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Knight Owl Ultra-Wide Angle 11mm
| Brand | Knight Owl |
| Part Number | |
| Availability | available |
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Product Info
Overview
Reviews
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Mar 20, 2009
Good For The Price
Pros:Good FOV, Solid Construction
Cons:Rubber eye cup doesn't fold down
Comments:When I first got this I tried it in my 120mm f/5 refractor with a 2" diagonal, I couldn't get it to focus at all. So I tried it with a 1.25" diagonal and while I got it to focus it wasn't very sharp. Next time out I used it in my 10" f/5 reflector and to be honest I wasn't expecting much, I was wrong. While I don't get the full 82 degrees clearly it didn't really matter the FOV is so big. The Orion Nebula was the best I've seen it through any of my telescopes, almost 3-D like views. I'm sure this EP is being sold under different brands. Overall a good bargain if you're on a tight budget.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesNov 6, 2007Sucked in
Pros:Large FOV. Price.
Cons:Less than marginal views. Distortion, curviture, aberration....
Comments:A few years ago I was given cash as a present for some occasion that I cannot remember. As is often the case with my family, I was instructed to buy myself a piece of astronomy equipment. Since they know little about the hobby this is the approach they take. I am glad.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? No
I had recently noticed a 10mm Wide Angle EP in a monthly publication advertised as a new product. The EP was nicely priced and it would upgrade what I considered an inferior 10mm EP in my collection. So I contacted the company and asked about the 10mm. I was told that particular EP was out of stock, but they had a better deal, an 11MM Ultra-Wide Angle EP. The price was about the same, so I said OK. Beside, it had a larger FOV. I should have known better.
Upon arrival I was impressed with the apparent high quality of construction. The lettering was engraved, the eye lens of the EP was very large, and the coating had a nice green tint. In all, it had the look and feel of a top quality EP. The only draw back was the very hard eye cup. It was so hard I was unable to bend it down. I often do so when I observe as I like to use an observing hood. None the less I thought, "If only it performs as good as it looks."
My first night out with the EP was a major disappointment. I had Jupiter in the FOV, but I could not bring the planet to a sharp focus as I did with other EPs that night. The only redeeming thought I had was "it surely has a very large FOV". However that doesn't mean much when nothing I centered on would come into focus.
After calling it quits for the night, and while I was cleaning my equipment, I noticed the field stop of this EP was a loose. I tightened it just a bit and couldn't wait to use the EP the next time I observed. I had hoped that slight adjustment was all that was needed. I was wrong...
The next night out was much the same. While using my 8" F6 DOB, Jupiter was a bit better (as the NEB and SEB were observable), but the entire view was still too mushy for me. Also, quit a bit of chromatic aberration was evident on the edge of the planet. No amount of focus adjustment would help the situation.
To compound the problem, the next night out with the EP not only produced more of the same marginal views, but while observing the Moon I noticed several large bits of dust that I thought were on the outside edge of the lens. I was wrong. The dust had somehow found its was inside the EP. I was much perplexed at this development as I go to great lengths to avoid such a problem. I clean my oculars after each nights use. I cap each one with end caps and place them in a screw case. I then store the case in an equipment box. How this amount of dust could have found its way inside that ocular was a mystery.
I took a chance and disassembled the EP. I cleaned all the lenses and put it back together hoping this would somehow improve the view, but it did not. What I did notice was more dust inside of the EP after just a few nights use. I had to go through that same procedure. This was a continual problem till one night while assembling the EP I broke the eye lens.
I cannot say why this EP failed to perform on even a moderately acceptable level. I do not know why it never produced decent views or why it had constant trouble with dust. Perhaps my problems were a matter of "bad luck" in that I purchased a defective EP. Maybe I should have returned this one for a replacement, but that possibility went out the window when I broke the eye lens.
The views produced by this EP were far below that of a good plossl. Thus, before you purchase this EP you should ask yourself if the increased FOV is worth that much of a drop in clarity of view. For me it is not.
I cannot recomment this EP.Sort by
