kid. However, I find the Astroscan difficult to use unless you are able to place it on a table or stand of just the right height. It's dimensions also make difficult to point. If the collimation could be adjusted by the user, then I would probably give the optics an eight.
As it is though I'm a bit disapponted - even for the $199. If absolute portablity were not a primary issue, I would take a look at the Orion XT4.5 dob first before considering this Astroscan as a scope for new young astronomers.

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:6 Mount:5 Ease of Use:6 Value:7
Weight: 5
Date: 06/20/2005 10:56:57 am PST

Replies: 0

I purchased mine directly from University Optics. The 2.8x Klee transmits a bit more light and is lighter/smaller than my 2x Orion Shorty Plus. Like the Orion it vignettes a little in my F6 Mak-Newt. However, takes away nothing and adds nothing else to the image - just 2.8x larger! I don't have any expensive barlows to compare this to, but I'm very pleased with this one.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 5
Date: 06/17/2005 08:00:14 am PST

Replies: 0