Televue vs. Explore Scientific

[Akarsh Simha]

Hi

I have been a blind patron of Televue eyepieces for a while now. They
are the most trusted eyepieces, and it is clear that Al Nagler is an
expert with optics. But recently, I noticed that a new company called
Explore Scientific is selling eyepieces which are as wide-field as the
TVs get, also anti-reflection coated, for a much lower price.

I've been wanting to test them on the field, but I haven't yet done so.

But here's an interesting thread on CloudyNights on this subject:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5992439/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

So it might make sense to buy Explore Scientific because they are much
cheaper, although, unfortunately, they might just be copying Televue
designs that we know are the output of efforts of Al Nagler and his
relatives and employees.

Regards
Akarsh

[Akarsh Simha]

> So it might make sense to buy Explore Scientific because they are much
> cheaper, although, unfortunately, they might just be copying Televue
> designs that we know are the output of efforts of Al Nagler and his
> relatives and employees.

Worthy of note is the price comparison someone posted in the thread:

ES 82* 30mm $250.00 -> Televue Nagler 31mm $695.00
ES 82* 11mm $99.00 -> Televue Nagler 11mm $330.00
ES 68* 40mm $250.00 -> Televue Panoptic 41mm $550.00
ES 68* 20mm $99.00 -> Televue Panoptic 19mm $270.00
ES 100* 20mm $299.00 -> Televue Ethos 21mm $895.00
ES 100* 9mm $250.00 -> Televue Ethos 10mm $650.00

At $250, a 82° wide-field 30mm eyepiece is a really good deal, if it
performs well enough. Hopefully, at our star party on the 13th, I'll
get a chance to compare them side-by-side.

Regards
Akarsh

[sathya kumar Prasanna]

Hi Akarsh,

You must have come across Explore Scientific only recently. It is the commercial name for JOC, Taiwan, that now will probably own Meade Instr Corp. They have been manufacturing very good optics for several years now and their Telescopes and eyepieces have a good reputation, specially in UK and EU.

Thanks and Regards

Sathya

https://www.facebook.com/SathyakumarSharma

Regards
Akarsh

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[Harshad RJ]

On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 5:48 AM, sathya kumar Prasanna <skps...@gmail.com> wrote:

You must have come across Explore Scientific only recently. It is the commercial name for JOC, Taiwan,

Is this the same company which was selling telescope making kits, for decades?

--
Harshad RJ

[sathya kumar Prasanna]

I do not think JOC has ever sold kits. Their speciality is Refractor telescopes, specially the Triplet APO.

Thanks and Regards

Sathya

https://www.facebook.com/SathyakumarSharma

[Harshad RJ]

It just hit me: I was confusing with Edmund Scientific.

--
Harshad RJ

[Akarsh Simha]

On Sat, Aug 03, 2013 at 05:48:37AM +0530, sathya kumar Prasanna wrote:
> Hi Akarsh,
> You must have come across Explore Scientific only recently. It is the
> commercial name for JOC, Taiwan, that now will probably own Meade Instr
> Corp. They have been manufacturing very good optics for several years now
> and their Telescopes and eyepieces have a good reputation, specially in UK
> and EU.

Hi Sathya

You're right.

Also, it seems like there is no real advantage of Televue over Explore
Scientific, other than their quality of service, from all the
discussions I've read through. However, the claim is that ES is
copying Televue's designs and innovation. Can't help it, their price
is way lower. A thread I started on Austin Astronomical Society had
some fairly experienced observers chip in and the conclusion was
mostly the same.

Well, I've bought Televue Naglers all through. In hindsight, it's
probably a mistake. If ES 82 degree eyepieces are comparable in
quality, it might be a good idea to get them instead.

But I'm really happy with Televue Delos. I had the chance to compare
them against the Naglers that I already own on the field on Saturday,
and the Delos performed much better. But it won't be long before ES
comes up with some competition for Delos as well.

Regards
Akarsh

[DSORen]

Hi Akarsh,

ES already has the 68° series to compare with delos and the 100° series to compete with the ethos line. What Fl was the delos u saw through? Its a bit surprising u were not aware of the es eyepieces yet, they have been around for a few years now. 

Regards,

DSORen.