Another great review Bill! Thanks very much for your efforts for the astronomy community. I am eagerly looking forward to these.

In photo 5, the coatings on the 14mm look redder than the others, which are rather similar. Is this just an artifact of the photo angle or did you see a difference in the coatings? And were the coatings on the two 14mm eyepieces the same?

Harry D.

 

Nothing can really be told about a coating based on its "reflex color" also sometimes called its "color bloom". Basically it is a designed attribute from coating manufacturers and you can select what coloration you desire. And if you specify nothing, then you get however they turn out. As you change your angle a little most coatings will change color a little. So in a pic like this, since they are all not in the exact same position relative to the camera, the colors can vary. If I had the camera on a tripod and fixed, and placed each eyepiece in the exact same location with its eye lens at the exact same height, I would expect all the colors would have looked the same then.

 

Thanks Bill. I only posed this question because the color on the 14mm was significantly different than the others even after accounting for the varying angles in your group photo. But your last sentence answers my question.

Harry D.

 

Over on Cloudynights on the Eyepiece Forum, someone started a thread about just how ugly looking the Morpheus eyepieces are. Some contributors to that thread were very sincere in their criticism while others just went along with it tongue-in-cheek. But others like me stated unequivocally that looks don't mean a thing; it's performance that counts. I'm looking forward to trying one out when the opportunity arises, and if I like it, I'll buy one or more. And I don't think they're ugly!

 

You are of course correct. All that matters, IMO, is performance and function. Those are where the rubber hits the road. Other things, like aesthetics, matter zero.

 

Thx!

 

A bunch of us were discussing these eyepieces at the observing spot we go to and all of us find it hard to believe they are in the same league as the Delos / Pentax XW's. I wish someone had one near here so we could all try a couple out. Some of the past Baader eyepieces have left us all with a bad taste in our mouths.

Could someone ship one or two for us for a shoot out? Maybe the 4.5mm or the 17.5mm? (both extreme ends of the line).

Wishful thinking I guess....

 

The eyepieces have not been released in the US yet. I suspect Bill must have received a set from Baader for review purposes only. I am sure there will be a slew of reports for these soon after they start shipping in the US.

Harry D.

 

Not in build, but their optical performance is certainly right there. For $239 they are not far from the price class of the Delos and XW. I imagine if they upped the build to the level of the Delos and XW then prices would be on-par.

 

So, you're saying that the higher power ones are going to be sharp out to the edges in a fast scope just like XW's are?

The negative FC in the XW's cancel out the positive FC in short FL Newts giving a flat field look right out to the edges.....Ae you saying that the higher power Morpheus do the same?

And what about color saturation? Transmission?

 

In my f/4.7 scope they looked on-par in all respects to the XWs. However, I do feel they are just a little crisper on Lunar in particular...at least that is the impression I come away with. I notice no obvious difference in tone or color saturation. Basically a top notch view. The 14 Morpheus actually is far better IMO than the 14 XW since the Morpheus has no FC like the XW so sharp all the way around. The 4.5 Morpheus however shows edge of field brightening so the background on that one is not as uniform as the 5 XW. But that of course does not show on Lunar observing.

 

Hi!

Bill,

Please, in your opinion, considering overall performance and disregarding different AFOV. Who is better: Vixen LVW or Baader Morpheus? Fine glass or new eyepiece design?

 

I consider the LVWs only very marginally better than the Hyperions. Of those two, the build quality of better on the LVWs, but the fine tuning rings for the Hyperions make them fun and more flexible. Neither of these lines though are in the performance class of the Morpheus. So IMO the LVW and Morpheus do not compare, especially in the off-axis which is not only larger but IMO far superior to the LVWs. Note also that Baader is not ending the Hyperion line, it is staying and a lower cost and lower performance alternative. Bottom line is Morpheus are a class above the LVWs.

 

The LVW's are leaps and bounds better than the Hyperions which are plagued with edge of field brightening, off-axis astigmatism and more compared to the LVW's in a fast scope, or any scope. The fact that the Hyperions are still around doesn't mean jack. The fine tuning rings are just a gimmick and messing in the dark with them is an other hassle on top of the lame performance you get out of them.

 

That is fine. We all have our opinions... LVWs I owned and they were simply unimpressive optically, even in my TSA-102. Terrible off-axis performance given their price IMHO. I have also owned the Hyperions and worked the fine tuning rings all the time in the dark at the scope. Never had any issues doing it and was not difficult my any measure for me.

Each of us are adept at different things. We also have different likes and dislikes. This being the case no eyepiece will be all things to everyone. So why we have all these different brands and capabilities and features. We need the variety because we are variety. So I had a long run with the Hyperions and let me tell you those fine tuning rings were definitely no marketing gimmick. I used them quite productively for many years. They were simple, elegant, and fun. And had the Hyperions first so after all the chatter on how better the LVWs were supposed to be I got them, and quickly sold them because other than a better build, nothing much else to talk about as far as I was concerned. Just the way it is. But glad you liked them. I sure didn't given their price.

 

No opinion here, just facts. LVW's, terrible off axis performance? Every other person I know who has used them has never mentioned this.

 

Thanks George.