22 replies to this topic

[Adri_Bha]

My telescope: Sky-Watcher Classic 250P Dobsonian (10 inch aperture, 1200mm focal length, F/Ratio: 4.7)

I want to upgrade my eyepieces, but don't want to sell my kidney at the moment.

The Baader Planetarium Hyperion eyepieces are substantially more expensive than the SVBONY UWA (redline) eyepieces, but is within my budget. Are the Baader Planetarium Hyperion eyepieces (5mm, 10mm) worth the extra money over the SVBONY UWA (redline) eyepieces (6mm, 9mm)? Those are the two I want. Those two are slightly different sizes, I know, but similar enough.

They both have a 68 degree apparent field of view. The Hyperion has a better eye relief than the SVBONY. I hear the redlines have a reputation of kidney beaning. Is that issue better in the Hyperion? How about build quality, optics & image quality, contrast, sharpness, brightness, etc.? What else is better about the Hyperion that would make the much higher cost justified?

I also want to buy a 24mm eyepiece with a 68 degree or higher AFOV. Is the Hyperion 24mm a good option for a fast f/4.7 dob? If not, will a coma corrector help?

Thank you very much!

[SeattleScott]

Loaded question, both lines are inconsistent, and it is hard to recommend either below F5. Kidney beaning is where the view blacks out if you don’t get your eye position perfect. Is this worse than blurry stars at the edge of the view? Matter of opinion. The SVBONY focal lengths that perform better in fast scopes have kidney beaning. So none of them would be ideal.

The 24 Hyperion is generally regarded as the worst in a suspect series, and I get the impression it should be absolutely avoided below F5.

I think you need to keep looking for other options.

The 15mm to 30mm UFF are affordable and offer good performance, even premium level performance for the 30mm. The 24 is well regarded and short be acceptable at F4.7, although a 25 Xcel LX or 25 HD60 might be preferable.

If you want to keep it affordable at F4.7, you really need to think in terms of 60, or maybe 65 degrees. The common budget recommendation for a fast scope goes as follows:
25mm Xcel LX or HD60
18mm UFF (APM, SkyRover, Meade UHD, Celestron Edge, SVBONY, and other labels)
12mm Astrotech Paradigm or BST Starguider Dual ED
5mm Paradigm/Starguider

Then fill in with your choice of either:
8mm Paradigm/Starguider Or
9mm and 6.5mm Xcel LX/HD60

[fjjoachim]

I agree with SeattleScott's recommendations.

[Adri_Bha]

Thank you for your response. I will certainly consider 60-65 degree AFOV. In that case, how will these eyepieces perform for the F4.7 scope?

Celestron Ultima Edge 24mm Flat Field Eyepiece
Celestron X-Cel LX 9mm Eyepiece

Celestron X-Cel LX 5mm Eyepiece

 

And I may or may not purchase the Celestron Ultima Edge 15mm Flat Field Eyepiece.

I hear a lot of good reviews about these, but I'm concerned since finding good performing eyepieces at a decent price for a fast scope is proving rather challenging.
I would've HIGHLY preferred a good 6mm eyepiece over the 5mm, because I wanted a 200X magnification rather than a 240X. But I can't seem to find any with good reviews that's also worth the price. Is the 6mm SVBONY Redline Eyepiece really that bad for a fast scope like a 10-inch dob f/4.7?

[SeattleScott]

The 24 and 9 should be pretty good, especially the 9. The 5mm Paradigm is said to be better than the 5 (really 4.5) Xcel LX, although in bench tests the Xcel LX and it’s sibling HD60 performed very respectably at F4. So I’m confident you wouldn’t be disappointed in the Xcel LX, but realize it is really 4.5mm, and it is possible the Paradigm is even better (or possibly equally good for lower price).

[MrsM75]

Hi, I have slow scopes, my Maks are f/13 to f/15 and let me say this, the 6mm SvBony Redline has bad kidney beans, like bad kidney beans. How do I say this, on the left and right you see two huge spots shape of the kidneys, and I mean huge spots.

 

I cannot fathom it would get better with a f/4 scope. Maks are like f/15 and they very forgiving with eyepieces, and the Svbony still show kidneys beans.

 

I say go for the Vixen Lanthanium glass which is 50 deg but it good. Or the X-Cell Celestron which is 60 deg.

[Adri_Bha]

Thanks SeattleScott. I'm assuming you're talking about the Astro-Tech 5mm 1.25" Paradigm Dual ED Eyepiece? If that's the case, thank you very much for telling me about it. I didn't know about this one.
And I didn't know the 5mm X-Cel LX was really 4.5mm. That would make it nearly 267X magnification. I wanted something closer to 200X magnification if possible. 6mm is ideal.

Also, thanks MrsM75. I know it's subjective, but I absolutely hate kidney beaning. So I am leaning toward the Celestron X-Cel LX 5mm or the Astro-Tech 5mm Paradigm. But if the X-Cel is truly a 4.5mm, as per SeattleScott, that massive 267X magnification may be too much for now.

Edited by Adri_Bha, 19 March 2025 - 06:14 PM.

[MrsM75]

XCell 7mm is AWESOME, it truly 6.5mm according to Sir Scott so I let him answer that question.

 

I had the XCell 7mm and it work wonder in all my Mak.

 

I ditch it for the Luminos 82 deg though, BUT please don't do it in your case because your scope is so short focal f/4, the Luminos kill it outright. fast scope reviews has ghosting, seagulls, bright edge field if view.

It work for my scope because I have a f/15 scope and it slow.

I say the 7mm XCell.

[Adri_Bha]

Thank you for the suggestion. I think that may be the best option.

Edited by Adri_Bha, 19 March 2025 - 06:46 PM.

