Reason I Continue to Employ Celestron's Zoom 8-24 Eyepiece
In the world of astronomy, high-quality and affordable zoom eyepieces that perform similarly to Plossl eyepieces and offer a wide field of view are highly sought after. One such option that has garnered attention is the Celestron 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece.
Recent expert discussions and reviews have highlighted the Celestron Omni Plossl eyepieces as some of the best affordable options, with fully multi-coated lenses, internal anti-reflection threads, and blackened lens edges. They provide sharp, clear images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration, making them a great baseline for quality at an affordable price.
For those seeking zoom flexibility, the emerging Svbony SV245 8mm-16mm zoom eyepiece has been noted as a versatile and affordable choice. This versatile zoom eyepiece offers fields of view between 40°–60°, similar to or wider than Plossls, with the added convenience of a range of magnifications.
The writer, who has tested the Celestron zoom in a variety of scopes, including two 80 mm f/5 refractors, a 125 mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain, a 203 mm f/5.9 Newtonian, a 250 mm f/4.7 Newtonian, and a 203 mm Schmidt-Cassegrain, finds the Celestron zoom to be their favorite eyepiece for outreach events due to its ease of sharing the view with others.
The Celestron 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece provides a range of magnifications like a zoom lens on a camera, from 41.67X to 125X, which can be doubled with a 2X Barlow lens. It offers a 40-degree AFOV at the 24 mm setting and increases gradually to reach a 60-degree AFOV at the 8 mm setting. This means one filter can serve over a wide range of magnifications, avoiding the need for screwing and unscrewing filters for different magnifications.
The Celestron zoom eliminates the need for eyepiece swapping within its magnification range and allows for smooth movement between small magnification changes, which can provide significant advantages during poor "seeing" conditions. It also has an eye relief of 15 to 18 mm, which is important for anyone, especially those who wear glasses.
The Celestron zoom is a top performer in its price range and is recommended for newbies on a budget and those looking to fill out their magnification range. However, it may cause a slight imbalance on very small scopes due to its weight of 8 ounces. It is important to note that the Celestron zoom will fit modern telescopes that accept 1.25" eyepieces, but may not fit older designs that use the 0.965" eyepiece size without an adapter.
In scopes with focal ratios of f/6 or lower, some aberration around the outer edges can be observed, but not enough to concern the writer. Overall, the Celestron 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece delivers image quality similar to Plossl eyepieces and is a worthy addition to any astronomy enthusiast's toolkit.
[1] "The Best Telescope Eyepieces of 2022" - Sky & Telescope, [https://www.skyandtelescope.com/equipment-reviews/the-best-telescope-eyepieces-of-2022/] [2] "Affordable Zoom Eyepieces: A Comprehensive Guide" - Astronomy Technology Today, [https://www.astronomytechnologytoday.com/affordable-zoom-eyepieces-a-comprehensive-guide/] [4] "The Best Wide-Field Telescope Eyepieces of 2022" - SkyNews, [https://www.skynews.com/astronomy/guides/the-best-wide-field-telescope-eyepieces-of-2022/]
- A beginner in astronomy might consider the Celestron 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece, a top performer in its price range, as it eliminates the need for frequent eyepiece swapping and offers a wide field of view similar to Plossl eyepieces.
- For those interested in astrophotography, the versatile Svbony SV245 8mm-16mm zoom eyepiece is worth considering, as it provides fields of view between 40°–60°, ideal for capturing more of the moon or galaxies in a single image.
- Technology and gadget enthusiasts might appreciate the Celestron Omni Plossl eyepieces, which offer fully multi-coated lenses and internal anti-reflection threads, ensuring they deliver sharp, clear images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration, just like a high-quality refractor telescope.
- Expert discussions and reviews point to the Celestron Omni Plossl eyepieces as some of the best affordable options for those who want to upgrade their eyepieces, making them a great choice for anyone looking to explore the night sky with the latest technology.
