Gear Lab

Scopes, eyepieces, mounts, and accessories explained without the hype.

Gear Lab · Oct 10, 2026 · 7 min

Is the Celestron 93326 Omni Barlow Lens Worth It in 2026?

A spec-based review of the Celestron 93326 Omni 2x Barlow Lens: what doubling magnification actually changes, 1.25-inch compatibility, and who it suits, per Celestron's own product page and the Amazon listing.

Read the entry →

Gear Lab · Oct 10, 2026 · 7 min
Is the Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Worth It in 2026?
A spec-based review of the Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian: aperture, the StarSense app mechanism, included eyepiece, and who it suits, per Celestron's own product page and the Amazon listing.
Gear Lab · Oct 10, 2026 · 7 min
Guide to the Stars 16" vs Turn Left at Orion: Which Should I Buy in 2026?
A comparison of the Guide to the Stars 16" planisphere and Turn Left at Orion: what each one actually does, latitude and hemisphere coverage, and which problem each solves, per their publishers' own pages and the Amazon listings.
Gear Lab · Oct 10, 2026 · 7 min
Is the Guide to the Stars 16" Worth It in 2026?
A spec-based review of the Guide to the Stars 16" planisphere: latitude coverage, what's printed on the chart, and who it suits, per Ken Press's own product page and the Amazon listing.
Gear Lab · Oct 10, 2026 · 9 min
SkyMaster Pro 20x80 vs 15x70 Pro: Which Should I Buy in 2026?
A spec comparison of Celestron's SkyMaster Pro 20x80 and Pro 15x70 binoculars, plus the gap between the Pro 15x70 and the standard SkyMaster 15x70 this page's Amazon link actually covers, per Celestron's own product pages and the Amazon listing.
Gear Lab · Sep 5, 2026 · 10 min
How to Collimate a Newtonian Telescope: Cap, Cheshire, Laser, Star Test
Secondary first, then primary, then a star. A step-by-step Newtonian collimation walkthrough with the tolerance math that explains why a fast f/5 tabletop needs checking every session while an f/5.9 solid tube holds for weeks.

Field-kit favorites

The short list — see the full ranking on the field kit page.

Sky-Watcher Flextube 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Collapsible Large Aperture
$739.00
Check price
Celestron 93326 Omni Barlow Lens
$41.95
Check price
Sky-Watcher Classic 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Telescope – Solid-Tube –
$629.00
Check price

A note in good faith: some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we may earn a commission when you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. It never changes the price you pay.

31 guides logged

19 instruments vetted

1,334 reader price checks