Pentax SMC XW 10mm Wide Angle Eyepiece (1.25") - 39x w/ 65mm, 50x w/ 80mm, & 63x w/ 100mm Pentax Scopes

Comments about SMC XW 10mm Wide Angle Eyepiece (1.25") - 39x w/ 65mm, 50x w/ 80mm, & 63x w/ 100mm Pentax Scopes:

Overall the view angle is terrific and the magnification is just what I was looking for (39x in 65mm Pentax Spotter). A tad bit large but still balances well on the tripod. The screw up adjustable cap really helps with accommodating to the proper eye relief distance, whether wearing glasses or not, it was perfect both ways.

Comments about SMC XW 10mm Wide Angle Eyepiece (1.25") - 39x w/ 65mm, 50x w/ 80mm, & 63x w/ 100mm Pentax Scopes:

While I will focus (excuse the pun) on the Pentax 10mm XW, obviously anyone considering this EP will also be looking at others such as Naglers and Ethos. To be candid, once you reach this level of performance the differences which come in to play are personal preferences and the specific telescopes used with the EP. I am primarily a binoviewer (Denk II with Power X switch) visual astronomer and am currently using a TEC 140 refractor. I have owned many scopes and eyepieces and presently own a pair of Televue 24mm Panotptics and a pair of these 10mm Pentax XW. If you are using the Pentax with a binoviewer you must be certain your nose is not too large or you will then have to partially disassemble the EP to get the proper interpupillary spacing. I did not find this necessary, but some will. This can be as simple as removing the plastic shades or with moderate effort by removing the outer cylinder and rubber coating. As far as the optics are concerned, you really can't do any better. If you want more filed of view then the Ethos will give that one advantage.
I no longer own the Ethos because the 2 inch skirts interfere with the proper locking of the eyepieces in the Denk II diopters. The light throughput on the Pentax is second to none and the color seems somewhat purer to my eyes. With the Naglers there is a slight, though not objectionable, yellowing of the objects. This has been described by others as a "warmer" view. I prefer the pure white views the Pentax delivers although the Naglers being more diminutive fit nicely in any binoviewer with no issues. In the TEC 140 and using the Power X switch, the Pentax gives about 130X, 200X, and 300X magnifications. There is practically no difference in these 3 eyepieces I've mentioned as far as kidney beaning and pincushion distortion. The distortions are minimal in all three. The nice thing about buying high end eyepieces is if you decide you want something else, there is always a demand for them on the used market. If you start with a moderate or inexpensive eyepiece, you'll end up losing most of the original value in a resale. Regardless of the scope you have, if you want the very best view possible you'll want a high end eyepiece. The weight and feel of this Pentax immediately conveys quality. One look through a nice scope using the 10mm XW will tell you why so many people will plop down the money they do for these. I looked at Jupiter the other night at 130X through the 10mm XW and saw nice detail in the cloud belts and a sharp black dot on the surface from a transiting moon. The visible moons were not simply pinpoints, but sharply defined discs. Granted the TEC 140 is one of the premier refractors available, but the Pentax really enables the scope to do what it is designed to without limitation. If your standards are high and you want the very best views possible you can't go wrong with this eyepiece.