Celestron Xcel EP's

Are there any reviews about the Celestron Xcel series EP's?

Are there any reviews about the Celestron Xcel series EP's?

Probably but I just got a 5mm and I am not impressed... Its an impressive
looking eyepiece, nice a big, it has nice eye relief for a 5 mm eyepiece... but
....

Tried it in two scopes, one was TV Pronto, normally gives nice, well corrected
views, reasonably sharp to the edge. Viewing the moon, the image was very soft
away from the center. I compared it to a 9mm Synta Widefield with a shorty
Barlow and the Synta-barlow was much sharper all around, even though it should
be a bit shorter focal length.

I also tried it in my F4.1 12.5 inch Newt, with and without Parcorr. Again
the same thing and the comparison with the Synta 9mm +Barlow was the same.

With or without the Paracorr the Xcel showed what appeared to be coma, a star
focused to a point with a comet tailing it and symetrical about the center.
Never seen this in other eyepieces.

I am not too picky normally about eyepieces, it may be that this one particular
eyepiece is faulty, (I won't make the same mistakes that S&T/TMB made) but I
would buy making sure it can be returned if there is a problem.

jon

Are there any reviews about the Celestron Xcel series EP's?

Probably but I just got a 5mm and I am not impressed... Its an impressive
looking eyepiece, nice a big, it has nice eye relief for a 5 mm eyepiece... but
....

Tried it in two scopes, one was TV Pronto, normally gives nice, well corrected
views, reasonably sharp to the edge. Viewing the moon, the image was very soft
away from the center. I compared it to a 9mm Synta Widefield with a shorty
Barlow and the Synta-barlow was much sharper all around, even though it should
be a bit shorter focal length.

I also tried it in my F4.1 12.5 inch Newt, with and without Parcorr. Again
the same thing and the comparison with the Synta 9mm +Barlow was the same.

With or without the Paracorr the Xcel showed what appeared to be coma, a star
focused to a point with a comet tailing it and symetrical about the center.
Never seen this in other eyepieces.

I am not too picky normally about eyepieces, it may be that this one particular
eyepiece is faulty, (I won't make the same mistakes that S&T/TMB made) but I
would buy making sure it can be returned if there is a problem.

jon

On 27 Jun 2004 19:05:02 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:

Are there any reviews about the Celestron Xcel series EP's?

Probably but I just got a 5mm and I am not impressed... Its an impressive

I have not tried it but it sure sounds like I won't. You can return
it can't you?

On 27 Jun 2004 19:05:02 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:

Are there any reviews about the Celestron Xcel series EP's?

Probably but I just got a 5mm and I am not impressed... Its an impressive

I have not tried it but it sure sounds like I won't. You can return
it can't you?