In late 2006 Planet Eclipse unveiled, to much public and critical acclaim, the new Ego7. Derived from the operating principles of the previous two Egos, the Ego7 demonstrated a new direction for the brand, redefining the standards that players should accept for performance, reliability, durability, weight and ergonomics. Add to that list peerless Customer Service and uber-simple user-maintenance, and the complete package becomes a formidable prospect.
This year the Ego8 will push these boundaries even further, by building on the already impressive platform of the Ego7, drawing on some of the experience gained from the highly-developed SL74, and molding all the entities into a new marker with devastating effect . Open up the glossy clam-shell packaging “Pod” and it is clear that the Ego8 has retained all of the Egos visual traits. Aggressively angled eye covers, sleek sculpted lines and comfortable proportions. Yet the profile has been reduced again, with the rear “hook”, or heal of the frame moved up closer to the firing-line of the upper bore and barrel, and the whole frame raised up. This makes the gun feel even more “pointy” as the hand comes up even closer to the sighting-line of the barrel. This closeness of hand to the axis of the barrel gives a feeling of directness that is often lost in the design of most markers, making the Ego8 feel, more than ever, like an extension of your arm.
The placement of the front frame screw to inside the trigger guard for the first time as well as a change to shorter frame screws has resulted in a smaller profile directly behind the FRM as well as more finger room between the FRM and trigger guard. In moving the frame up into the body, it has also allowed a flanged fitment between body and frame, which prevents ingress of dirt and paint, and aligns the 2 parts better for a superior fit.
Inside the trigger guard is a re-worked SL74 style trigger. A modification to the bearing carrier has allowed the fitment of a larger magnet which provides a greater range of adjustment for the trigger return force. The front trigger stop point has also been re-designed so that the complete trigger set-up can also be achieved with the frame removed from the marker body.
One of the main features of the Ego8 that has enabled the reduction in body/frame profile and allowed the rear of the frame to come closer to the barrel axis is the development of a completely new QEV assembly. This new Q-Block assembly has been designed from the ground up to offer unparalleled Quick Exhausting performance for both the fore and aft ports of the rammer. Combined into one, small, low-profile block. Dual QEVS release used and unwanted gas from the Rammer chamber directly to atmosphere without having to pass through any restrictions such as threaded banjo screws, hollow bolts, solenoid or hosing. The Q-Block is fully strippable without tools, allowing quick access to the diaphragms for cleaning and maintenance.
Just above, and being fed by the Q-Block, the Ego8 houses the rammer. The Ego8 has borrowed technology directly from the SL74 of last season, and incorporates the highly effective Zick Kit (Zero Kick) Rammer system. Thought of by most as just a one-trick feature, the Zick technology actually offers exceptionally low kick, but also combines it with super-gentle paintball acceleration. This feature, when combined with the standard Cure Bolt system, enables the Ego8 to shoot the most fragile tournament paint available with awesome accuracy with virtually zero barrel lift even at the very highest rates of fire.
Also making the cross-over from the SL74 are both sets of regulator internals. Where the LPR retains its dual gold-spring operation, it now includes the industrial hard anodized 7000 series grade aluminum piston assembly. In the Inline regulator the alterations have been even more radical, with the inclusion of not just the light-weight aluminum piston, but also the adoption of the coil spring design from the SL. This new design not only produces a lighter and more simple-to-maintain regulator, but also offers superior performance in every way over the old Bellville Spring Stack design. The new spring design offers quicker and more accurate recovery after every shot, and the single coil spring means that maintenance and lubrication of the inline regulator is easier and quicker, with no Bellville shims to lose or incorrectly orientate. A real win-win situation for this particular upgrade.
The Ego8 also sees a change to the valve guide and internal bore geometry. With requests for quieter and quieter shot characteristics, without the compromise of reduced air efficiency, the Ego8 incorporates a new “stepped” valve design. It was found in testing that most high end guns actually produce virtually identical decibel readings when firing a paintball. It is more the frequency-range produced by the shot that offended certain ears. By more tightly controlling the flow of air through and round the exhaust valve and valve guide we have attempted to reduce the higher, more irritating frequencies generated during firing, helping to reduced the perceived noise level. The real beauty of this new step valve design is that, together with the new Q-Block and Zick rammer, the Ego8 has improved efficiency with reduced kick, increased rates of fire and quieter operation.
Of course the Ego8 has retained its full range of electronic features, including the revolutionary Duel Trigger Sensing (micro-switch and optoelectronic sensors) enabled board, the head-up LCD display in the rear of the frame, fully adjustable semi and ramp modes, user definable Debounce settings and presets, tournament preset modes and training modes. The LCD display has the capability to allow users to view game timer and alarms, shot counter, peak and average rates of fire, as well as access all adjustable parameters either through an internal set-up button, or when unlocked, directly from the rear user-interface buttons. For the Ego8 we have moved to a new Black on White LCD display that offers greater contrast to previous models. New icons and graphics in the user interface of the LCD have been improved, making them more legible in game-time scenarios. The Ego8 board also has a new “Auxiliary Output” port that allows direct control and drive of aftermarket hardware such as the Pulse loader. Secondarily to that there is also interfacing on the board for the addition of expansion-board accessories, such as an audible game timer beeper. Other aftermarket accessories that will be available from launch besides the Beeper board will be CCU kits and Laser Eyes. All 3 of these accessories are retro-fittable from Ego7 to Ego8, making them readily available in dealers around the globe right now. Aurora CCU kit on an Ego8 anyone?
And of course the launch of a new Ego wouldn’t be the same without a mention of its vital statistics: If you go out and play with the Ego8, come back in from the field, pull off the loader, unscrew the tank, and drop the gun onto the digital scales the Ego8 weighs in at a staggeringly low 906g. That’s under the 2lb mark, fully laden, ready to play. No tricks, no special light weight batteries, or missing parts, just as it comes out of the box, with barrel, On/Off/Purge system and all.
So as the evolution of the Ego continues, are we getting any nearer to the perfect marker? Well, with the modifications and improvements that have been worked into the Ego8, combined with the customer support, attention to detail, and customer driven direction that Planet Eclipse continues relentlessly to pursue it would be difficult to concede an area of this product that could be considered less than class-leading.
Does that make it the ultimate all-round package? Try it. You decide.
Product Availability
The Planet Eclipse 2008 Ego is older, so while it may be available used and in a few cases new, it is not commonly available anymore.
Places to Buy
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Well, I did the sin I promised myself I'd never commit: I got an ego.
Tell you the truth, it was good to had it, because I know now what everyone loved. My problem is, I think the gun is not at all like my preference of guns.
Lemme start with the positives first:
-The barrel is a .693, I love to overbore, I love the accuracy of this 2 piece barrel. -The board is VERY simple, easy to use. I love the Micro/opto-options. -The Trigger is easy to rock, and perfect for semi or ramping. -The gun feels pretty balanced, I HATE the frame to reg. positioning though..... -TO ME, this is my personal opinion, this has the reliability of a Tippmann. It will JUST WORK. No matter what, you can grab Ego_x__ out of Billy Bob's 3 year old gearbag, hook up HPA, strap a hopper on, and it will WORK.
That's where it leads my negatives though.....
THIS GUN IS LOUD. I was in fear that cops may be called for disturbin the peace in small town Clemmons, nc....... I found it almost louder than it shoulda been. Compared to my PRotege, another Poppit with similar workings, it was like a 98 custom to a Dm6.
Kick wise, the barrel rise and literal kick back was annoying as hell and very distracting. It kills me to think of 15 bps ramping with an 08....ughghg.....
The Price, to me, is very high for a gun such as this. If I was in charge, I'd put the Ego at the Sub-$1000 range, and drop the SL Series to $1300 range, that is me. I feel like the performance is just that, dead-reliable performance. Instead of perfecting and smoothing out the gun, they just made the gun WORK.
My last point is, the market hype. You will see all kinds of 12 year old-rich, non-pubety struck, no experience fools carrying the Ego out there. The problem is......The Bob Long Vice, Protege, Macdev RX, 07 and older Borgs, and even the Bob Long Marq Series BLOW THIS GUN AWAY! The Protege, a $550 gun when it came out, is quieter, more accurate, got me over a case off a 68/45, almost as light, and to me, felt better constructed. To me, I'd buy a Vice or Protege 1000000 times more over any Ego to date.
Conclusion:
DEAD-RELIABLE, but lacks in the refinement sector.
YET again...my opinion, to me, buy a BL Vice.
DM8 sick gun, kinda large.
Infinity legend, doesn't compare.
Macdev Cyborg, Sick gun, doesn't really compare.
