Celestron Eyepiece and Filter Kit Opinions?

[Ccolvin968]

So I probably should have asked here before I decided to impulse buy these.

I want to start off by saying this is only to upgrade my Powerseeker 127eq.

I am by no means expecting anything amazing out of the kit. Just some new stuff to have fun with on a budget scope.

Do any of you own the kit? What are your impressions?

I've read a lot of reviews and the overall satisfaction rate seems rather impressive.

I will be upgrading to a bigger, better scope, (8 inch-10 inch) within the next 6 months or so... Just gotta pick out a scope under $750.

For now, I'm still loving my 5 inch scope. I can see plenty of stuff, and am at no shortage of targets!

Thats what I love about this hobby. I know I'll never truly see everything.

[nicoscy]

If you will be upgrading to a new scope, I would suggest you avoid investing in the eyepiece kit, figure out how much you can get from selling your Powerseeker and when you get the Dob, get 2-3 decent eyepieces and a Barlow and be done with it 

Otherwise, you can get the kit and try it and sell it afterwards. You can consider the loss in value as a fee you pay to try out some new gear.

To the question at hand. The eyepiece kit is a basic kit. Most of the filters you will never use. Some of the eyepieces have very low eye relief which can make it challenging to use (them Plossls get harder to use as you go down in eyepiece focal length). The eyepieces are cheap yet ok eyepieces.

What do you currently have in your eyepiece lineup?

[brantuk]

There are better options than an eye piece and filter kit which usually only contain cheap equipment. I made the same mistake and would feel too guilty selling it on. So I butchered it to make more useful stuff, gave some of it away to contribute to my astro club loan scope, and now use the case to carry camera equipment.

I agree with Nicos - 2-3 good pieces and a barlow - or (for a little more money) a half decent zoom - would be far better value for money.

[nicoscy]

I have tried this Seben Zoom  in the past and it is a pretty good zoom. 

Here is a previous thread on it.

Instead of the kit, get the zoom. Whatever happens, everybody needs a cheap zoom eyepiece in their lineup...

[Tonynexevo925]

If I understood your post correctly you have already purchased the kit?

I have the kit although no longer use it as I have upgraded to 2" now.

I agree with most of the above - it is quite basic but I still found it useful to see the effect different filters have and certainly the lower eye relief EPs helped me to understand more about what I could see with and without glasses etc.

Given the relatively cheap price I think it is a fun toolset to learn with before moving to better.

Experimenting and asking questions is the way forward...

[rwilkey]

I too bought one of these sets originally, but found I soon grew out of it.  Yes, it was a short term gain and a good learning curve, can't fault that.

[Charic]

The best upgrade for the Powerseeker 127EQ is a better telescope. The fact that this is your next choice is a good one. My 127EQ lives in the shed? It was good enough to teach me how to Polar align, and to view the Moon, but about as usefull as a chocolate fire guard for anything else?

[Ccolvin968]

I love my scope. I have had no issues with it at all. I can get good views of the planets, I love viewing binaries, I love checking out the moon, and I can get some globular clusters and open clusters in there no problem. Not sure why you had such problems with yours.

[Ccolvin968]

I tried out the kit tonight. Not bad overall. I never set my expectations to high when I know I'm not buying top line equipment. For what I got, I'm happy with it. Learning what filters do what is cool, and the ep's aren't that bad in my opinion. Guess I'll be even more excited when I get the "real" stuff. :-)

[Charic]

I love my scope. I have had no issues with it at all. I can get good views of the planets, I love viewing binaries, I love checking out the moon, and I can get some globular clusters and open clusters in there no problem. Not sure why you had such problems with yours.

.......It seemed great the first few Days, viewing the Moon but then the 8" arrived. Nothing I have now improves the 127 in any way!

Theres always something better, you just need to find it. You already accept you have a budget scope, and you bought the kit before asking? My advise to folk is not to try and improve what is such a basic telescope, having already been there, its just not worth it?

[Ccolvin968]

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind. Like I said, I plan on getting an 8 or 10 inch dob in the coming months. Very excited to see the difference.

[alro]

Hello,

Good to hear your enjoying your gear, i got the meade ep and filter kit and enjoyed most parts, i dont regret getting it as i was wanting a case, a x2 barlow and some filters, i was delighted with ep i got with my scope which is from same make.

However i do prefer twist up eyecups on ep s.

al