Pentax 21xl Vs Nagler 20mm

Thanks for all your feedback regarding the Nagler 31 Vs Nagler 26... so I went with the 31 - great views last night in so so skies - found a few galaxies I would not have found without the wide views ... but now I'm not so sure about my Pentax 21 xl. It used to be a workhorse but after using the 31mm Nagler now I wonder how it would compare to a 20 or 22 mm Nagler. Any experience comparing these?

thanks again,

Dan

I have used the 21XL in the past, but recently upgraded it to the 20XW. I have the 20T5 as well as the 22T4 so I think I can present a reasonable case. I think you would be perfectly happy with the 21XL provided you never looked through either of the Naglers for the rest of your life. I thing if you did then went back to the 65* afov of the XL, you would feel constricted. As far as the difference between the two Naglers goes, I will say it depends on which scope I am using. Since I wear glasses, I find it much more convenient to use the 22T4 in my dob where I am constantly looking up at the sky then back down into the eyepiece because of its long eye relief. If I used my 20T5 I would have to remove the glasses to get close enough to see the full field. However if I am using one of my goto SCTs, I usually leave my glasses off. In that instance I prefer the 20T5. It just seems more comfortable to use and I just prefer the views through it over the 22T4. So as you can see, it's not so simple a question to answer. I actually have a nearly full set of the Pentax XW series, but almost never use them. I always end up with a Nagler in the tube. Kinda weird I guess. :S

DanL

Hi Dan, the 21mm XL (20mm XW too) has a lot of field curvature compared to the 20-22mm Nagler. The Nagler has a wider FOV of course and just as good an image.
The Pentax is a good EP though and unless you just have the extra money, you could keep it and be happy.
I had both the 20mm XW and the 21mm XL, but sold them and kept the 20mm (T2) and 22mm Nagler EPs. Eventually I sold the 20mm T2, but only because of the weight, it was the heaviest of all the Naglers and I kept the 22mm Nagler. The 20mm T5 Nagler is much lighter then the T2 and even less than the 22mm T4 and is also a fine EP.

There was one other thing I forgot to mention that Floyd made me think of. That is the exhilarating feeling (to say it kindly) you get the first few times you pull your 22T4 out of the diagonal in the dark and get it in the near vertical position and have the insta-adjust eyepiece cup ADJUST to its fullest extension on you. I still haven't gotten fully used to that yet. It will make you suck wind. 8O

DanL