Anyone Tried These?

[Craig20264]

My next purchase will be a 7mm EP but choice appears to be limited.

At £69.00 I would hope they are as good as the equally priced WO SPL's.

Has anyone used them?

http://http://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-eyepieces/celestron-x-cel-lx-eyepiece.html

[perrin6]

Link doesn't seem to work

[Stephen]

Assuming that's a link to the X-Cel LX, yes I own three (saving for fourth.)

I haven't used the WO, but IMHO these are better than the £100 priced Hyperions that I used to own.

Better edge corrected and slightly more contrasty at f5 and f4.

However, at f6 in your Dob, I'm not sure if the difference is noticeable over say a BST.

[imarcs]

I agree, the best mid range EPs bar none for me.

[Kevdan]

Hi,

I also own Celestron X Cel LX eyepieces they are very good well worth the money, just a shame the range only goes up to 25mm.

Kev.

[johninderby]

Having used both the SPLs and the X-Cel LXs there's nothing to choose between them performance wise except that the LXs have a bigger FOV. The main thing that I have against the SPL line is that there's only three focal lengths available.

I've also compared the LXs with the BST Explorers (see eBay) and while the BSTs are almost as good as the LXs, I found the quality control of the LXs to be better with better coatings as well.

Ignore the 1.25" eyepiece in the middle that snuck in amongst my X-Cel LX eyepieces.

John

[Stephen]

John, what's the 5mm like? I'm happy with the 25, 12 and 7 so far (sold the 18 on as it just doesn't get used in my set up.)

I've had issue with a number of 5mm EPs before due to trying to view through the eye of a needle!!

[johninderby]

Haven't used the 5mm so I can't help with that, but given that the other focal lengths seem to perform about the same I'd expect the 5mm to be OK.

John

[Stephen]

Haven't used the 5mm so I can't help with that, but given that the other focal lengths seem to perform about the same I'd expect the 5mm to be OK.

John

Sorry I completely misread your picture, eyes said the 9 was a 5 lol

[Craig20264]

Assuming that's a link to the X-Cel LX, yes I own three (saving for fourth.)

I haven't used the WO, but IMHO these are better than the £100 priced Hyperions that I used to own.

Better edge corrected and slightly more contrasty at f5 and f4.

However, at f6 in your Dob, I'm not sure if the difference is noticeable over say a BST.

Your assumption is correct, and many thanks for the info. Will have a look at the BST's before committing, given your thoughts regarding my scope speed.

Thanks again

Do FLO stock the BST's? I can't seem to see them on their website.

[Stephen]

BSTs are only available from skysthelimit : might be worth asking john what speeds he used them all at? (No direct useage of LX at f6.)

[johninderby]

I tested them in an f/5 refractor and an f/6 and they performed very well.

John

[Craig20264]

Had a look on Skysthelimit and they don't do a 7mm BST so looks like the LX is favourite at the moment.

I was looking for a 7mm to try and ring the changes when seeing is not so good. That would give me 170x mag as opposed to the 200x mag of the 6mm WO I have just bought.

When funds allow I plan to have 6,7,8 & 9mm EP's. That way I can keep stepping up until seeing stops the view getting better. (might even get a 5mm for when it's really good

[Kevdan]

John, what's the 5mm like? I'm happy with the 25, 12 and 7 so far (sold the 18 on as it just doesn't get used in my set up.)

I've had issue with a number of 5mm EPs before due to trying to view through the eye of a needle!!

I got the 5mm and can say its very good, but then again im only comparing it to my other small fl stock plossls.