Celestron Ultima 7.5mm

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Brand and Model:Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
Price ($USD):$79.50
Type:Plossl
Focal Length:7.5 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:51.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:3 mm
Elements:5
Weight (lbs):0.3
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
Found a good price on one of these even though I already had a Tak 7.5mm LE. It gave me a chance to do a side-by-side which in some ways surprised me.
Naturally, the eye relief on the LE was more comfortable, I expected that, but without glasses the Ultima was quite acceptable. Next I checked the field of view. Again I gave a slight edge to the LE. I've had friends tell me this particular LE felt larger than the stated 52 degrees AFOV but the Ultima wasn't much narrower, just a little. Sorry I can't be more specific than that. I'd guess 50 - 51 deg.
What surprised me was the on-axis sharpness and light-pass. I had to give the nod to the Ultima! On a number of targets I was getting a cleaner image and picking up fainter detail with the Ultima. Again, the difference was slight but real.
I ended up selling the LE and haven't missed it a bit. It's unfortunate Celestron no longer sells these but perhaps the Orion/Antares/Parks versions are worthy substitutes.
Recommended.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=584729

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
I buy mine in 1996, and since then it's my default med-high power EP. Short eye relief, but acceptable without glasses, sharp with good to very good contrast. Perhaps not as high transmission as other similar EPs (Plössl or Ortho), but optically speaking, the only defect of this EP, because contrast and colour rendition are excellent.
Even in f/5 scopes, it has really good off axis performance, but real AFOV was only 49º or so, not the 51-52º published. However, a really good value and consistent optical performance. If don't work well in some scope, perhaps the fault is in scope itself.
Tested in f/5 and f/10 refractors, f/5, f/6 and f/8 newtonians and f/10 SCT and Maks. Works well at every focal ratio, with no preference for slow cones.
I rate it at 9 because premium EPs really work better, but not twice or more better.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:9
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=71369

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
Optics: Sharp and contrasty BUT I find that I almost never use it. The eye lens is small, the FOV is tiny enough to matter to you and there is not a lot of eye relief. It is much more comfortable to use a premium optic (for example, a Radian) or a longer focal length lens with a barlow. For example, I find that I am always passing over the Celestron for a UO40 Mk-70 w/ 4x powermate or 5mm Radian.

Positives? The Celestron eye cup is nice and is 100% required given the eye relief.

Value: These lenses run ~$70 versus $240 for a radian or $280 for a nagler. I purchased due to good reviews on this site and others, but now think that you get what you pay for: in this case you pay a lot less and get a second rate lens. Don't short change yourself. Not recommended.

Overall Rating: 5
Optics:5 Value:6
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=133920

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
I now generally use my 6.4mm Siebert Star Splitter instead of the 7.5mm Ultima due to longer eye relief, slightly wider AFOV, and a bigger eye lens. However, that cost $20 extra and gives no increase in sharpness, contrast or color balance. An outstanding EP if you don't mind the short eye relief and small eye lens.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=559709

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
I'm using my Ultima on a Pentax 75/500mm Apo, which due to it's short focus and inherit sharpness is fairly critical on eyepieces. The Ultima performs exellent when considering it's really cheap. It knokc's the socks out of most other eyepieces in the same range and price class, and are keeping up nicely with other contemporary pieces, costing twice as much.
Fairly short eye relief is the only drawback, but most of us can live with that.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=96664

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
Sharp, contrasty, excellent veiws on planets, shaw the fifth star in M42 trapizium on a bad night in the midwest through my TV102. short eye relief normally would make me rate this a 9, however, unfair reveiws by others inclind me to step it up to a ten. It has sharper optics than two 7mm Naglers i have owned that cost twice the price. Down rating EP's because of AFOV and eye relief and not considering the cost is probably unfair when all those facts are know before the purchase.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=71136

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
I can not comment on the expensive eyepieces. This eyepiece is a great value. Sharp images. No problem with the eye relief.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=56337

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
While the eye relief is a little short, the 7.5mm has proven to be outstanding eyepiece for my viewing - planet & binary viewing. The outstandingly sharp and contrasty views to the edge are a boon for my targets. The color correction is also quite pleasing as well. BTW, I measured its apparent FOV several times by star drift. The tests gave an average figure of 49 degrees. So I'm puzzled over some of the complaints about the Ultima 7.5mm being narrow, its certainly much wider than my Orthoscopic collection.
Steve McGettigan
mcgettis@peak.org

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42500

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
Sharp and bright, high contrast image. be prepared for eyelash rubbing while in use. I think I should have paid more and gotten something with more eye relief...

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42499

Celestron Ultima 7.5mm
Excellent sharpness and contrast at high magn. I use it on a small apo on planets, moon sun & doubles. Eye relife short, yes, but no problem for a non spect. wearer. Absolute a bargin

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=42498

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