Re: B-W Optik 30mm UW

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 MitchAlsup@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Marcus Ludes of APM in Germany used to sell these
>
> The optical prescription is supposed to be a reverse-engineered Lietz
> 30mm 88dFoV monster.

I'm anything but sure of that. I bought a Leitz 30mm/90deg from
M.Ludes more than ten years ago. Although I cannot be 100% sure
that this eyepiece is actually what it claims to be (it's not
labeled at all), both its external appearance (more like the
"grenade" shape of both the 31 Nagler and the Meade 5000 30 UWA,
but far smaller than either of these, very similar in size/shape
to the Pentax 30mm XW, in fact - in any case, the lens assembly
mount is 67mm (thread) at its widest, while the 30mm B-W lens
assembly isn't significantly wider than the 2" barrel), and the
Leitz' optical performance (significant field distortion in the
outer half but pinpoint stars to the edge) is far different from
the B-W 30mm UWA that a friend of mine bought about two years ago.
The two are not comparable in any way - different outer/inner
appearance as well as different optical performance.

The problem is finding these Leitz eyepieces. I wish somebody
would manufacture something similar. Even at thrice the price
of the B-W 30mm UWA, a clone of "my" Leitz would still give
the Nagler, Pentax and Meade "30mm grenades" a run for their
money. But then, at the time when I bought the Leitz it was
unique. There were no 30mm "UWA" eyepieces on the market then.

The B-W 30mm that I saw is a nice finder eyepiece, and good for
widefield if you can live with a somewhat soft edge, but that's
it. Compared 1:1, sharpness in the outer half of the field falls
far short of my 30mm Leitz, or the 31 Nagler and 30 Pentax XW
(these I've seen - no Meade 5000 30mm UWA in my hands yet).

Or, from my point of view: As far as widefield eyepieces goes,
the 30mm B-W UWA is a "teaser" but no "keeper".

I'm spoiled, I'd pass the B-W on even if I'd get it as a gift.
I've found "my" ultimate 30mm years ago. As people keep on
saying, scopes change but (some) eyepieces are for life ...


FrankH.
.

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