I still use mine in my 6" achromat. I think there was a hiatus as Edmund's business waned but it was reborn as Edmund Optics and they are still selling the design. Just curious what others think of them? Not as well-known as the Astroscan was in the 1970's but still an important piece of eyepiece lore.
Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 599
- Posts: 12445
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
I still use mine in my 6" achromat. I think there was a hiatus as Edmund's business waned but it was reborn as Edmund Optics and they are still selling the design. Just curious what others think of them? Not as well-known as the Astroscan was in the 1970's but still an important piece of eyepiece lore.
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 5
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
Besides the 28mm with its party trick the line is actually quite good and the prices still reasonable.
Ordering them in EU can get expensive with duty and taxes though. (€ 102+20% DPH here)
The 15mm and 21,5mm are standouts but I do not think they are produced anymore.
For refractors the RKE barlow is much to long but is good for large (300mm+) newtonians
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 599
- Posts: 12445
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
If I listed everything I would not have room to comment!
Is it a different barlow from the RKE 2.5x?
It is not my best barlow but it does work reasonably well.
These long barlows were designed for use with newtonian telescopes to have the light cone entering closer to the secondary.
It works well in my
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 599
- Posts: 12445
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
They are usually not very expensive used and was one of the best from the lineup.
Barlows for me are view dependant. When I do use them I actually like using odd incremental barlows.
1.6x, 1.8x, 2.4x etcetera. I have had a 2x TeleVue powermate for better than a decade now and I think I have used it maybe 3-4 times...
It does make a good but expensive paperweight though
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 599
- Posts: 12445
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
I really need to pay attention when tired, the incoming 20mm is a Brandon not a RKE.
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- WilliamPaolini
- Articles: 9
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:57 pm
- 2
- Location: Virginia, USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
U.S.A.F. Veteran - Visual Amateur Astronomer since 1966 - Fully Retired since 2019
8" f/5 Newt - Lunt 152 f/7.9 - TSA 102 f/8 - Vixen 81S f/7.7 - P.S.T. - Pentax 65ED II - Nikon 12x50 AE
Pentax XWs - Baader Morpheus - Takahashi LEs - Edmund RKEs - BST Starguiders - 6ZAO-II/5XO/4Abbe
PM and Email communications always welcomed
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- WilliamPaolini
- Articles: 9
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:57 pm
- 2
- Location: Virginia, USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
I have bought and sold more than 300 different eyepieces over the years so have been through a lot. I had a full set of the RKEs that I added the chromed brass barrels to and after a few years sold them. Of all the eyepieces I have been through and let go of, that set was the only one I truly regretted selling. So some years later I reacquired the RKEs once more, and was lucky to be able to source a 15mm used as that focal length was already discontinued by Edmund. I have to say that will NEVER let go of my current set! I feel the same way about the Takahashi LEs. Both lines just have what I consider a unique gestalt about them that makes them special and enjoyable.Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:27 am I love my RKE and have used then for quite a few years.
U.S.A.F. Veteran - Visual Amateur Astronomer since 1966 - Fully Retired since 2019
8" f/5 Newt - Lunt 152 f/7.9 - TSA 102 f/8 - Vixen 81S f/7.7 - P.S.T. - Pentax 65ED II - Nikon 12x50 AE
Pentax XWs - Baader Morpheus - Takahashi LEs - Edmund RKEs - BST Starguiders - 6ZAO-II/5XO/4Abbe
PM and Email communications always welcomed
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 599
- Posts: 12445
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
Good to hear. The 28mm always has been a nice performer.WilliamPaolini wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 6:20 pmI have bought and sold more than 300 different eyepieces over the years so have been through a lot. I had a full set of the RKEs that I added the chromed brass barrels to and after a few years sold them. Of all the eyepieces I have been through and let go of, that set was the only one I truly regretted selling. So some years later I reacquired the RKEs once more, and was lucky to be able to source a 15mm used as that focal length was already discontinued by Edmund. I have to say that will NEVER let go of my current set! I feel the same way about the Takahashi LEs. Both lines just have what I consider a unique gestalt about them that makes them special and enjoyable.Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:27 am I love my RKE and have used then for quite a few years.
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- John Baars Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 5
- Posts: 2775
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 9:00 am
- 5
- Location: Schiedam, Netherlands
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Photo of the Day
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
So it is. I have mine some twelve years. Especially for the nice floating field effect. I use it mainly in my
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
- helicon Online
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 599
- Posts: 12445
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 5
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
They seem to have quite a lifespan!John Baars wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:13 amSo it is. I have mine some twelve years. Especially for the nice floating field effect. I use it mainly in myf/ 13 Mak. I used to have a 15mm too, but eventually sold it again as my 14mm Baader Morpheus outclassed it by far.
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10074
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
I think I have had my set for about 12-15 years as well.
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- WilliamPaolini
- Articles: 9
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:57 pm
- 2
- Location: Virginia, USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
Here's links to some old pics of the place...
https://www.cloudynights.com/uploads/mo ... 494975.jpg
https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arc ... D4P3K4.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 0926034559
U.S.A.F. Veteran - Visual Amateur Astronomer since 1966 - Fully Retired since 2019
8" f/5 Newt - Lunt 152 f/7.9 - TSA 102 f/8 - Vixen 81S f/7.7 - P.S.T. - Pentax 65ED II - Nikon 12x50 AE
Pentax XWs - Baader Morpheus - Takahashi LEs - Edmund RKEs - BST Starguiders - 6ZAO-II/5XO/4Abbe
PM and Email communications always welcomed
- WilliamPaolini
- Articles: 9
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:57 pm
- 2
- Location: Virginia, USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
I personally do not consider them outdated as they perform perfectly fine. Of course their 45 degree
U.S.A.F. Veteran - Visual Amateur Astronomer since 1966 - Fully Retired since 2019
8" f/5 Newt - Lunt 152 f/7.9 - TSA 102 f/8 - Vixen 81S f/7.7 - P.S.T. - Pentax 65ED II - Nikon 12x50 AE
Pentax XWs - Baader Morpheus - Takahashi LEs - Edmund RKEs - BST Starguiders - 6ZAO-II/5XO/4Abbe
PM and Email communications always welcomed
- Don Pensack
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:07 pm
- 2
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Status:
Offline
Re: Edmund RKE a classic or outdated?
The thin black "line around the field" is a bit broader than in the 28.7mm RKE (how Edmund used to label it), but each exemplifies how, when the eye relief is just the right length,
the outer barrel thins down to just a thin black line by perspective.
You do have to be able to float above the eyepiece in just the right spot, and it is easier to see without glasses.
Currently using a 12.5" dob and a 4" apo refractor
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute