Apogee Widescan

Hi, I just purchased a Apogee widescan eyepeice 32mm 2" 70 deg FoV from their website for $70.
I asked the sales rep what widescan model it was and he said the first one, not the II or III. He said they do not carry the II and III's anymore because the eyepeices were of low quality and had major problems. Is their any truth behind this, or is it just a nonesense excuse?
Has anyone tried or have a original widescan? how does it perform? and what are the pro's and con's between the original and the II's and III's. Thanks guys

I don't really know what is going on with these eyepieces but my guess is that they were not selling well because of the competition. Apogee was selling their 2 inch eyepiece for something like $150 and it was competing against the $95 BK-Optik with a greater field of view. In the 1.25 inch eyepieces it was competing against the Orion Expanses and others which were about $40-$50.

It made them a tough sell is my guess.

But it would be interesting to see how this eyepiece works out for you.

jon

When the 30mm KK WideScan II model was marketed I bought one to replace my 32mm Meade SWA. The WSII had the worst astigmatism and lateral color that I've ever seen in an eyepiece. I promptly returned it for a refund. Eventually I bought a 35mm Tele Vue Panoptic.

Dave Mitsky

Thanks guys,

Has anyone used the original widescan eyepeice? Does the 14 degree decrease in the field of view help with the soft edges problem? Thnanks again

I've got one of the old University Optics 32mm
WideScans. Its a fine eyepiece. Sharpness at
the field edge is poorer that Panoptics
or Naglers in fast scopes, but is acceptible
at F/10, and quite OK at F/15. Eyerelief and
size/weight are quite nice. Construction quality
is comparable to TV.

I've also used the new 1RPD 30mm ST-80 eyepiece
from AstroBuffet, which I believe (someone correct
me if I'm wrong) is the same as the Widescan III.
In a side-by-side test in a TV85 against the old
UO WideScan its very hard to see any optical difference.
Center sharpness is superb in both, and edge
sharpness is nearly the same. The mechanical
feel of the 1RPD is a slightest notch below the
UO WideScan; its hard to point out specifics --
I guess the paint and finish of the older Japanese
product is just slightly nicer. Early
this year I did try a pre-production 1RPD and
it did have some minor issues, but this later
production version is fine. Given its current
price at <$100 its an incredible deal.