University Optics Konig II 16mm

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Brand and Model:University Optics Konig II 16mm
Price ($USD):$79.95
Type:Konig
Focal Length:16 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:65.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:0 mm
Elements:4
Weight (lbs):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
University Optics Konig II 16mm
Perhaps I got a clunker, but based on the mostly positive reviews here and elsewhere I picked one of these up at a used site and was really quite disappointed. The eye relief was shorter than I was lead to believe. I don't wear my glasses at the eyepiece but still had to work to take in the entire FOV.
But on the other hand, what was seen at the edge wasn't worth the effort. In my F6 scope only the center 50% was sharp and even in my F8 scope it didn't improve enough to consider keeping it. Roughly the center 60% was sharp.
Yes, that center portion was quite nice but the poor edge performance was just too much. There are a number of other low-cost options that do just as well or better.
The one positive was I sold it for what I paid so I was just out a little time and postage.
Sorry - I can't recommend it.
Mike

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:6 Value:7
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=578716

University Optics Konig II 16mm
Great ep's for bino's' i am using a pair in my denkmeier bino and 2in ocs.The views are sharp and bright and star are pin point the intire fov.The ocs help all ep's as it act like a paracorr.These ep's have a 65fov. The only negative is short eye releif if you have glasses.But for binos they are a steal at $79 apiece.Can't go wrong with a pair of these, I tested this ep's in a 12.5 f5 dob i am 45 years old with good eyes. THANKS BOB HART

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=208961

University Optics Konig II 16mm
My first impression upon receiving this eyepiece was that is had a solid and substantial feeling, with good fit and finish. The coatings seemed good, and had a greenish color to them on my example. Upon using the eyepiece under the stars, I'd rate it as very good. The eye relief is a touch on the short side, but since I don't observe with glasses, it wasn't an issue for me. At any rate, the entire field of view is easily visible without me feeling I've got my eye right up against the eyelens. In a Celestron C9.25 at f/10, most of the field of view is sharp with noticeable aberrations creeping in maybe the last 15-20% of the FOV; at f/6.3, the aberrations creeped in the outer 20-25% of the FOV. This is pretty much what you'd expect from a non-premium wide field eyepiece. The aberrations never particularly troubled me because they were really only visible in peripheral vision; when I looked directly at the edges, my eyes seemed to compensate, and the stars became more pointlike. I, personally, would prefer the wider field of view with some outer edge aberrations to a narrower field of view without the aberrations. Regardless of the aberrations, the center of the FOV was very sharp and they eyepiece had good contrast overall. I never noticed any ghosting problems on bright objects, either. When the seeing was good enough to support the magnification, I found this eyepiece coupled with a 2x Celestron Ultima Barlow (approximately 293x) worked well for Mars for the close approach of 2003.

All in all, a good, solid eyepiece. Not up to the whole field sharpness of a TV Panoptic, but it doesn't quite have the whole wallet price of one, either. I would imagine this would be a good value eyepiece for binoviewers and is small and light enough to not be awkward or cause balance problems. Worth a look if you want wide fields but quail at the price of the premium wide field eyepieces.

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:6 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=314553

University Optics Konig II 16mm
This ep is an excellent match for my 120mm f/5 refractor. Sharp to edges - which is remarkabale for a wide field ep and a f/5 fast scope. I felt like I had "fallen" into space with this ep. It was the best ep in my arsenal on Orion Nebulae and M81/M82.

I read other reviews that said edges of FOV were not sharp. I did not find this to be true. I love this ep.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=202240

University Optics Konig II 16mm
This is one sharp, small, wide field eyepiece. I compared it to the Speers Waler 12mm, Taiwan 16mm Super Plossl and Omcon 40mm Super Plossl barlowed down w/a 2.8X Klee. It has nice wide field views and it walks all over the 40mm and 16mm Super Plossl. It was tack sharp right out to the last 5 or 10 degrees of field. I then coupled this eyepiece with the UO 2.8X Klee barlow bringing down the fl to 5.7 (I'm using a 8" f/8 newt so effective mag was roughly 285). The Konig kept up but it was a slightly softer field. I then put in a similar fl Orion Epic ED2 lens and the UO Konig walked all over it in contrast, darkness and flatness of field. Compared to the Speers Waler it was a close race. The Speers Waler costs 2X and weighs 3-5X the amount of the UO. The Speers Waler has a wider field of view which is very nice but doing an acid test the eyepieces are literally so close its difficult to make a call. The Speers had a larger flater field because it's a wider angle eyepiece, otherwise it was a even match.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=147111

University Optics Konig II 16mm
This eyepiece is an excellent performer with contrast and sharpness rivaling Panoptics and Pentax wide field designs! Hard to believe it's priced so reasonably. However it is in a no frills package, no rubber eyeguard and finish is only passable quality. The coatings also are distinctly different from other eyepieces I've seen, their green! This eyepiece barlows very well with my 3X Antares and gives very pleasing views of the Moon and planets with my 10" f5 and 13.1" f5 Newtonians. Recommended

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=143049

University Optics Konig II 16mm
Great EP! About as good as it gets in 16mm. Good eye relief, good AFOV, great sharpness. About the only thing that is better is a Televue Nagler or Panoptic.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=142909

University Optics Konig II 16mm
This has to be the best overall buy in EP's out today. FOV is 65 degrees and tack sharp like an ortho. The detail seen with this ep rivals ep's in the $200 to $250 Class plus when it comes to comparing this ep against the others you seem to easily pick up the fainter stars more easily than other wide field designs. I use it in a F6 scope and have used it in a F5.6 dob and the only field curviture I have picked up is in the last 5% of the field otherwise its like a wide field ortho. I just might order the whole set, they are that good. I feel that some of these post when they use it on a fast scope its more the scope than the EP when they state curvature in the FOV. The fit and finish on the lastest Koning version is excellent, very good coatings, made in Japan with very solid construction and for $80 its a unheard of these days, highly receomeneded.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=65608

University Optics Konig II 16mm
Very sharp out to about the last 10% of the edge of the FOV, just like an ortho for planetary detail and contrast, great for faint DSO's with pin point clarity. Well the price is a steal and solid robust construction.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=64543 

>Very sharp out to about the last 10% of the edge of the FOV, just like an ortho for planetary detail and contrast, great for faint DSO's with pin point clarity. Well the price is a steal and solid robust construction.

Reply:

I won't use mine in my f/4.5 10" (after you use Naglers, nothing even comes close), however, it does a fine job with my 8" f/10 SCT.
University Optics Konig II 16mm
Nice wide angle ep at a great price! Great for finding DS0's. When barlowed, makes for great planetary views.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=44042

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