Celestron - 2” Eyepiece and Filter Accessory Kit Review

[@k.h.1587]

The fov specs are wrong, they are actually a tad wider for the 32 and 40. The 26 is basically a 1.25" ep centered in a 2" ep, but both the 32 and 40 have larger field stops than are possible with 1.25" format. The filters are pointless other than the moon filter, and for the price I always recommended people get a dielectric diagonal and a william optics 40mm swan when making the junp to 2" for the SCT, when they would call in asking about the 2" kit. (2006-2011 tour of duty as telescope salesman at a dealer you probably at least know of) Personally I like the 32 and the 40mm, and used the 40 at many an outreach in the past, but outreach was their main use, other than keeping them in my ota case which lived in my trunk full time, so even if i didnt have any of my eyepiece cases with me, i had my outreach set with me at all tines making unplanned impromptu sessions possible even while my good eyepieces were safe at home. Others in the case were a 20mm "celestron " plastic body which was 60+deg, a 15mm superview and a 10mm "celestron" that i had carved out the field stop making it 70+. In a well corrected f10 scope, those "came with scope" cheapie 3 elements actually did well, and in many cases noticeably revealed more faint details in dsos than more expensive 5element mid level eps (superviews/qx/es70), though the 4 element 15mm superview was also a sleeper, and beat the 15qx on throughput. Another 15 superview trick that i discovered back in 2006, poor man's pentax 10mm when you thread a gso 2x barlow lens assembly to it's filter threads, ie full corrected field in 10"f5 dob without a coma corrector There are sleepers among the cheapies if you know how to awaken them. Back in the day i used to call the widended 10mm with the barlow threaded on, my 7.5mm Smagler. And if you can find the 15mm version of the plastic celestron it is the same diameter optically as the 20, making it in the 70 range

[@HollomanUFOLanding]

The 32mm E-Lux eyepiece that's part of that kit is I think my overall favourite eyepiece, if I had to have just 1, it would be that. They sometimes go sale and I think are very good value.

[@AVTAstro]

Thanks for the feedback on the 32mm.

[@KimSevern]

I have a 5se. I emailed celestron, they said it's compatible. lol, the threads do fit, you can attach it and look through it. but the baffle is the exact same size as the opening you remove to mount the diagonal. It was sad. I returned it.

[@opponoastos]

My 2" Apertura dielectric diagonal is the best one I've got and use the most. Wasn't too expensive either. I like that it has a APM Fastlock on it. Like the Baader Clicklock but with better precision for centering of eyepieces. I'm gonna try a Baader BBHS Sitall mirror diagonal just to see what differences I see.

[@AVTAstro]

Yeah that's a curious one. I jus5 wonder how long those silver coatings will last???

[@danieladuran3558]

I'm trying to clean the eyepice of these kit but it got blurry on the center as if humidity entered between the lences. Is it posible to open the e-lux to clean every leces individually?

[@AVTAstro]

I'd just set them in indirect sunlight and see if they dry out. It is possible to take the eyepieces apart but I would not recommend it.

[@lornaz1975]

Vlad do you have an opinion as to whether the Tele Vue everbrite and the Astro Physics diagonal are the same or is one better than the other? Better would be in clarity and brightness.

[@AVTAstro]

I have owned both. I have never did a side by side comparison so really can't say witch would have the edge. I currently do use the AstroPhysics as my goto diagonal for what it's worth.

[@lornaz1975]

@@AVTAstro I ended up comparing the Baader white diagonal to the everbrite and it was not even close. I was just wondering if it is worth attempting to get the AP diagonal.

[@Astronurd]

Far better buying quality eyepieces and diagonal. Once acquired you have them for life. Anyone who gets serious about astronomy will undoubtedly upgrade this kit before too long.

[@AVTAstro]

Well I think it depends on where you feel you will end up in the hobby. Obviously I would not still be using this kit if I bought it 25 years ago when I was staring out. But some people might be quite content with it. Nothing wrong with that!

[@louisik1]

@@AVTAstro Thanks for this - as someone starting out, with the 130SLT, I'm trying to figure out how I want to expand. I appreciate your reassurance for people who aren't looking to go full-bore any time soon. I'm also wondering if I can effectively use my Nikon F Mount camera with a 2" adapter instead of a 1.25". If you're saying the field of view isn't any larger with these, then I wonder if it's not worth trying to mount the camera as a 2". Very down to earth review. Thanks!

[@MountainFisher]

I was thinking of buying that on sale when I put a 2" Crayford on my C6-N 150mm reflector, but I didn't need a diagonal, nor did I want those Kellner eyepieces. Not for that price anyway. For filters I just use light yellow and yellow-green and a polarizing filter for the Moon. For a light light blue filter I use a cheap broadband UHC that is outstanding for Jupiter and Venus, oh the Moon too with a single off the polarizing filter. I have a 2" 26mm GSO and bought the Baader 13mm Hyperion, it goes with both spacers down to 8mm in my f7 refractor or in my reflector It has an apo lens in the 1.25" nose piece that is essentially a Barlow, but if I take the 1.25" off at 2" it is 23mm. Spec says 22.9mm so it's 23. For the price the Hyperion has a flat field and I compared it to a TV eyepiece there isn't much difference. I don't see any difference with my reflector, but my 101 ES triplet the TV is a tad better. Other than being hot how is the stargazing going there? I hope you've had clear skies. See any galaxies in that giant Dob?

[@Astronurd]

The Baader Morpheus eyepieces are far superior to the Hyperion range.

[@MountainFisher]

@@Astronurd Not $300 superior. I'm on a budget and my Hyperion is $169 vs. $300.

[@Astro_Ape]

Morpheus EPs can be got for a little over $200 used, which is a dang good deal.

[@Astro_Ape]

BTW: if you ever get a chance to own or use a Baader Contrast Booster, I highly recommend it. It's an amazing planetary filter, and has replaced all of my cheap 1.25" colored filters since the performance blows them outta the sky. I got a 2" used for about $100, but the 1.25" can be found used quite a bit cheaper. It's amazing as a strong minus violet filter on large achros buts also works great as a planetary filter in scopes that show little to no false color like my AT102EDL.

[@MountainFisher]

@@Astro_Ape Well not around here they aren't. I don't buy used equipment sight unseen.