51 replies to this topic

[rhetfield]

I’ve winnowed down the accessories to the following:

Celestron X-CEL LX 2X 3-Element Barlow

https://www.astronom...s.html?___SID=U

Or

Celestron 2X Omni Barlow
https://www.astronom...s.html?___SID=U

and for Eye Pieces:

Celestron 8-24MM Zoom, 1.25"
https://www.astronom...5.html?___SID=U

Or
Meade 8-24MM Long Eye Relief Zoom

https://www.astronom...m.html?___SID=U
 

And for a longer focal length eye piece a 32 or 40mm

Astro-Tech Value Line Plossl

https://www.astronom...l.html?___SID=U

Celestron Omni Plossl

https://www.astronom...-25-plossl.html
 

Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl 

https://www.astronom...per-plossl.html
 

Is the X-Cel Barlow worth the premium over the Omni?

Is one of the zooms better than the other, same with the Plossls?

Should I be leery of Meade?

I would look at an x-cel 25mm or ES 68 in 24mm instead of the 32mm plossl.  Because they are wider FOV, they will have close to the same FOV as the 32mm, but will have more magnification and contrast.  The main drawback is price.

[csrlice12]

Kathy at S&S Optica recommended the XCell LX 2X barlow to me when I asked about a barlow....that was enough convincing for me.