New Celestron Omni 56mm Eyepiece - 2"

[AntennaGuy]

Here's a new eyepiece from Celestron in their Omni Plossls line -- the Omni 56mm Eyepiece - 2"
List price: $99.95
https://www.celestron.com/products/omni ... epiece-2in
I wonder how this compares in terms of performance to Meade's 56mm Series 4000 Super Plossl Eyepiece - 2"?
https://www.meade.com/series-4000-super ... 6mm-2.html
currently on sale at $69.95, at:
https://optcorp.com/products/meade-56mm ... eyepiece-2

[Lady Fraktor]

I would not be surprised if they were the same eyepiece.
Any telescope faster than f/10 would have a exit pupil over 7mm though.

[AntennaGuy]

I would not be surprised if they were the same eyepiece.
Any telescope faster than f/10 would have a exit pupil over 7mm though.

Yes, I was thinking that one of these (the Meade or Celestron) might serve as a good/satisfactory lowest-power eyepiece in a VMC260L (f/11.5). {Still pondering buying a VMC260L.} A pricier alternative would be Televue's 55mm Plossl, but I'm not sure I would notice a big difference and I am concerned about having to handle expensive eyepieces carefully. I managed to drop a rather decent (by my very amateur standards) eyepiece the other day, and it ended up with terrible scratches on the eye-facing lens. So I'm thinking that maybe if I use less expensive eyepieces most of the time, I won't feel so bad if I happen to do that again.

[Lady Fraktor]

Things like that do not happen often so I would not lessen the quality purchases on a chance.

[Refractordude]

The eye relief is to long. Looks like it will be real hard to find the right angle to view objects. Right click the image.

[AntennaGuy]

The eye relief is to long. Looks like it will be real hard to find the right angle to view objects. Right click the image.

Yes, I saw that! I've been sort-of assuming that's a misprint!

[Lady Fraktor]

Some eyepieces have very long eye relief, I have a 48mm that has 48mm of eye relief (easy to remember) and there are others that have even longer than the Celestron.

[Bigzmey]

2" 50-56mm Plossl is nice to have for a slow scope. However, if you are in US I would pick Garry Russell 2" EPs over Celestron/Meade anytime.

http://russell-optics.com/two_inch.html

I have his 50mm and 56mm Super Plossls. Well made and perform nicely in my SCTs.

[AntennaGuy]

2" 50-56mm Plossl is nice to have for a slow scope. However, if you are in US I would pick Garry Russell 2" EPs over Celestron/Meade anytime.

http://russell-optics.com/two_inch.html

I have his 50mm and 56mm Super Plossls. Well made and perform nicely in my SCTs.

I've seen those but was uncertain what to think of them. Your positive experience and recommendation increases my confidence in that option.

[notFritzArgelander]

2" 50-56mm Plossl is nice to have for a slow scope. However, if you are in US I would pick Garry Russell 2" EPs over Celestron/Meade anytime.

http://russell-optics.com/two_inch.html

I have his 50mm and 56mm Super Plossls. Well made and perform nicely in my SCTs.

I've seen those but was uncertain what to think of them. Your positive experience and recommendation increases my confidence in that option.

FWIW you can count me among the fans of Gary Russell's offerings! I used them often with my MK66 at f12. The only issue with using them is that you need to have minimal ambient light or a hood. The Super Plossls are especially nice since they are the 2-1-2 Masuyama / Zeiss Astroplan design, not really Plössl. I'm considering the König offerings. It's a design I favor and my younger daughter has taken all of mine.

[Lady Fraktor]

+3 for the Russell eyepieces, the Plossl and Konig I borrowed while in Canada were quite good.
I would not hesitate to purchase them.

[Bigzmey]

2" 50-56mm Plossl is nice to have for a slow scope. However, if you are in US I would pick Garry Russell 2" EPs over Celestron/Meade anytime.

http://russell-optics.com/two_inch.html

I have his 50mm and 56mm Super Plossls. Well made and perform nicely in my SCTs.

I've seen those but was uncertain what to think of them. Your positive experience and recommendation increases my confidence in that option.

FWIW you can count me among the fans of Gary Russell's offerings! I used them often with my MK66 at f12. The only issue with using them is that you need to have minimal ambient light or a hood. The Super Plossls are especially nice since they are the 2-1-2 Masuyama / Zeiss Astroplan design, not really Plössl. I'm considering the König offerings. It's a design I favor and my younger daughter has taken all of mine.

I have made for them eyeguards from 3mm black crafting foam sheet. They block the stray light and help to maintain the right eye position.