I have a number of the older "Made in Japan" versions of the Series 4000 Super Plossels. For the money, they seem to be pretty fair eyepieces. I'm looking for a couple I'm missing in order to complete the set (9.7mm, 12.4mm, 20mm, & 40mm). However, I've heard that they stopped making them in Japan, and now get them from China and/or Taiwan. I've heard that these are not as good as the Japanese counterparts. Is this true? Also, I've been told that the Chinese and/or Taiwanese versions are not marked to reflect the country of origin. Is this true? Is there any way to tell - other than the marking - that I'm getting the Japanese versions? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Meade Series 4000 Super Plossels
Started by Mike Garretson, 06/30/2006 09:37PM
Posted 06/30/2006 09:37PM
Opening Post
Posted 07/01/2006 02:53AM
#1
Mike
Japan ep's usually are stamped "Japan" somewhere.
The better Taiwan ep's are stamped, some are not. Mainland China ep's are never labeled, im my experience. Usually only the box says China. I have compared the Japan Televue 26 plossl with the Taiwan Meade 26 pl and seen no difference in the scope. Japan ep's are well made, and simply look better than non-Japanese ep's. (my opinion) I am a big fan of the Taiwan Meade 3000's and Celestron plossls, but dislke the Meade 4000's Taiwan. A very subjective preference indeed.
Where country of origin makes a difference is best seen in the Meade Modified Achromat ep's. The Japanese versions are fine, the non-Japan versions cant be given away. See photo below
The Japanese reputation is well deserved, but inflated on Amart due to the scarcity of the older ep's and the flood of Chinese imports these days. The high prices of these ep's also affect the perception of ep worth. If you want high quality Japanese ep's, look at these
1. Orion ultrascopics/ Celestron ultimas
2. Televue Plossls and Nagler type 6's
3. KK Magellan wide scans
4, University orthos, Konigs
5. Vixen Lanthanums
6. Pentax
7. Takahashi LE
Regards
John
Japan ep's usually are stamped "Japan" somewhere.
The better Taiwan ep's are stamped, some are not. Mainland China ep's are never labeled, im my experience. Usually only the box says China. I have compared the Japan Televue 26 plossl with the Taiwan Meade 26 pl and seen no difference in the scope. Japan ep's are well made, and simply look better than non-Japanese ep's. (my opinion) I am a big fan of the Taiwan Meade 3000's and Celestron plossls, but dislke the Meade 4000's Taiwan. A very subjective preference indeed.
Where country of origin makes a difference is best seen in the Meade Modified Achromat ep's. The Japanese versions are fine, the non-Japan versions cant be given away. See photo below
The Japanese reputation is well deserved, but inflated on Amart due to the scarcity of the older ep's and the flood of Chinese imports these days. The high prices of these ep's also affect the perception of ep worth. If you want high quality Japanese ep's, look at these
1. Orion ultrascopics/ Celestron ultimas
2. Televue Plossls and Nagler type 6's
3. KK Magellan wide scans
4, University orthos, Konigs
5. Vixen Lanthanums
6. Pentax
7. Takahashi LE
Regards
John
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