28 replies to this topic

[Vars191]

Hi All
Does anybody use a 15mm or 31mm Celestron Luminos eyepiece or know a review on these eyepiece I would like to know how good or bad they are they
Thank you
Vars

[Ahab]

I use the 15mm and like it a lot. Will not hesitate to try another magnification.

[Usquebae]

I have both and have used them extensively in all my scopes (see sig).  First of all, they are each delightfully lightweight for their class if decloaked.  I think the housing for the 15mm weights 6-7oz, almost doubling EP weight, and the 31mm housing weighs a full pound!  Stripped, the 31 Luminos is 24 oz, same as 35 Pan and decloaked 24 UWA.

 

Optically, I found the 31 very nice in the center half, but EOFB and other muck ruins the outer 1/3.  If focused on the center of the field I did not mind too much the perimeter garbage, and the spacewalk feel was very nice.  However, I found that at this very low power I wanted to look around the field and not be limited to the center, especially when viewing large nebulae like Veil or Rosette .  When using shorter focal lengths, from 24 downward, I don't find this to be the case.  My attention is generally locked to the center - any edge aberrations go unnoticed, though I do appreciate a field of stars in the periphery instead of a field stop.  So, I did eventually upgrade to a 35 Pan, which I acquired used for close to what I paid for the 31 Luminos.  I will say that the 31 Luminos is super-comfy, with very long ER that makes it effectively fog-proof.  I still occasionally use it w/ my F/10 achro, or when conditions are very dewy outside.

 

The 15 Luminos is quite another story.  Optically, the tone is cool and transmission seems very good like the 31, but edge aberration is better controlled than in the 31, and EOFB is subtle, a non-factor for me, really.  The weight and size (decloaked) make it like a 15mm T6.  Light control on Moon and planets is an issue, so not an ideal planetary EP.  The 15mm does barlow well, so you may be able to use it on both for galaxy mags and for P/N-Glob magnification range.  I cannot vouch for the outer third at F/5, except to say that it's not so bad as to be distracting when I am focused on the center of the view.  In my F/10 scopes this EP holds its sharpness to maybe 10-15% from edge.  Eye relief is perfect for viewing w/o glasses, and just manageable (but not comfy) with glasses.  When I put the 15 Luminos into my C6 (1.5mm exit pupil, 100x, 0.8 degrees) I'm pretty much in heaven.

 

I am not equipped to seriously critique these EPs, either independently of against others.  But I can say this... the 82 degree AFoV seems to be the money zone for my eye, and so in addition to the 31 & 15 Luminos I have the 24 & 18 Meade UWA, and 11 Nagler T6.  All things considered, the T6 is definitely the best and my favorite; 15 Luminos is second fave but also second tier; the UWAs are third favorite, optically equal to the 15 Luminos but not nearly as comfortable; then the 31mm Luminos is third tier - very comfortable but conspicuously unpleasant optically in the outer third.  So I would recommend the 15, but probably not the 31.  The 31 Luminos (decloaked) does have major weight advantage over the 30 UWA / ES82 options, so if you really want 82 degrees, super-long ER, and 1.5 lbs the Luminos may fit - especially if you are using an F/10 scope.  But the 35 Pan has good ER, same weight, similar TFoV, and much greater useable FoV, so a used 35 Pan seems a much better allocation of funds over a new 31 Luminos.

Edited by Usquebae, 21 April 2015 - 02:52 PM.

[De Lorme]

Any thoughts on the 19mm?

 

Thanks, De Lorme

[De Lorme]

When using the 19mm with a focus reducer am I'm going to see seagulls just off center like my 30mm

2" GSO?

 

Thanks, De Lorme

[Arthur L]

Usquebae (or anyone) --can you explain decloaking a little bit ? 

 

For me the EP weight is a major factor.  The lighter the better. 

 

Does anyone delcloak an Ethos ?

 

to the OP, if you look around there are many posts on the Luminos.  I did not buy one but only because they are so heavy (by my standards)

.

Edited by ArtyoftheGW, 21 April 2015 - 04:05 PM.

[Scanning4Comets]

Many others have reported extreme EOFB in this line. Herroinment for one sold off four of them for that reason IIRC.

[Vars191]

Many others have reported extreme EOFB in this line. Herroinment for one sold off four of them for that reason IIRC.

 

What does EOFB stand for?

[bdcmd]

What does EOFB stand for?

 

 

 

Edge Of Field Brightening

[russell23]

Any thoughts on the 19mm?

 

Thanks, De Lorme

The 19mm Luminos is one of the worst cases of EOFB I have seen.

 

Dave

[De Lorme]

Thanks Dave.   The reviews on Amazon don't say anything about the EOFB. Thanks Again.

 

Clear Skies, De Lorme

[Dinosour23]

7 and 15 over here, wonderful eyepieces!

Didn't notice any "EOFB" ... But there shouldn't be any at 7/10/15 I believe.

I now got a 4.7mm Meade UWA so I am waiting for a good night to compare it to the 7mm Lumi

 

If I see the Meade is much sharper than the 7mm/barlowed 7mm Lumi I'll let you know. 

 

I also have the Axiom 23 which looks exactly like the Lumi but I never use it because it weighs more than the scope and the mount combined   So I stuck to 1.25 "Meade SWA 24" which is close enough and light.

