Hyperion or Celestron X-Cel LX ?

[Alan_B]

I am looking to buy a 5mm eyepiece to use in a 12" DOB for planetary viewing and I am considering either

a. Baader Hyperion

b. Celestron X-Cel LX

anyone any experience in comparing these ?

The X-Cel is cheaper and has a narrower FOV , eye relief I would think is similar although I cant find figures for the Xcel

OR should it be

c. none of the above

[Damo636]

I would go with the Xcel LX, smaller, lighter, cheaper and from the reports better corrected.

[nicnac]

i was looking at both of these EPs, ended up going for the Xcel LX as it was reported that the hyperions dont perform particularly well at f5, now i am going for the set of LX's, they are superb little EPs

[Pat Dunne]

I had a pair of Celestron X-Cel LX 25mm & 9mm along with a Ultima 22mm on trial and ended up buying the Ultima. Thinking of buying an 8mm Ultima as my Christmas threat to myself.

Works real well with my Celestron CPC 925

[nicnac]

i still havnt tried the ultima's

i did enquire to their performance at f5 and faster, the reply was good but there is a right ole price gap between the Xcel LX and the ultima LX. that 32mm ultima LX looks nice though

[DOBBY]

in a 12" Dob...the X-Cel LX will perform better (imho) but...need more 'nudging'

[Alan_B]

Well the Xcel-LX it is then, thanks for the responses

By the way the eye relief is apparently 16mm with the Celestron as opposed to 20mm for the Baader.

Just have to get used to the art of nudging

[twotter]

Have you thought about the 8mm Hyperion with 14mm & 28mm fine tuning rings? The FTRs give you further options of 6mm, 5mm & 4.3mm.

[Alan_B]

I thought about the FTR's but wasn't sure about the effect using them would have on the stability of the eyepiece when put in a 1.25" focuser.

what would be the total length of the eyepiece?

[faulksy]

I had a pair of Celestron X-Cel LX 25mm & 9mm along with a Ultima 22mm on trial and ended up buying the Ultima. Thinking of buying an 8mm Ultima as my Christmas threat to myself.

Works real well with my Celestron CPC 925

have you tried the hyperions just wondered compared to the excel

[twotter]

I thought about the FTR's but wasn't sure about the effect using them would have on the stability of the eyepiece when put in a 1.25" focuser.

what would be the total length of the eyepiece?

I tend to use the retaining screw anyway when I pop an EP in the focuser of my 200P dob. With the 14mm & 28mm FTRs fitted to my 8mm Hyperion it does make for a longer EP but it's perfectly stable, and makes it more comfortable for me as I don't have to 'lean in' as far to align my eye, if that makes sense

[Alan_B]

well I've been and bought the XCel-LX. I did compare the 2 in the shop (opticstar) and the Xcel is quite a bit lighter.

The Hyperion does look a quality piece of kit though and i will probably get either a 10mm or 13mm after having a recommedation from Dex/Neried3 and maybe get the FTR's to use with that.

[twotter]

Happy new eyepiece

[Pat Dunne]

have you tried the hyperions just wondered compared to the excel

No haven't had the chance, but they're a little out of my price range at present.

My local dealer in Dublin, Astronomy Ireland is doing a deal on Ultima's at the moment, so I thinks I 've made up my mind on my Christmas present