Exploring the Meade Series 5000 Ultra Wide Eyepieces: A User's Perspective
Consider yourself lucky if you're on the hunt for a better viewing experience with your telescope, as the Meade Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle (UWA) eyepieces might just be what you need. These bad boys are not only affordable but pack a serious punch when it comes to performance.
Now, you might ask: Where does the Meade 5000 UWA truly shine? Well, it's all about value, my friend. With a closer look at cost and performance, these eyepieces provide an excellent bang for your buck. I personally own the 20 mm and the 5.5 mm, and I've played around with the 14 and the 8.8 from friends. They work like a charm in scopes with focal ratios ranging from f/5 to f/15. And get this - eyepieces with similar level of optical performance typically cost 40% to 100% more!
Comparatively, I've also got my hands on Explore Scientific 82-degree eyepieces, which are highly respected in the market. But guess what? The Meade UWA's optical performance is pretty much on par! Now that's what I call a steal.
So, what makes the Meade UWA so special? Let me break it down for you.
Features I Love in the Meade UWA Family
The Meade UWA series comes with four eyepieces, each one designed to cater to different needs.
- 2" and 1.25" barrel diameters: 20 mm and 14 mm, 8.8 mm, 5.5 mm respectively
Too bad the 30mm, 24mm, 18mm, and 6.7mm models have been discontinued, because they were gold! But hey, we can't have it all, now can we?
- 7-lens element design: These eyepieces follow a design reminiscent of the Tele-Vue Nagler, aiming to better handle the light, especially from lower focal ratio telescopes. The ultra-wide design helps control edge distortion that becomes more challenging as the focal ratio of the telescope drops, keeping that image nice and crisp across the field of view.
- Fully multicoated lenses: These coatings help transform light transmission and reduce internal reflections, ensuring a brighter, clearer image. It's like they're saying, "We're not messing around here!"
- Blackened lens edges: A fancy touch that limits stray light and enhances contrast - because who wants a sloppy design?
- Adjustable eye guard: Most eyepieces feature a simple cup to reduce side stray light, but Meade went the extra mile by incorporating an adjustable eye guard that glides up and down. Now that's a unique feature!
- Parfocal set: With these parfocal bad boys, you can change eyepieces with ease, without the headache of refocusing every time. It's a godsend for those using manual telescopes, as it minimizes drift time and the hassle of re-acquiring your target.
- Exotic glass: Meade isn't shy about using special glasses to enhance the view, though they don't share the specifics. Fancy!
- Waterproof and purged with an unknown gas: No more dirt or dew accumulating between the lenses - cleaning has never been so straightforward.
- One-year warranty: You can rest easy knowing Meade's got your back, should anything go south.
Understanding Specifications: Focal Length & 82° AFOV
When it comes to eyepieces, you need to know two things: focal length and apparent field of view (AFOV). These specs help predict how an eyepiece will behave in your telescope. I'm gonna drop some formulas and facts about the magical Meade UWA.
- Focal length telescope / Focal length eyepiece = magnification
- Apparent field of view (AFOV) / Magnification = approximate true field of view
In the case of the Meade Ultra Wide Angle eyepieces, the AFOV is 82 degrees. Keep in mind that most eyepieces sport an AFOV ranging from around 40 degrees to 100 degrees or more. So 82 degrees is considered super wide!
But with a wider AFOV comes a bigger challenge: controlling edge distortion. Inexpensive eyepieces that claim AFOV of over 50 degrees often disappoint by delivering a decent center image alongside ridiculous edge distortion. The Meade UWA eyepieces, however, rock at managing the corners, serving up a high-quality image all around.
Let me give you an example.
Say you've got a 1200mm focal length telescope. The Meade UWA 20 mm eyepiece delivers 60x magnification and a 1.3-degree true field of view (82° / 60x magnification). The same scope with the Meade UWA 8.8 mm would give you 136x magnification and a 0.6-degree field of view. Compared to a 20mm Plössl with a 50-degree AFOV, you'd get the same 60x magnification but a reduced 0.8-degree field of view. It's simple math - the Meade UWA provides a more immersive experience, giving you a wider field of view similar to peeping through a giant window instead of a tiny tube.
Negatives Worth Mentioning
- Limited selection: Sadly, the Meade UWA series only comprises four eyepieces. It'd be nice to see a 2" in the 35mm to 40mm range, as well as a 1.25″ barrel diameter eyepiece, around 11mm.
- Size and weight: The adjustable eyecup is the culprit for the bulkiness and heaviness of these eyepieces. So, if you've got a smaller scope, size might be a concern.
I consider the Meade UWA a fantastic choice for those on a budget who still want a higher end viewing experience. With an optimal range of four eyepieces, you're well on your way to capturing the universe in all its glory!
- The Meade Series 5000 Ultra Wide Angle (UWA) eyepieces not only cater to different needs within the Meade UWA family but also offer excellent value for their performance.
- The seven-lens element design of the Meade UWA eyepieces, similar to the Tele-Vue Nagler, ensures better handling of light from lower focal ratio telescopes and helps control edge distortion.
- Fully multicoated lenses in the Meade UWA eyepieces improve light transmission, transforming the image to be brighter and clearer, while blackened lens edges limit stray light and enhance contrast.
- With an adjustable eye guard, parfocal set, exotic glass, waterproof and purged construction, and one-year warranty, the Meade UWA eyepieces offer a unique blend of technology, gadgets, and science for the space-and-astronomy enthusiast.
- With a wider apparent field of view (AFOV) of 82 degrees, the Meade UWA eyepieces provide a more immersive viewing experience compared to traditional eyepieces, making observation feels like peeping through a giant window instead of a tiny tube.