[Adri_Bha]

A question to SeattleScott. How do you know the 5mm X-Cel LX is really a 4.5mm?

Edited by Adri_Bha, 19 March 2025 - 06:54 PM.

[MrsM75]

Do you live in USA? Amazon has the XCell 7mm now on sale for $69, oh there a Used one too cheaper price. Amazon very easy return policy 30 days. Buy it, try it, if you not like it return it within 30 days.

 

The XCell 7mm it really 6.5 according to Sir SeattleScott.

[Adri_Bha]

Unfortunately not. I live in Canada. The 9mm X-Cel LX and the 15mm Ultima Edge is on a small sale now on Amazon Canada. But the 7mm isn't too expensive. It's $117 CAD here.

[MrsM75]

I am sure Amazon Canada has 30 days return policy too. I say go for the 7mm XCell, you can always return it.

[Adri_Bha]

Yup, that's the best option I think. Thanks for the suggestion.

[MrsM75]

Try the 7mm XCell first and if you not like it, then try the 5mm, or buy both and return one after you try both together. See which one give you the high magnification you want.

 

Baader Planetarium Hyperion I am sure it alot more expensive.

[Adri_Bha]

That's a good idea. Buy both and keep the one I like more, and return the other.

[LDW47]

Try the 7mm XCell first and if you not like it, then try the 5mm, or buy both and return one after you try both together. See which one give you the high magnification you want.

 

Baader Planetarium Hyperion I am sure it alot more expensive.

I had a full set of XCell LX's about 10 yrs ago they were a pretty nice, capable set but not at the Hyperion level but they were comparable to any StarGuider I looked through, I still have the 25mm LX I use in one of my refractors. The XCell LX series is another good option.

[Polyphemos]

That's a good idea. Buy both and keep the one I like more, and return the other.

That’s a bad approach and a terrible idea. What do you think happens to the eyepiece you return? Does it get junked or repackaged for sale to someone else. If the former you’ve contributing to a wasteful practice that results in increased costs for all of us; if the latter, how would you like to be the recipient of a previously used eyepiece you purchased as new.

 

Do sufficient research before you purchase anything to be confident in your choice. If afterward it’s not to your liking sell it here in the classifieds.

Edited by Polyphemos, 19 March 2025 - 08:53 PM.

[SeattleScott]

A question to SeattleScott. How do you know the 5mm X-Cel LX is really a 4.5mm?

The Meade HD60 series came out first and labeled it 4.5. Then Celestron copied the series as Xcel LX and rounded up 6.5 to 7 and 4.5 to 5.

[Adri_Bha]

That’s a bad approach and a terrible idea. What do you think happens to the eyepiece you return? Does it get junked or repackaged for sale to someone else. If the former you’ve contributing to a wasteful practice that results in increased costs for all of us; if the latter, how would you like to be the recipient of a previously used eyepiece you purchased as new.

 

Do sufficient research before you purchase anything to be confident in your choice. If afterward it’s not to your liking sell it here in the classifieds.

That's a really nice way of looking at it. I didn't consider that situation. I definitely agree with you. I'll do a LOT of research and be absolutely certain before making the purchase.

[LDW47]

That’s a bad approach and a terrible idea. What do you think happens to the eyepiece you return? Does it get junked or repackaged for sale to someone else. If the former you’ve contributing to a wasteful practice that results in increased costs for all of us; if the latter, how would you like to be the recipient of a previously used eyepiece you purchased as new.

 

Do sufficient research before you purchase anything to be confident in your choice. If afterward it’s not to your liking sell it here in the classifieds.

Well said, every word !

[Starman1]

Thank you for your response. I will certainly consider 60-65 degree AFOV. In that case, how will these eyepieces perform for the F4.7 scope?

Celestron Ultima Edge 24mm Flat Field Eyepiece
Celestron X-Cel LX 9mm Eyepiece

Celestron X-Cel LX 5mm Eyepiece

 

And I may or may not purchase the Celestron Ultima Edge 15mm Flat Field Eyepiece.

I hear a lot of good reviews about these, but I'm concerned since finding good performing eyepieces at a decent price for a fast scope is proving rather challenging.
I would've HIGHLY preferred a good 6mm eyepiece over the 5mm, because I wanted a 200X magnification rather than a 240X. But I can't seem to find any with good reviews that's also worth the price. Is the 6mm SVBONY Redline Eyepiece really that bad for a fast scope like a 10-inch dob f/4.7?

Of the ones you mention, the Ultima Edge Series is best.

The X-Cel LX is good, but narrower in apparent field.

The Ultima Edge in 10mm and 15mm are NOT compatible with glasses.

6mm eyepieces good in a fast scope without a coma corrector means you need to keep the apparent field narrow (like 50-62°) or go to well-corrected eyepieces that will cost more.

The Redline/Gold line/Blue line 66-68° eyepieces are poor in a fast f/ratio scope.

 

Here are some 6mm eyepieces that should work fine in a fast scope in 6mm:

Founder Optics Marvel
Long Perng 80° Series LER
Omegon Ogdo
Stella Lyra (FLO) 80° LER UWA

Otherwise, 5mm and 7mm are more common.

[star acres]

I find my SvBony 6 MM is quite a bit more kidney beaning than the 9 MM. Quality,? They share some parts and lenses. The outer edges are a bit out of focus. I don't snub my Red Band collection and they are here because of me. My Zhumells are only 55 wide but crystal clear to the edges. I don't mind their narrow width. You can still use the SvBony Red Bands fuzzy edges to keep something in target. Don't hesitate to get the 9 MM. Despite the kidney beaning, I use the 6 MM often. You just have to be more steady and a little tolerant. You'll find the eye relief to be kid easy. Microscope views and department store telescopes are way harder to view.