Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've been an amateur astronomer for over 50 years. Plus, I've tested and reviewed telescopes, accessories, and eyepieces for major companies, so I'm pretty sure I know what to look for and recommend. There's good and bad stuff out there, and it isn't always easy for novices to get a grip on the difference, without either using an item, or finding an accurate report about it. First of all folks, please know that a "lens" is the glass on the business-end of a refractor telescope, or the optic on your CAMERA. The thing you attach to a telescope is called an "EYEPIECE" -- not a "lens". Secondly, any "set" of eyepieces is generally going to be 90 percent useless. That's because most of the higher powered eyepieces in the set will only get used once or twice -- until you finally realize that high powers are only useful on a telescope if you're in a VERY DARK LOCATION, with almost perfect sky conditions (an extremely rare combination!). These eyepieces are all 4-element Plossl's -- a very old and very basic design, but very tried-and-true for general observing. The 32mm is the best in the set, and probably the one you'll use the most. The 2X Barlow is of average quality, but can be very useful -- it'll turn the 32mm into a 16mm without cutting eye-relief (good, if you wear glasses). The Moon filter is a necessity if you want to do any lunar observing. Only one or two of the color filters will be useful. So what we have here, is one useful eyepiece, a 2X Barlow, a Moon filter, and a color filter or two -- for which you'd pay a lot less by purchasing just those items SEPERATELY. And if you shop smart, you'll find a high-quality 32mm Plossl and a 2X Barlow -- Televue for example, are hands-down the best production optics available! They're generally more expensive, but well worth the investment. Celestron makes excellent telescopes!! My 6SE is a remarkable piece of engineering, and has World Class optics. But I use eyepieces of World Class quality to complement it, and I get awesome results. [NOTE]: These are not Celestron's "Feature" eyepieces -- they are their "accessory" eyepieces, and like Meade's accessory EP's they are only of average quality, and are usually way overpriced, like most Meade/Celestron accessories. My advice is to save for a Televue 32mm or 25mm Plossl, ($110 to $135 online) and 2X Barlow, ($115) and buy a Moon filter online from a reputable dealer (Orion offers an excellent Moon filter [#05662] for about $15, which I've been using since 1997). It'll all work out to cost a little more, but you'll find that you'll actually use them. [NOTE]: I rarely use color-filters. But the ones I do use are the Orion #80A and #82A. You won't need much more for general observing. [TIP]: The best way to store and carry eyepieces, is in "Eyepiece Canisters" -- clear poly screw-top containers made for that purpose. They're available online (I get mine from Oceanside Photo & Telescope) for $2 to $3 each. Put them all in a backpack or travel bag, along with your red flashlight, dew heaters, gloves, and Lance crackers. Much easier!! Better yet, I use a shooter's Range Bag (from MidwayUSA). They have roomy external zippered pockets and internal compartments. Plus they're well padded. Perfect!! Celestron Accessory Kit NOT RECOMMENDED 2 Stars .