Vixen Lanthanum LV9mm

3.0 Vixen Lanthanum LV9mm

Not expensive, Good contrast, Nice eye relief

Too much lateral color, Very hard rubber eyecup, Lanthanum glass not up to expectation.

I recently got a chance to evaluate the 9mm Vixen Lanthanum EP. I have some good and some bad news. It is not too expensive at just over $100 new, but this night was my first and only experience with Lanthanum glass. I wasn't overly impressed with both this EP and the Orion Lanthanum 8mm that I have also reviewed.

Fit and finish is excellent. However the rubber eyecup is quite hard and difficult to fold down. I used this EP in my f/10 8" SCT which is a slow scope and favorable to most eyepieces. Lateral color is somewhat in evidence and those that viewed through this eyepiece said it was almost too much. This is mostly a planetary eyepiece and too much lateral color is a no-no. Contrast is excellent and the 20mm of eye relief is also nice. It has a 50 degree FOV, but views of Mars and the Moon where very good. This eyepiece barlows decently and is threaded for filters.