RX, Awesomely sick gun slightly cooler.
Luxe, sexxxxxxxx but just a marker
Marker Setup:
Ego 8
Geurialla 68/4500
Dye Rotor
Recommended Upgrades:
Nothing really, pretty sweet marker if you just adjust it to how you like. The trigger is kinda not nice though... upgrade.
Strengths:
Accurate
Fast
Easily adjustable
Efficient
Beautiful
Weaknesses:
Didn't work out of the box
The barrel became stuck for several weeks
Review:
Definitely a good market, tournament level. I play the top division for where I live which is not really a professional scene at all, we have tournaments between countries and spend a lot but the prizes and coverage is an testament to the popularity of the sport here.
Definately competes at all levels, I love to play with it and even when given the option of other markers to use always prefer to use my Ego, I have it just the way I like it and it shoots excellently. As long as you look after it, it will look after you.
Love this gun.
Conclusion:
I really love my ego if you can't tell so far. I have loved all my guns however and generally give high marks, but this one seriously has been a monster, only a slight hick up at the start and that might have been my fault anyway. Should have lubed it before trying to use it... GREAT MARKER.
This gun has set the bar high for other compaines. its everything a paintballer needs and more i love the OLED board makes eveything that much easier because you can basicly have our own gun. This gun is very light and compact. also very fast and straight. never chopped and very easy to clean and maintain.
Conclusion:
Great job Planet Eclipse and one of the best guns on the market
Dye Dm6 with cp reg and ccm feed neck. halo b hopper and empire fuel tank
Recommended Upgrades:
Its not worth buying or spending any extra money on if you already have it
Strengths:
Light, Efficient
Weaknesses:
Loud, inaccurate, kick, chops, unreliable
Review:
Over all this is my least favorite "HIGH END" guns iv ever shot i would take a stock ion over this gun. The only thing i can say is good about this gun is that it is very light and efficient thats it! this gun is the most inaccurate high end gun i have ever shot. at 150 feet at a low speed about 2 BPS it got about a 8 foot spread, Dm4-9, ions, shockers and invert are all under a one foot spread with same paint and same barrel type. I owned this gun for about 3 and 1/2 months and i had several internal leaking problems and issues with the board and eyes. when you shoot the gun at more then 10BPS it feels like you are trying to shoot a full auto shotgun and sounds like it 2. Even when the eyes were not broken the gun chopped all the time. really over all beside the weight and efficiency there was nothing i noticed that i liked about the gun even when it was working to its best performance and there are a lot of bad things i can say about it.
Conclusion:
This has got to be the most over rated gun in the sport!! not to mention it will cost you $800 minimum! do not buy any ego guns
Rating:
5 out of 10
Last edited on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 4:30 pm PST
Some sort of barrel kit. any marker will shoot more accurately with one.
Strengths:
>Fast gun (most are nowadays)
>Very easy to operate.
>Very light and strong.
Weaknesses:
> The kick, & solenoid between the grip screws.
Review:
I first got this with sponsorship from our team and a distribution company. it was one of the last release color egos, dark grey with lime green parts. it looked and still looks very nice. i shot it a few times, read the manual, and concluded that this was one of the best buys you can have for high performance paintball. all the the amenities that it gives you with the styling and ergonomics and ease of use. i was rather impressed.
and for the record, i still enjoy shooting it just like i did the first day.
Conclusion:
A good gun to buy, especially now that the price has declined since the release of the new 09 model from planet eclipse. Still pulling up front with the best of the markers.
So I just bought this marker off a friend of mine and WOW!
(back story)
I built up a super fast and custom Ion from the ground up and was like, "why would anybody wanna spend $1200 on a fast marker when I got one for $600?"
(time warp)
NOW I KNOW WHY!! The Ego8 is one mean machine, it's got looks, a great feel, and the performance is off the chain! At the local indoor field I play at, I was messing around with a friend and we got an idea to take dirty balls off the ground and shoot a metal bar on a hand cart at around 35 feet ( a 2 inch target) I diden't think I was going to hit it, but I did! A dirty, hairy, oily paintball off the floor.... AMAZING!!!
