TV 41mm Pan or Pentax XL40W XW -- help me decide

Well, the title pretty much states my dilemma. I was just about to order a 41mm Panoptic when I "discovered" the Pentax. Do you have a preference for one over the other and why?

Thanks,
Louis Marchesi

I have a XL40 (not XW). It is a marvelous eyepiece. The view is gorgeous in everthing from a 80mm f/6 Blackhawk @ 12X to a C-8, @ 50X. Nearly perfect views from edge to edge. I understand the XW is even better.
I've never seen any Panoptic above a 19mm, which I own and love, just thought I'd take the opportunity to say how much I love that 40XL...

Thanks for the insights.

I am leaning slightly toward the Panoptic, but I may see if I can get my "local" astronomy store to lend me one of each.

My "gut" feeling is that I'll prefer the flat field to the more ergonomic design.

I tested both the 35mm Pan and the 40mm XL at f11 and found the sky background noticeably darker in the Panoptic, the view from the 35 Panoptic also seemed to be abit sharper and stars stood out better due to the darker background, it also had a more pleasing view, the XL at times had a somewhat soft look around the edges. Not sure how the XW stands up though! If the choice was mine and for my f11 scope it would have to be the 41mm Pan which would also give the larger FOV.
Another consideration if weight wasn't an issue would be the new Meade series 5000 40mm SWA, which gets a certain amount of criticism due to the manufacture being in China and not Japan. I tested this against the 35mm Pan and could decern no noticeable difference either in at the sweetspot or around the outer edges with both having the same dark sky background, the Meade is also abit easier on the pocket at around $400 but weighing in at 2.6lbs compared to the 35mm Panoptics 1.5lbs. I put them both up for sale as they were that closely matched and I kept the one that didn't sell, I now just have the Meade although I'm itching to try the 41mm Pan :-)

Mark.

Louis,
The 41 Pan has been very, very good to me. It is quite heavy though.
I would avoid dropping it on the concrete driveway.
Even if it did survive the first fall remarkably well.
Linton