Skies have cleared nicely, and I have had some quality time to gauge some of my first thoughts about this new eyepiece. I've only thus far observed Jupiter, and now I am working on Mars. The only scope I am using tonight is my smaller 8" Newt. One thing I immediately noticed is how much more out travel this eyepiece requires. All of my Ethos eyepieces are *roughly* parfocal with the exception of the 8mm (which is parfocal with the 6mm)in which appears to focus almost a full inch out from where the 10E focuses. This 6D focuses out even further! The focuser on my 8" is roughly 2.5" tall from the bottom of its mounting plate. In order to reach focus, I have to fully rack out the focuser, and then pull the eyepiece out another 3/8" in order to achieve focus. In focus Jupiter was extremely sharp, exhibiting superb contrast, allowing me to see excellent detail in the Jovian belts and zones. The GRS was easily salmon colored with bright highlights around its periphery. The amazing thing is that the seeing was *at best* average if not slightly below. As it got darker, seeing conditions deteriorated, and Jupiter sank below the tree line on my property's west side.
Mars now is rising decently, and I am now getting some pretty good views of the red planet. Seeing conditions at the moment I would rate no greater then a 5-6 max. However, even with these *not so great* seeing conditions, I can easily see the polar cap, and some dark mottling surrounding it. Other shady areas are apparent as well. The limbs of the planet are also very sharp for such poor to average seeing conditions! Now I have heard some rumors that these Delos eyepieces are even sharper the the Ethos so I decided to compare the view to that of my 8E. After several minutes of comparing the views, I have a tendency to agree with these sediments. The view with the 8E, despite the conditions, is still very good, but the 6D is simply BETTER! I remember a similar experience comparing my old 17NT4 to my newly acquired 13E. To my astonishment, the 13E was just superior view in all areas, and mostly in sharpness and color rendition. This seemed to defy logic as typically when magnification increases, sharpness decrease due to atmospheric conditions (*on average*). This new Delos eyepiece seems to be behaving in the same manner; that is outperforming an eyepiece of longer focal length. Televue did it again!
The eyepiece is simple to view through as well. It's long relief allows you to hold your head back further comfortably, yet still see right to the field stop..oh and let me mention that as the planet drifts out to the field stop the view DOES NOT CHANGE! At f/6 the planet looks identical to what it does in the center of the field..*amazing*..
I sold my Pentax 7mm XW to finance this eyepiece, and to me it was by far the right decision. This eyepiece simply from my memory anyway, completely outperforms the XW.
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