Yes it's a little loud, but by that time I'm eather putting paint on somebody or getting painted. My feeling is if you don't like the noise, stop playing paintball and take up knitting. I love the LCD screen, I never got the book when I bought it and all I had to do was get the manual off-line... so easy! I bought the Ego8 off a Pro friend of mine and the marker came with 2 pounds of dirt and crap all over it. He said that he never cleaned it.... ever! OMG! It took me 2 days to get it clean again, and having never worked on an Ego before I found it very easy... Within 1 hour I had everythink apart, grip frame, board and eyes, lpr, hpr, rammer, bolt, feedneck, bla bla bla... back together and working the first time out!
Conclusion:
I strongly recommend getting an Ego if you can swing it. Yes they cost alot, and no it doesn't talk to you ( LOL ) but you will know you have a real work of art in your hands the first time you play it.
I have only palyed with a DM7 aftershock, and a MINI
Marker Setup:
Ego 8, CP 48/4500, Halo
Recommended Upgrades:
Nothing yet... it's super light, and way fast.
Strengths:
Super fast
Zero kick
Training mode
Way light
Perfect machining
Weaknesses:
None yet
Review:
I have only my EGO for a short time, but i am very impressed with the performance thus far. I now can see how different the "dyes" and the "Ego's" are, both are very good guns, but it easy to see that the Dye is more of a "mass produced" marker. The Ego just looks and feels like someone put a lot of time into it. Not to take anything away from the Dye, i'm just very impressed with the EGO. I really like my DM, but the 08 may be my new favorite.
Conclusion:
I would give the ego 08 origin at least a 9.5 with the DM slightly behind at a 9.0. Both are Awesome markers, and hopefully you all have an chance to try them both.Great job Planet Eclipse !
Either a full barrel kit or the rest of the backs and front for the Shaft II
Strengths:
Excellent marker straight out of the box, fast trigger, very light.
Weaknesses:
Barrel. Comes with the .693 back .689 would've been far better.
Review:
Well what a gun. Planet Eclipse have really done a brillant job of presenting this marker. Comes in a "pod" (See Photos) that just shows you how much they put into their product.
Right straight out of the box I found the marker to be very light with practically zero kick and the trigger is just great to use, very fast and light on the pull. I have found it very good for snap shooting. Its also really easy to change the settings and adjust the trigger which also makes it a joy to use.
I am yet to get 10000 balls through it but am hoping by then that the reg will have steadied. Currently it varies by about 15-20fps, but its getting better.
Conclusion:
I would recommend this marker to anyone who wants a top of the range product. I would also tell them to get a barrel kit or the rest of the shaft II kit to make it perfect.
Rating:
9 out of 10
Last edited on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 11:42 pm PST
The Ego 8.
The big brother of the Ego 7..This gun was well sought after, with the SL74 technology, people expected Eclipse to make a master peice, the nearly did that..
After using a Ego 6 for such a long time, getting out on this feild this thing ROCKS.
Its so light weight, and nible.
I used a DM7 one tornumant and thought that the gun could not be topped, the 08 has done this,
There are alot of settings that you can change, and make it shoot how you want, you can set up the trigger real nice on this even though I said im not keen, I am, I just need to find the right way for me
I think after this gun, my next one would be a SL8r, My team manager has one, its sweet
08 Ego 14in deathstix barrel, velocity w/virtue chip and speed feed, DXE 68ci 4500psi tank
Recommended Upgrades:
light hopper or it becomes back heavy
Strengths:
Light, shoots fast ,dead accurate, low upkeeps
Weaknesses:
LIght weight makes it back heavy with a tank and hopper added to it.
Review:
First off the weight, there was a huge difference in weight. With the new upgrades like the cure bold, zit kit makes this gun the gun to have. This thing will last long on one tank of air.
You do have to be very carefull in what types of games you play with it. This gun is best used for speedball. It does not have the range to keep up with a woodsball gun in a woodsball battle. Though it can work if you know the terrain and not afraid to get up close and personal with your opponents. For me when Im not using my X-7 I go right in the beginning of the game and get right into the enemies face.
Weight wise, being light is a blessing and a curse. Being light weight it allows you to snap and aim at your targets really fast. But the down side is with having no weight to the gun itself it becomes somewhat back heavy when you apply a tank and hopper. So the best thing to do is to get a light hopper to minimize the weight because you can't get a light weight tank its just not possible.
But other than that its a really great gun to have IF your a very competative and willing speedball player.
Conclusion:
Best speedball gun to use
Rating:
10 out of 10
Last edited on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 at 11:49 pm PST
