The Celestron X-Cel LX 7mm and 9mm 60° FOV eyepieces are relatively inexpensive for what they are. They feel well made and are ergonomically easy to handle in the dark and the cold. The treaded rubber grip is partly responsible for this. The image quality they give is sharp and bright, although I’ve only used these for lunar and planetary observing using magnifications between 200x, 250x and 257x. I could detect no ghosting, glaring or edge of field brightness.



Similar in appeal to the TeleVue DeLite series but around a quarter of the cost. The X-Cel LX doesn’t quite have the Abbe orthoscopic-like high contrast views the DeLite has become renown for but it is still a very capable eyepiece. They respond well to being used in conjunction with a Barlow with no discernible vignetting that I could notice. Regardless of what Celestron claim on their homepage these X-Cel LX eyepieces actually have draw tube filter threads. These accept standard M28.5x0.6 filters (like Baader and GSO). The draw tube safety undercut is shallow and effective without causing any real problems on insertion or extraction into a diagonal or adaptor with a brass compression ring. The twist up eyecup is easy and pleasant to use and one of the only eyecups of its type I actually like. Celestron claim a 16mm eye relief for both eyepieces, which seems about right. The individual eyepieces themselves come with very useful plastic bolt cases.



The 2x Barlow is equally as well made and features a compression ring. It is apochromatic and I’m pretty sure the Barlow element can be unscrewed. The Barlow also features a filter thread. Although I thought the set screw could have been a bit firmer in feel when tightened, it certainly works alright though and that’s just a personal view.



I have observed Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and the Moon with these eyepieces and they do seem like they should cost far more than they usually retail at. Some believe the same optics are employed in the Meade Series 5000 HD-60, and there are a lot of similarities between the two series. It’s difficult to say for sure who the OEM is, or if they are exactly the same, especially as some of the focal lengths are different. The Celestron X-Cel LX eyepieces and Barlow I’ve used have really impressed me anyway. I wholeheartedly recommend them.