Celestron X-cel or Televue Ploessl?

I want to buy three decent eyepieces for my Nexstar 8SE below $100. Would a 12.5 and
25 X-Cel plus 40 Omni outperform TV's Ploessls 11 or 15, 25 and 40?

Having only one Televue product, but a couple X-cells I can only say, nope-- no chance in H_ll.

X-cel may have better ER, but that's it. Can't comment on the Omni though.

I wonder if you would be better served by trying the Baader Hyperions...I think they're on sale for $99 each.

Regards,

Gerald

Walter

What I like about the TV plossls is that they are parfocal from the 32 to the 8mm. They are also parfocal with the Radians and Nagler 6's if one of those is in your future.

The drawback to the smaller plossls is poor eye relief. If this is an issue then consider the TV 32 and 20 for low to mid power observing. A standard 32 plossl has the same field of view as a 40 plossl.

One of the benefits of Astromart is the variety of ep's for sale at a discount, you can try and buy to your heart's contentment.

Please dont worry too much about what brand you end up with, its more important to make observations with what you have.

Regards
John

I have never used the Celestron X-Cel line but I am collecting a set of TV smooth-sided ploessls and find them very good so far. I have the 13, 10.5, and 7.4 mm (17 mm on the way) and use them all as short eye-relief does not bother me much (I had a 4 mm circle T orthoscopic at one time and used it a great deal). I used the 13 mm on the moon tonight and it was a fine view. One comment I will make is that the TV plossls do vignette using barlows. This bothers some people but I still use barlows with them as the center of the field is what I am concentrating on when using high magnification.

BTW I also use a BO 2.5 mm and find this to be a fine eyepiece. These are found here often on Amart used for $ 50-60. Good luck.