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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jmepler" data-source="post: 1421841" data-attributes="member: 59160">Eric,I am in the minority here, I like my SMC zoom.I have both the SMC zoom and an XW14, but on a PF-80ED.The SMC zoom spends more time on my scope than the XW14 does.  Partly because I digiscope through the XW and it is a pain to unscrew my adapter setup, but also because the narrower field of view through the zoom does not bother me that much and I like the ability to "get a little closer" with just a twist of the zoom ring.  As others have pointed out, the XW is better optically, but not so much that it bothers me to use the zoom.As FrankD pointed out, popular opinion is that maximum usable magnification with the PF-65 ED II is 45-50X.  The SMC zoom, as well as any other 8-24mm zoom eyepiece, will yield 16-48X, rather than the 20-60X from the XF zoom, putting you at in the more usable range of the scope.  The SMC has much better eye relief than the XF does,  18-22mm vs 11-15mm.  Important for those of us that were glasses.One other consideration when looking at other eyepiece options.  The Pentax zooms and the XW eyepieces where designed to work with their spotting scopes.  Because of this, they are water resistant, unlike most astronomical eyepieces...astronomical telescopes are rarely used in the rain.  If your setup will see inclement weather this will be an issue, the last thing you want is to pack your scope into the back country only to discover that your eyepiece has fogged up and you can't see a thing.Give it a try, if you don't like it, return it and try something else.  That is the beauty of the Pentax spotters with there standard 1.25" barrel, you can use any of the hundreds of astronomical eyepieces out there.Mike</blockquote>

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