Telescope Reviews: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ??

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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ??
#5629521 - 01/18/13 09:10 AM

I'm done with buying ep's for the time being and after getting good advice from a member here ( thanks Mike)I am looking into upgrading my 2x Barlow with a 3 element one. I don't have deep pockets so an expensive Barlow is out. I found the Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25" on Adorama for about $65.
My question is if this one is worth getting. I like the fact that it is 3 element and has the brass compression ring apposed to screws. it's also shorter than the one I have and beefier which makes handling easier in cold weather..ie cold fingers.

Your thought and opinions as always is greatly appreciated.

csrlice12, I see you have one or similar in your signature !

Edited by newtoskies (01/18/13 09:11 AM)

Post Extras:

Kon Dealer
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/05/11

Loc: Cambridge UK

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: newtoskies]
#5629569 - 01/18/13 09:48 AM

GSO 2.5X 1.25" Barlow is 3 element, with compression ring and is cheaper (and IMHO just as good).

Post Extras:

REC
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: NC

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: newtoskies]
#5629574 - 01/18/13 09:51 AM

Sounds like a good one, but not sure your going to see much of a difference from the one you have now? Looks like you have a very good assortment of EP's now. You will like the ED's you have coming...nice EP's.

Bob

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csrlice12
Postmaster

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Kon Dealer]
#5629577 - 01/18/13 09:54 AM

Agree with Kon Dealer, Barlows are pretty basic optical technonlogy. The Celestron X-Cel-LX is a nice barlow and is well worth the price; but most GSO/clones will work fine too (could even be the same mfg/eyepiece with a different label). One with ED glass might be a little bit brighter, but many use ED glass anymore anyways. If you are planning on AP though, a longer barlow would be best. The shorty ones will do fine for point&shoot and are excellent for visual, but for true AP, the longer ones work better.

Post Extras:

newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5629617 - 01/18/13 10:20 AM

Thanks fellas. No real AP in my future , just point and shoot camera or iPhone.
GSO's eh, will have to find a place that sells them on line.

Post Extras:

CosmoSat
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/24/09

Loc: India

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: newtoskies]
#5629851 - 01/18/13 12:16 PM

GSO 1.25" 2x Achromatic Barlow Lens

Clear Skies!

Post Extras:

newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: CosmoSat]
#5629884 - 01/18/13 12:34 PM

Is there a big difference in two and three element barlows ?

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GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/05/05

Loc: St. Louis area

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: newtoskies]
#5630277 - 01/18/13 05:21 PM

you may want to show a picture of the one i gave you. i think the difference between that one and a 3 element may be less chromatic abberation introduced by the barlow. but it may be worth trying it out with your new scope to see how it performs. think that one was 30 bucks back when i got it. does it have a name brand on it? i think it was antares or something.

possible it wouldnt be too noticable between them. but it is important to consider the entire optical path. compression rings do rock in my opinion...but screws work also.

Post Extras:

newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: GOLGO13]
#5630328 - 01/18/13 06:00 PM

I had the scope out for about ten minutes, until my fingers froze. I only used the 9mm, 25 and 32 mm EP's. I have to leave soon so that was it for tonight. I didn't try out the barlow yet, just test fit it during the day. The one problem was that it went to far into the diagonal I I almost hit it with the barlow. Need to get used to that. Will post a first ( quick) light soon.

Post Extras:

newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: newtoskies]
#5630337 - 01/18/13 06:07 PM

I'm holding off on getting the barlow until I use the one I have, but I think to avoid me damaging the diagonal I may just get it down the road.

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: GOLGO13]
#5630412 - 01/18/13 07:05 PM

Quote:

you may want to show a picture of the one i gave you. i think the difference between that one and a 3 element may be less chromatic abberation introduced by the barlow.

Barlows do not introduce chromatic aberration... Roland Christian of Astro-Physics has said many time that 2 element Barlows are "apochromatic." I never see an false color introduced by my favorite Barlows, 1.25 inch 2X Celestron Shorty's which were manufactured by GSO and if there were chromatic aberration to be seen, I have had them in situations where it would be apparent, high magnifications on Venus, high magnifications on double-stars.

Jon

Post Extras:

Gert K A
super member

Reged: 07/16/12

Loc: Copenhagen, Denmark

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5630532 - 01/18/13 08:20 PM

Jon

let me draw on you wisdom yet again: What is it that makes up the price difference of around 3 to 4 times between the high end Powermate and the similar size GSO Barlow, how can the price difference be justified? Is there something not so obvious that I missed, is there may be a difference for use in AP?

