TeleVue Eyepieces Examined: Ethos, Nagler, Delos among Others Analyzed
Tele Vue, a renowned name in the world of telescope accessories, offers a diverse range of eyepieces to cater to various observing styles and budgets. The key differences between their series—Ethos, Nagler, Delos, Panoptic, DeLite, and Plossl—mainly revolve around their apparent field of view (AFOV), eye relief, optical complexity, and price.
The Ethos series, with its very wide fields of view (around 100°+), is ideal for immersive deep-sky viewing, making it a favourite among wide-field enthusiasts and Dobsonian users. These premium eyepieces boast ultra-wide, sharp, and immersive views, but come with a higher price tag.
The Nagler series, pioneers in the wide field of view eyepieces, offer an apparent field of view of around 82°. These high-quality multi-element designed eyepieces are excellent for deep-sky and planetary viewing, versatile for many telescopes.
The Delos series, consisting solely of 1.25" eyepieces, offers a wide apparent field of view of 72 degrees. These eyepieces are optimised for comfortable viewing with large eye relief and sharp wide views, making them ideal for planetary and lunar observing with comfortable eye positioning.
The Panoptic series, with a wide apparent field of 68°, is a good compromise between wide FOV and affordability. It works well for general use, offering good wide field and balanced optical design.
The DeLite series, designed for comfortable viewing with a moderate apparent field of ~60°, is an improvement on the old Radian eyepieces. These compact, high-performance eyepieces are offered at a reasonable cost, making them a popular choice for many.
Lastly, the Plossl series, with a narrower apparent field of ~50°, is a classic choice for planets and lunar detail. Its simple design offers excellent coatings and performance, making it widely compatible with most telescopes.
In summary, Tele Vue eyepieces cater to different observing styles and budgets, with the Ethos and Nagler series leading in optical performance and immersive views, while Plossls and DeLites provide excellent quality for more budget-conscious or specialized observing needs. Each series offers unique advantages, ensuring that there is a Tele Vue eyepiece to suit every astronomer's needs.
[1][3] Tele Vue's website for more detailed specifications and pricing information.
- In contrast to the Ethos series, the Delos series offers a slightly narrower field of view (72 degrees) and is primarily optimized for planetary and lunar observing, providing comfortable viewing with large eye relief.
- The refractor gadget, the Nagler series, with an apparent field of view of about 82 degrees, is praised for its high-quality optics and versatility, excelling in both deep-sky and planetary viewing across various telescopes.
- For astronomers looking for a compromise between wide field of view and affordability, the Panoptic series, offering a 68-degree FOV, is a suitable choice, providing good performance for general use with a balanced optical design.
- The moon and planets are best viewed through the eyepieces from the Plossl series, which boasts a traditional design with excellent coatings, offering narrower fields of view (around 50 degrees) and compatibility with most telescopes.
- The DeLite series, an upgrade on the Radian eyepieces, provides a moderate field of view (approximately 60 degrees) and is compact, high-performance, and reasonably priced, making it a desirable option for many astronomers seeking comfortable viewing at a budget-friendly price.