Antares Speers-Waler 14mm

4.0 Cheap Ultrawide With Decent Performance

Good value, large field of view, decent overall performance.

Focuser in-travel issues, awkward size, poor performance in outer 30 percent of field.

This is the poorest performing of the three Speers-WALER eyepieces I've owned (versus 10mm and 5-8 Zoom). That is not to say it's a terrible eyepiece. On the contrary, it gives really immersive 82 degree views at a budget price. However, it does lack the near edge to edge performance of its siblings. In my f5 12" Dobsonian, it is sharp out to about 70% of its field with quite noticeable degradation in views in the last 20% It's eye relief is stated at 12mm. However, to me it feels just a touch (maybe 1mm?) less than the eye relief of the 5-8 zoom (also stated at 12mm). Its also a fairly long and awkward eyepiece which may be an issue for some.

This eyepiece requires a modest amount of focuser intravel as well, which may be an issue with some telescopes. I had to use a low profile 1.25" to 2" adapter to reach focus in my 12" GSO Dobsonian.

There is a couple of minor build quality issues as well. The field lens does not appear to be fully edge blackened in my particular eyepiece and the filter threads appear poorly blackened as well. Neither problem is significant or performance altering. I've had none of the dust in the eyepiece issues that I've heard other people mention with their Speers WALERs (nor in my other 2 Speers as well).

This eyepiece is a good value for the money, but there are better ones out there for a similar price in my opinion and as such I cannot fully recommend this eyepiece.