I’m asking because two days ago I was almost getting the Powermate to check it out for myself, but realising I could get a 2x, 2.5x and a 5x GSO and still have money to spare I decided on the latter

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GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/05/05

Loc: St. Louis area

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5630626 - 01/18/13 09:32 PM

Not sure if that's true with this barlow . Although I'm sure it's an OK one. It's a longer one which I believe has no name. Whether or not the quality would be as high as other barlows I don't know. It looked fine to me when I tried it out.

It could be an old cheap Orion one...not their shorty ones but their longer ones.

I think what you say is true, but it may depend on the quality of the barlow which is made. For instance, my Televue 3x barlow is a 2 element one. I don't think it has many aberrations. But that's Televue and not the cheapest ones being made.

Same thing can happen in eyepieces. I have some which seem to introduce aberrations like CA.

Edited by GOLGO13 (01/18/13 09:39 PM)

Post Extras:

GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/05/05

Loc: St. Louis area

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: newtoskies]
#5630629 - 01/18/13 09:35 PM

Quote:

I'm holding off on getting the barlow until I use the one I have, but I think to avoid me damaging the diagonal I may just get it down the road.

If it travels too far, you may want to use the set screw higher up and not let the barlow get that low. I actually have some eyepieces which I have to lift them up a bit to get them working (needs more out travel).

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WaterMaster
Moat Keeper

Reged: 02/17/10

Loc: Southeast Idaho, USA

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Gert K A]
#5630749 - 01/18/13 10:45 PM

Quote:

Jon

let me draw on you wisdom yet again: What is it that makes up the price difference of around 3 to 4 times between the high end Powermate and the similar size GSO Barlow, how can the price difference be justified? Is there something not so obvious that I missed, is there may be a difference for use in AP?

I’m asking because two days ago I was almost getting the Powermate to check it out for myself, but realising I could get a 2x, 2.5x and a 5x GSO and still have money to spare I decided on the latter

Here's what Al Nagler has to say about Barlows and Powermates.

Post Extras:

Gert K A
super member

Reged: 07/16/12

Loc: Copenhagen, Denmark

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: WaterMaster]
#5631445 - 01/19/13 12:04 PM

Thank you Steve
Again the cliché “You get what you pay for” seems to hold up. There are no shortcuts

Post Extras:

newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Gert K A]
#5631486 - 01/19/13 12:30 PM

Thanks all for the great info and the link. I haven't checked the brand of the barlow I have but will later. I am considering the mentioned Celestron barlow and a GSO barlow. Yes you get what you pay for, but budget plays a big role in what I can buy. I'd like to get all the ep's, RACI and Barlow that I need at the moment...then I will hold off on buying anything else. I'd like to use what I have and learn about the new scope and how to get the best use out of everything.No sense in spending a fortune on all the goodies, and not know how to use them.

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Gert K A]
#5631511 - 01/19/13 12:50 PM

Quote:

Thank you Steve
Again the cliché “You get what you pay for” seems to hold up. There are no shortcuts

The question is not whether you get what you pay for but rather whether what you are getting is something you need. The Powermate is useful with long focal length eyepieces where a standard Barlow might Vignette or the increased eye relief might represent an issue.

If you are using a Barlow with shorter focal length eyepieces, these are non-issues. Myself, I use Barlows only with shorter focal length eyepiece when I need magnifications that are higher my shortest focal length eyepieces can provide. For this, a simple 2 element Barlow is just fine.

Jon

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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster

Reged: 04/08/02

Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5631544 - 01/19/13 01:04 PM

Quote:

Quote:

you may want to show a picture of the one i gave you. i think the difference between that one and a 3 element may be less chromatic abberation introduced by the barlow.

Barlows do not introduce chromatic aberration... Roland Christian of Astro-Physics has said many time that 2 element Barlows are "apochromatic." I never see an false color introduced by my favorite Barlows, 1.25 inch 2X Celestron Shorty's which were manufactured by GSO and if there were chromatic aberration to be seen, I have had them in situations where it would be apparent, high magnifications on Venus, high magnifications on double-stars.

Jon

Al Nagler said the same thing some years ago regarding three lens-element "apochromatic" Barlow lenses back when the Tele Vue web site had a Q and A section.

Dave Mitsky

Post Extras:

newtoskies
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/12

Loc: SE Ma.

Re: Celestron X-Cel LX 2x Barlow Lens 1.25"... ?? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5631560 - 01/19/13 01:14 PM

Quote:

If you are using a Barlow with shorter focal length eyepieces, these are non-issues. Myself, I use Barlows only with shorter focal length eyepiece when I need magnifications that are higher my shortest focal length eyepieces can provide. For this, a simple 2 element Barlow is just fine.

Jon, this is basically what I would need one for as well. So then a 2 element barlow will work just fine for me. The one I have does work great, especially in my dob, but I don't want to take changes and damage my Refractors diagonal.

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