5 mm X-Cel Lx or 15 mm ES 70 degree FOV??

[EntropyStar]

Santa's told me I have approx £70 to buy a new EP, now I'm torn between either going for something high powered (my current highest is a 7mm X-Cel LX - giving 171x mag) or going for a big FOV medium power EP. I've arrived at the following two choices and torn either way! Does anyone have any viewing experience through either?

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

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Explore_Scientific_15mm_70__eyepiece.html

or even is it worth considering the ES 25 mm?

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Explore_Scientific_25mm_70_eyepiece.html

Either one would get just as much use, looking at my current set of EP's the 15mm wouuld be an upgrade on the Revelation plossls but I haven't seen any reviews, ES always seems to be held in high regard. Opinions please!

[Spec-Chum]

I'm speaking strictly from reading on here and other sites, as I've not used either, but I'd got for the x-cel out of those. The ES 70 degree don't appear to be up to much when compared to their 68 and 82 degree eyepieces.

[DOBBY]

you've got the 38mm hand grenade for big wide views.....how about the 18mm X-Cel LX...works well in F5 & F4.5 'scopes

[rory]

going by your sig ,youve most bases covered there id say. the 5mm x-cel would give x240 which would be handy on good nights . or a 6mm tmb planetary would give x200 .i had a 5mm tmb but i couldnt handle to mag ,as im having slight issues with the mount movement of the dob, and it only takes a tiny problem at that mag to get frustrating.

[Naemeth]

I'd get a 6mm TMB Planetary personally, using your Barlow on the 9mm X-Cel LX to get 266x.

[Eigen]

From my experience, I would not go for the 70 degree ES.

It is roughly equivalent to the WO SWAN, BO, UO, old Revelation Wides etc. Though perhaps coatings might vary. They are all manufactured by Kunming United Optics, who also make all the Chinese bino-viewers.

They are quite ok at ~f/10 (f7+), but the scatter is quite bad and they aren't too sharp nor is the contrast great.

At the f4,7 of your telescope I would imagine, they would be terrible.

The X-cel or even the TMB or BST would be a much safer choice.

[bingevader]

William Optics do a 6mm SPL that would come in right on budget!

Cheers