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Televue 1.25" Everbrite vs Meade 1.25" prism Diago

Posted: Mon May 03, 2004 1:56 am
by VinSnr
Contenders
1) Televue 1.25" Everbrite Diagonal - US$199
2) Meade 1.25" prism Diagonal #918A - US$44

Test Equipment
1) Pentax 5.2mm XL
2) Ultima 2X Barlow
3) Orion 80mm ED

Magnification = 231x

We use high magfication to stress both diagonals. At this magnification, surface smoothness and reflectivity become critical.

Test Target
1) Aircraft warning light at a distance away.

Test Results
I know what you thinking - I must be mad to compare this two diagonals. One is almost US$200 and the Meade one is at a cheapo US$44. What is there to contest about?

However, since I have both diagonals and had some time to spare, why not just check how good is the TV Everbrite?

The results came a little surprising. I was expecting the TV to blow the Meade right out of the water. It didn't happen. The Meade held the image well, but it was a tad dim compared to the Everbrite. In the everbrite, the outline of the light cover against the background sky is a tad clearer than the Meade. Notice that I use the word "a tad"..which means marginally. Also, the Everbrite image was a little crispier.....but it was very hard to tell. But one thing is for sure - whatever you can see on the Everbrite, can be seen on the Meade too, except that it was a little and marginally clearer and brighter on the TV

It took me almost an hour of testing to conclude these little differences. And that will only mean how close they were. I expected a 5 minute testing.....but it went on and lasted for an hour. At the end, I was really straining my eyes because they were so damn close.

Well, the TV didn't KO the Meade, but confirmed what we knew along. In astronomy, you pay tonnes of $$$ for a marginal performance boost. But to be fair to TV, the Everbrite has a longer lasting and more durable di-electric coating, so this diagonal will perhaps last a lifetime compared to the Meade.

Does it worth the extra $$$ to upgrade to the Everbrite if you have a cheapo Meade prism diagonal now? To me, the answer is no. I hate to say that because I owned the Everbrite too, but again if you have the $$$, it's all up to you.

Re: Televue 1.25" Everbrite vs Meade 1.25" prism D

Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 12:11 am
by Airconvent
VinSnr wrote:Contenders
Does it worth the extra $$$ to upgrade to the Everbrite if you have a cheapo Meade prism diagonal now? To me, the answer is no. I hate to say that because I owned the Everbrite too, but again if you have the $$$, it's all up to you.
Since the performance diff is difficult to tell, and I understand the meade can probably last 5-8 years before degradation is evident, I would say go for the Meade. I could buy 4-5 of these for the price of a TV and over 30+ years...
And I get to have a new diagonal every 5-8 years! Also, the products are ever improving, so maybe 10 years down the line, Meade would have reached where the everbrite is today...