Tele Vue DeLite 11mm (EDE-11.0)

The Delite eyepiece is well named. It has a luxuriously wide field of view without getting ridiculous — I feel no need to roll my eye around taking in a 90 or 100 degree FOV like Buzz Lightyear at the porthole — and the optics are utterly perfect. First light: Petavius at around 250x, an incredible sight, it’s floor sliced up by the Rimae Petavius system like razor cuts. Crisp, sharp detail and full contrast. Meaning: The EP shows the full performance of my telescope, which is a custom built tenth-wave long focal length Maksutov. Therefore, I cannot answer the question that always fascinates others: how does it correct the distortions at the edge of the view in refractor telescopes? I don’t know. I hear it does well but I cannot speak to that. What I do know is that this 11mm focal length EP provides my fave high power view in a scope that doesn’t send it any aberrations, so it does full justice to the system’s optics. And no, the eye guard is not a problem. It does not slip. It adjusts with precision and stays put. Or you can leave it down, with the eyecup folded back and there’s your nice flattop. Leave your glasses on? Sure you can, but why would you do that? Spectacle optics are terrible compared to this. Leave the specs out of your optical train and you’ll see better detail. The Delite is relatively compact, has all the eye relief you could want and has no bad habits. American design but manufactured in Japan; both friendly nations. Not cheap, but it’s well worth splurging for the Delite.