I have a few Agena Starguiders so will see what is closest and give it a shot.

 

Did some lunar observing tonight in the TSA-102 with the 5 XW vs. the 5 DeLite. The two were exceedingly close in performance. Perhaps a extremely slight contrast edge to the DeLite but it took a lok of critical observing to ferret this difference out. Both showed just as bright and crisp of a view, even when Barlowed with a TV 2x (343x in the little TSA).

XW showed more lateral color from the lunar limb when it was off-axis than did the DeLite, so the DeLite was better in that respect. At the field stop the DeLite showed a distinct, though minimal blue ring, whereas the XW showed a more distinct and a very much thinner light aqua color right at the field stop, so the XW better in this respect.

Both held a comfortable eye positioning with no obvious differences.

 

Last evening continued evaluation the new DeLites. Focussed on the 5mm and 9mm only in comparison to the 5XW and 9 Morpheus. Color tone was nice and neutral in the DeLites, just like the XWs. Morpheus was warmer. Easily noticed when viewing Vega. Scatter profile was a little higher in the DeLites with scatter around Vega extending further in the DeLites than in the XW or Morpheus. As a result of this some dimmer mag 8+ stars in close proximity to Vega were more difficult to see in the DeLites.

Star points were excellent to the field stop in the DeLites with only the smallest bit of lateral color right at the field stop. Similarly, the Morpheus only showed a very little bit of lateral color, even though it has a more expansive AFOV. The XW showed the most.

The Ring nebula was also observed and while they were all very close, the XW and Morpheus showed the ring very slightly more authoritatively. Similarly, star fields appeared just a little bolder in the XW and Morpheus.

Through the course of the evening, eye positioning was not an issue with the eyepieces, however the 5mm DeLite on several uses was more difficult to acquire best eye positioning and at times during observations I would get some minor blackouts.

Scope used for these observations was a TSA-102.

 

Performed some critical observing of Globulars, the Moon, Nebula, and Doubles using the Vixen 81S Apo primarily with the 5mm DeLite vs the Pentax and Tak LE last evening. I like using the smaller apertures, especially on globs, as these are tough targets for small scopes so any notable differences between eyepieces usually presents.

On the Moon, details and subtle contrast features were a wash with all three eyepieces performing equally...and all very good. DeLite and XW both had very stark black backgrounds with no light artifacts. The Tak LE in this focal length showed its characteristic slight amount of flare when the Moon was just outside the FOV. When the Moon intersected the field stop the field stop was sharp in the XW with the slightest amount of aqua-green color thinly right on the rim of the field stop. Field stop was also spot-on sharp in the LE. The DeLite had a field stop that was very slightly fuzzy, a larger blue rim of light hugging the field stop, and also a very thin faint white line just outside the field stop all the way around. I see this on some eyepieces so not uncharacteristic. Comparatively in the 15mm DeLite these were much more suppressed in nature and the field stop appeared more sharply defined.

On doubles all eyepieces performed well. XW gave the best renditions as brighter stars gave more of a sense of "pop" to them and a slightly dimmer scatter profile around them whereas in the DeLite and LE they were more subdued in nature, but still quite beautiful. Beautiful classic airy disks with all eyepieces - I love using small aperture scopes for doubles!

On nebula, in particular the Ring Nebula, all three eyepieces showed it well defined, but again the XW had a slightly better rendition showing the center of the ring as being slightly darker and contrasting than the others. It was a very slight difference though and one of those things you typically only perceive when doing a critical compare. Faintest stars in the FOV showed no advantage in any eyepiece.

On globulars things were a little different. The LE was definitely at the end of the pack not showing globs nearly as well...less extent and less granular. Between the XW and the DeLite it was more of a battle royale...t times I felt the XW was showing more structure and more granularity of individual stars, then at other times no difference between it and the DeLite. So much too close to call. Both also had very nice focus snap so it was very easy getting best focus.

On eye placement behavior, all eyepieces were fairly stable, however the DeLite would often give a fast partial or full blackout when I first put my eye to it to observe. It is a little sensitive compared to the others if you place your eye too close. The XW on the other hand could tolerate much more play in eye placement and was very difficult to get a blackout when placing the eye too closely. With the DeLite, this behavior was typical only when initially getting eye placement. Once on target I had no issues maintaining the full and comfortable view position.

As a finder eyepiece during the tests I was using the 15 DeLite. It was quite a joy to use. I performed no critical observing with it but just used it for observing and finding. As such it was quite impressive with a very nice and sparkly FOV, sharp to the edge, and great contrast. In the little Vixen I was getting about 40x with a 1.5 deg TFOV with the eyepiece so was perfect for scanning and finding targets and I was really loving the pinpoint stars right to the edge.

 

Good points Don. FWIW, my observing eye is 20/20.

btw, conducted a planetary session tonight with my TSA-102 using the 5mm DeLite, 5 XW, and 5 XO. Mars and Saturn were the targets, as well as the Moon. On-axis Saturn and Mars show a more contrasty planet in the DeLite than in the XW, with dark features being more stark and easier to see as a result. As example, on Saturn the Cassini Division was more starkly shown and much easier to see at its thinnest point, and the shading gradients of Saturn's north polar region were much more apparent. Focus snap was also superior in the DeLite compared to the XW, but the XW appeared ever so slightly brighter.

For those that might ask, the 5 DeLite was not up to the XO as that performed a notch better still on these planets, but at the cost of all that comfortable eye relief and more generous AFOV of course. All-in-all, given how it performs relative to the XW and XO, IMO the 5 DeLite I expect is probably on-par if not slightly better than a standard Abbe like the UO HDs or Fujiyamas and other rebrands for on-axis planetary.

 

Good point Don. My guess would be that the 5mm DeLite would be, like the 7mm was, on-par with a modern production Abbe like the UO HDs for planetary. And of course better from the ergonomic standpoint given the better ER and AFOV.

 

Btw, in case anyone is wondering, the pic at the top of this thread also shows the Tak LEs, but I never mentioned them in the article. The reason why is that they were clearly a notch below the DeLites, XWs, Morpheus in all respects. So they just could not keep up or close to the others in all the performance areas I tested. I still like them as they have a nice build quality and are quite small, but clearly second string performers.

 

Hi. The ES82s are a superb eyepiece. IMO every bit as good, and better on planetary, than the TV T6 line in the 11mm and shorter focal lengths. The DeLites should do just a very little better on planetary based on what I am seeing, but remember the difference will be nuances and not dramatic. If the shorter eye relief of the ES82s are not an issue, then IMO no reason to go to the DeLites as you will not be missing anything, and you have more AFOV!. If you are needing more eye relief than your ES82s, then I'd recommend looking at the Baader Morpheus, Pentax XW, or TV Delos as alternatives. Unfortunately, no one else get makes long eye relief 82+ degree EPs. ES has the 92 degree series, but only a very few focal lengths available.