Celestron Luminos 31mm for a dobsonian?

[Woah]

I recently got a 10 inch skywatcher dobsonian telescope and have been looking to get some more eyepieces. On Facebook marketplace there’s a listing for a Celestron Luminos 31mm eyepiece never used for $250AUD (about $160USD) which is significantly lower than its retail price. I would this eyepiece be a good choice to use with a 10 inch dobsonian or are there better choices for low power eyepieces arounf this price range?

[Louis D]

The 31mm Luminos is going to be much better corrected across the field than say a ~30mm 2" eyepiece of the sub-$100 wide field variety.  There have been reports of kidney beaning or edge of field brightening under certain conditions, but these are probably preferable to vast edge of field astigmatism present in cheaper eyepieces.  The used price is about typical for these; so you could probably sell it on if it doesn't work out for you without losing much, if any, money on it.

[TheLookingGlass]

On 01/10/2022 at 09:13, Woah said:

I recently got a 10 inch skywatcher dobsonian telescope and have been looking to get some more eyepieces. On Facebook marketplace there’s a listing for a Celestron Luminos 31mm eyepiece never used for $250AUD (about $160USD) which is significantly lower than its retail price. I would this eyepiece be a good choice to use with a 10 inch dobsonian or are there better choices for low power eyepieces arounf this price range?

About 5 friends, including myself tried the 31mm Luminos in my 10" dob. It had seriously bad eye placement issues and a huge amount of "edge of field brightening" which was very distracting. We all agreed that the person who owned it, (one of my observing buddies), got rid of it. He agreed and sold it the same week.

The 30mm APM UFF is way better and recommended.

https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/apm-ultra-flat-field-30mm-eyepiece-70-fov

[Louis D]

Agreed about the APM UFF.  I'm just not sure if it is reasonably priced in Australia.  There are the other brandings of it as well that might be cheaper in AUS $.

If the 31mm Luminos is as bad SAEP-wise as my 20mm Meade 5000 UWA, I can understand your friend's decisions to sell it.

[Don Pensack]

7 hours ago, Louis D said:

Agreed about the APM UFF.  I'm just not sure if it is reasonably priced in Australia.  There are the other brandings of it as well that might be cheaper in AUS $.

If the 31mm Luminos is as bad SAEP-wise as my 20mm Meade 5000 UWA, I can understand your friend's decisions to sell it.

The APM 30mm UFF is available in Australia under the Sky Rover label and Celestron (Ultima Edge) labels.