Products

Eyepieces: Planetary: Retainer Rings

Planetary Eyepieces sold before December 16, 2005, were shipped with a smooth retaining ring securing one lens group. The only affected Planetary eyepieces are the 4mm, the 6mm, and the 9mm focal length eyepieces.

The smooth retaining ring causes a slight flaring to be visible when viewing bright objects. The retaining ring is the inside ring for the Barlow relay lens in the eyepiece barrel. To check to see if your eyepiece has a smooth retaining ring, unscrew the barrel from the eyepiece body. Inside the barrel will be flat plate with a threaded opening. Inside that opening is the retaining ring. If the inside surface of that retaining ring is smooth, it needs to be replaced. If the inside surface of the ring looks like it is threaded, then it has micro-baffles and is the proper retaining ring. Pictures coming soon!

Free replacement retaining ring

Burgess Optical is offering a free replacement retaining ring to those who purchased the eyepiece with the smooth ring. Burgess Optical stands behind their products. Because of the holiday season and the number of rings that have to be sent out, it may take a while for everyone to receive their rings. Anyone who has not received their replacement ring by mid-January should contact Burgess Optical.

Planetary Eyepiece owners have two options:

Option 1

When you receive your replacement retaining ring, follow the instructions and replace the ring yourself. Instructions will be provided with the replacement ring. The instructions can also be downloaded here to see how to replace the retaining ring. (Instructions will be available Monday, December 19, 2005.)

The only tool required for replacement is a small screwdriver, such as used to repair eyeglasses. No special handling of any optical surface is required.

Option 2

If you do not feel that you can replace the retaining ring yourself, ship your Planetary Eyepiece to Burgess Optical, where it will be upgraded with the new retaining ring and shipped back to you.

You pay for shipping the eyepiece to Burgess Optical, and Burgess Optical will not charge to replace the ring or to return ship the eyepiece back to you.

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