Edited by Dinosour23, 22 April 2015 - 03:53 AM.

[lordhaw]

I have the 15mm Luminos.  I find I like it a lot.  I have barlowed it for planetary and it does do a nice job on Jupiter with a bit of flaring or possibly a ghost image depending on my eye position (I'm no expert).  It seems to have pretty good transmission.  I have seen a very faint bit of EOFB in it but I don't notice it under normal viewing and it's not always even visible (seems to depend on other factors of which I am not fully aware).  To me, it's good up to about 70% and past that it starts to show some aberrations in my 8" dob.  But it's certainly the best EP I have and I like it a lot.  

[russell23]

Thanks Dave.   The reviews on Amazon don't say anything about the EOFB. Thanks Again.

 

Clear Skies, De Lorme

 

It was too bad too because I thought the coatings provided very good transmission.  If it wasn't for the EOFB the 19mm Luminos would have found a permanent spot in my case.  A 2" 19mm 82 deg eyepiece that can be used with eyeglasses!  But EOFB killed it for me.

 

Dave

[Usquebae]

Usquebae (or anyone) --can you explain decloaking a little bit ? 

 

.

 

The two thin metal Celestron logo stickers need to be pried up to reveal a small philips head screw.  A little tougher than expected - the adhesive is strong and the sticker is recessed.  I used a paring knife to puncture the center third of the sticker, then slipped the blade tip in and pried upwards.  Housing can be replaced at any time but the stickers are ruined.

 

I just weighed the 15mm and housing again:  about 7.7 oz for the decloaked EP and 5.2 oz for the housing.  Here's a pic of the 31 and 15 decloaked (31 has the 3.3 oz rubber bit from the 24 UWA pushed on top - very comfy and effectively a dew shield):

 

http://www.cloudynig...inos-decloaked/

 

Dinosaur23 - I think you need to decloak that Axiom!  They are said to be excellent EPs (NOT same as Luminos).  I have both 24/82 and 24/68 EPs and there is, for me, a marked difference.  The 68 degree is super comfortable, but the 82 FoV feels massive.  Maybe my most "emersive" EP.  I use the 82 degree more often.

Edited by Usquebae, 22 April 2015 - 07:20 PM.

[Usquebae]

Oh, and don't forget to ship your unused Axiom shells to Mr. Ointment.  He collects them.  I think he's building a robot to slay EOFB.  May the prophesy be fulfilled.

[Dinosour23]

Hmmmm very interesting ! I will have to look into this tonight ! Thanks ! 

[Scanning4Comets]

De-cloaking revealed !!!


http://www.cloudynig...t/#entry1972968

 

http://www.cloudynig...-lx-de-cloaked/

 

http://www.cloudynig...a-34-decloaked/

 

http://www.cloudynig...ime-for-summer/

 

Here are some de-cloaked, (on the left hand side), that have rubber eyeguards added to them.

http://www.cloudynig...eces/?p=4252067

 

Edited by Scanning4Comets, 22 April 2015 - 12:24 PM.

[De Lorme]

When will China learn?   I'm so glad we have CN to share the what'd good and what's not.

 

De Lorme

[Peter Besenbruch]

Thanks Dave.   The reviews on Amazon don't say anything about the EOFB. Thanks Again.

 

Amazon reviews for astronomical products are too seldom written by advanced amateurs. Red flag buzz phrases: "OMG, the moon!" "This eyepiece is WAAAY better than the one that came with my scope."

 

In addition, Amazon tends to combine multiple eyepiece types and focal lengths in one batch of reviews. One example is the combining of all focal lengths the very uneven X-Cel line with the Omni Plössls, again all focal lengths.

[Dinosour23]

Another use for the Axiom 23 when you realize you can't binoview them... 

 

 

Edited by Dinosour23, 22 April 2015 - 05:02 PM.

[De Lorme]

I've noticed them combining focal lengths to.. I thought about telling Amazon but never got around to doing it.  Glad CN is here!

 

De Lorme

[Herr Ointment]

Oh, and don't forget to ship your unused Axiom shells to Mr. Ointment.  He collects them.  I think he's building a robot to slay EOFB.  May the prophesy be fulfilled.

I'm making custom counterweights for an older eq mount.......2 31mm and 1 23mm shells on hand...and yes I could use one more of either size!  Axiom preferred, Luminos if nessesary.

 

And yes, I didn't like the Luminos line.

Edited by herrointment, 22 April 2015 - 08:00 PM.

[paradise]

I got a Luminos 23mm 82°, I sold it, it was not so good for my Newton f/5 : curvature of field, not much sharpness.

 

The Luminos line is made for Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes, I think.

 

I got now a Meade 5000 UWA 24mm, I am pleased with it.

Edited by paradise, 22 April 2015 - 08:05 PM.

[otocycle]

I have all of the Luminos eyepieces except for the 31mm, plus I doubled down on the 10mm and 15mm for a binoviewer when they were heavily discounted on Amazon.   They work fine enough for me in all scopes from f/10 to f/5.   Anything faster really needs a coma corrector to clean up the edge (e.g. LB16).

 

EOFB doesn't matter to me at all for this price point.   These ain't Naglers.