Celestron luminos review
All Luminos eyepieces are multi-coated to improve light transmission through the multiple lenses, which means a better image on the eye, and the edges of the lenses are blackened to improve contrast.
The Luminos eyepieces look great and feel like a well-built, robust and professional range. On the trail, on the job site, in the classroom, or just sitting at home relaxing – the Celestron Elements ThermoTank 3 will keep your hands toasty. In terms of sharpness and color, the Luminos performed equal to the other two eyepieces in both the refractor and reflector.
In the last few years, Celestron has come out with a new series of telescope eyepieces they call Luminos, which are their high-end eyepieces. Which is great, but the most important thing is .
Celestron luminos review
For comparison, I tested the Luminos against two other 82° FOV 14mm eyepieces that were considerably more expensive than the Celestron eyepiece. The advantage of using single focal length eyepieces (like a Luminos eyepiece) is that you will be aware of what focal length you are using and can quickly identify what to use next. After realizing that I only like wide field eyepieces, and after realizing that I don’t have an infinite budget for glass, I decided to take a look at the Luminos series. On the road, in the workplace, in the classroom, or just sitting at home relaxing – the Celestron Elements ThermoTank 3 will keep your hands warm.
Considering their respective quality at their very affordable and reasonable price, these are excellent eyepieces for your telescope. All eyepieces in the Celestron Luminous range have a multi-coating, which is the best you can get. All eyepieces in the Celestron Luminos range have a full multi-coating, which is the best you can get. The Luminos eyepieces look great and feel like a well built, robust and professional range.
Coating
All eyepieces in the Celestron Luminos range have a full multi-coating, which is the best you can get. The Apparent Field of View, sometimes expressed as AFOV, provides a rough guide to the amount of sky you will be able to see. The AFOV is going to be considerably wider than if you use a normal 8mm Plossl eyepiece, for example. In terms of sharpness and color, the Luminos performed as well as the other two eyepieces in both the refractor and reflector.
I recommend them to anyone who wants to extend their magnification, especially if you like to move quickly through magnification at speed and want to overcome the problem of refocusing. I have all the Luminos eyepieces except the 31mm, plus I got the 10mm and 15mm for a binoviewer when they were heavily discounted on Amazon. In the last few years, Celestron has come out with a new series of eyepieces they call Luminos, which are their high-end eyepieces. So the 7mm Luminos eyepiece gives you 12mm eye relief compared to the 31mm eyepiece which gives you 27mm of eyepiece.
So the 7mm Luminos eyepiece gives you 12mm eye relief compared to the 31mm eyepiece which gives you 27mm of eyepiece. For backyard astronomers who want to up their game, I highly recommend the Celestron Luminos eyepieces. All eyepieces in the Luminos range have a rubber gripper for easy handling in cold or wet conditions. It will all depend on preference, but for the most part, all Luminos eyepieces offer you a comfortable and ideal eye relief range.
Cost
If you can’t afford to buy more than one or two eyepieces, you can replace the extra pieces with the Luminos 2.5x barlow lens. This is all well and good, but the most important thing is . Eyepiece field stop diameter ÷ focal length of the telescope) x 57.3°. Eyepiece relief refers to the distance you will need to position your eye from the lens to ensure you benefit from the full field of view.
All six Luminos eyepieces are parfocal, which means you can change eyepieces during observing sessions without focusing. Most Celestron telescopes have come with Celestron brand eyepieces, but Celestron has not been known for being a leading innovator in eyepieces as it has been with telescopes.
As he says, “Anyone looking for a set of wide FOV parafocal eyepieces that won’t break the bank should consider Celestron’s Luminos eyepieces.” Celestron’s range of Luminos Wide Field of View eyepieces are ideal for both new and experienced astronomers looking to upgrade the quality of their eyepieces, or invest in an ultra-wide field of view for the first time, without spending a fortune.
The following table can be used as a “rough estimate” of the magnifications that can be achieved using the Luminos range of eyepieces on a telescope with focal lengths of 750mm, 1000mm and 1250mm. They all have a wide field of view (FOV) of 82°, which intrigued me to see how they compared to other 82° eyepieces.
Eyepiece Range
Celestron’s Luminous eyepiece range is their ultra-wide field eyepiece range, with an apparent field of view of 82°. A rubber grip runs along the equator of the eyepiece, providing a secure grip and an easy method of raising and lowering the retractable eyepiece.
All Luminos eyepieces are multi-coated to improve light transmission through the multiple lenses, which means a better image on the eye, and the edges of the lenses are blackened to improve contrast. The optical assembly consists of six or seven elements (depending on the model) and is fully coated for crisp, sharp views. Celestron has designed its Luminos 15mm eyepiece to give you a comfortable 82° field of view, and has made the entire series parfocal, allowing you to swap it out for other Luminos eyepieces without having to adjust the focus. This effect may go unnoticed by most Luminos users who, unlike me, would not compare eyepieces of different brands.
The Sum Up
Like most of Celestron’s current products, the Luminos eyepieces are adorned with some traditional Celestron orange trim. The Luminos series eyepieces offer a wide 82° field of view in both high and low power models, allowing you to get the most out of your telescope, whether you own a short, fast refractor or a Celestron EdgeHD telescope.
I decided to try the 19mm Luminos as it was in between sizes of other 82° FOV eyepieces from other brands that I own. Anyone looking for a set of wide FOV parafocal eyepieces that won’t break the bank should consider a Celestron Luminos eyepiece. The Luminos eyepieces look great and feel like a well-built, rugged, professional range.