APM 100mm APO 90 degree binocular telescope eyepieces

[greg46]

Hi
Does anyone have any experience with Celestron X-Cel and Optima eyepieces, particularly in the 9mm to 13mm range with these BTs? Any info on these or other mid range matching eyepieces and their suitability would be appreciated. I have read some favourable reports on the X-Cel eyepieces.
Best regards
Greg46

[m11]

Hi Greg,

I got some good advice from Jeelan when I got my APM 100mm 45 degree BTs.

The standard APM 18mm are pretty good but the Kowa 9mm eyepieces I found gave a real spacewalk experience on objects like the moon. The only catch is the eye placement is a bit finicky but its a small price for the view you get.

[Buck]

Hello Greg,

I don't have any info on those particular brands you mentioned, but if by 'mid range' you are referring to focal length (and not price), then I can highly recommend the Baader Morpheus eyepieces - the 12.5mm pair will give you 44x mag (a sweet spot for these BT's IMO) and a 76 degree AFOV - very immersive. For 79x mag and a AFOV of 70 degrees the 7mm Pentax SMC-XW are again, very immersive. And with your APM 100mm APO BT's, both these eyepiece pairs give high contrast and sharp to the edge results.

In my opinion, you won't regret the investment - after all the APM 100mm APO BT's are a fair outlay - and deserve to be used with eyepieces that realise the APO BT's full potential.

Paul

[greg46]

Hi Mel
Thank you for your reply and info.
I am pleased to hear the 18mm as supplied is ok as there is no
specific detailed info from APM on that eyepiece that I could find.
Will check out the Kowa
You would think the celestron x cel lx 12mm would be outclassed but I read a usa site evaluating a list of costly eyepieces but had the X Cel lx thrown in at the end.
They gave it an unexpected and respectable tick on virtually all parameters but still at the end of the very top group of eyepieces.
I'm giving it a go so will be happy to post when I get to test it. Maybe it was a fluke.
Regards
Greg