FAKE? Celestron Omni Barlow
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- IMPORTANT!!
UPDATE ON THIS BARLOW : • Is It Or Isn't It???? ...
Seems like there "might" be some Fake Celescton Barlows floating around various buy and sell sites. Is this true? and more importantly have I bought, reviewed and recommended one by accident. May need some help on this one folks.
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Celestron Omni Barlow Unboxing: • Celestron Omni 2X Barl...
Hi Jason, nice video and discussion about the topic. I have the same model than yours: black threaded cell lenses. I have the full Celestron Omni eyepiece series kit and 2x barlow boughted from an official Celestron dealer in Brazil. Even with the threaded black cell, all other barlow components and lenses match the quality, coatings and finish standards in the eyepiece kit. It's impossible to find the silver model in any Brazilian site or dealer. I asked to my dealer about it and he said that this threaded type of manufacturing was made to allow DSLR astrophotographers put the filter on barlows instead in the camera body. It is cheaper to build too.
Hi AstronoMinas, Thank you. Yes that makes sense. After doing some investigation on the matter I'm pretty sure that's all they have done is just changed the housing. What you say makes perfect sense. Take care friend.
Wouldn't worry about it, they all come out of the same factory in china and sold under different names with slightly different hiusings like the Skywatcher x2 Deluxe Barlow Lens, Orion Shorty Barlow 2X, Datyson 2X (not the black one but the one with black on top and bottom and silver in the middle with the removable bottom for 1.5X) and i believe SvBony have a 2X version of this and GSO 2X barlow lens.
There was a thread on a forum a few years ago that took them apart and they were all coated the same, same amount of elements and they all screwed onto each others top half extension tube (after the bottom lens cell was removed). Sometimes in astronomy, you are just paying for the name, like many celestron eyepieces sold under many other brand names (Omegon, TS-Optics).
The Baader Hyperion's are sold by Orion under the stratus label and i have the Celestron 5mm Ultima Duo, which is the exact same as the 5mm Hyperion/Stratus but was considerably less. The Baader Hyperions get a bad rap but the 5mm is a nice eyepiece, even at f5 but you rarely hear of anyone mention this focal length.
Not even the Chinese are going to waste money on building a factory to replicate a cheap barlow lens.
Just came across your channel after I saw some amazon reviews claiming it was fake, thank for your info. I'll be sharing your channel to all of our local club
Thank you my friend and you're welcome :)
Bought Celestron Omni 2×Barlow few days back from a reputed vendor at Mumbai...Same thing! Advertised on the site as the one with all silver body but got the one that you received. However it works perfectly well and the seller is a trusted name in India. I have full faith in him. I think Celestron might have changed the design recently but it stil is being shown as the older one on internet sites. No issues in performance of the lens ..So I guess, all is well.
Hello Himanshu, Don't worry my friend having done some research and a email to Celestron they are a genuine Celestron product. You are right, all they have done is change the design a little and added a filtet thread to the lens to cater better for astrophotography...I will be doing a update video soon. Take care friend enjoy your new barlow, clear skies :)
I think that they are coming from same factory, but in order to cover a larger kind of customers : skeptpical people will buy the most expensive thinking it's fake and less qualitative, "poor" people will buy the low cost one hoping it's good enought, "rich" don't care so they buy the expensive one and they'll be happy, then everybody is happy, all customers kind and manufacturers. They sold the same thing with a little difference to make customer think it's fake whereas it looks intentionnaly fake, but in the end, it's the same price to manufacture, and they sold 4x more, because they sold the "same" thing to more different kind of customers, at different prices. Sometime the strategy is to change the brand name, here, they use a different strategy.
But sometime, you'lll get bad surprise buying looking fake products... investigations before buying must be done.
Thank for your video, it opened my mind on this subject.
Great video, congratulations. I have a celestron omni barlow lens bought in China that cost me € 10. A friend has an original. One day we compared them. Visually at least, I didn't notice a difference.
Hello Eduardo, thank you friend. Having done a bit more research inc a email to Celestron, I can now confirm that they are genuine, all Celestron have done is change the housing a little to cater better for photography, the optics are still exactly the same....That's why you couldn't see a difference. I have done a update video if you are interested....Here's the link. Take care, clear skies... ruclips.net/video/ikSNezAKtcE/видео.html
@@smalloptics753 Tak mylśałem . Diękuje za link .Pozdrawiam i czystego nieba życzę.
This really helps a lot. How come only hundreds of subscribers. Should give you a trophy for your videos. Keep the good work and do more reviews👍🏿
Hello John, Thank you so much for your kind words. I only started to upload videos on this channel in August last year so it's still quite young, hopefully it will grow in time. Take care buddy, all the best for 2021.
Masz błąd w myśleniu . Astronomia to hobby dla wybranych hobbystów. Czy Ty myślisz , że astronomią to interesuje się każdy człowiek na Świecie ? Inni robią foografię, inni malują obrazy , inni piją piwo a jeszcze inni leżą i dłubią w nosie. Malarz czy stolarz tu nie zagląda. Ne wiem gdzie mieszkasz . Moje miasto ma 3 500 mieszkańców . Jest w nim tylko 2 osoby interesujące się astronomią. Ja i mój kolega. O innych nic nie wiem bo pewnie ich nie ma. Tu nie są ważni subskrybenci , Tu ważne jest przekazywanie i dzielenie się doświadczeniem i wiedzą. Dobrze będzie jak się ddatkowo zarobi trochę pienędzy .
Hello friend. I have that Omni Barlow lens. It was my first Barlow. If this is a good or bad barlow, well it depends of the use and the quality of your scope. In my case I was used this model in visual with Mak90 and 127, the results are very good, my scopes are for begginers fans. My advise is, if you have a begginer telescope, this Barlow lens it is enough buy if you have an expensive and big scope and high quality eyepieces this lens is not the best option for them. Regards from Nicaragua
Hi from Costa Rica, Jason! I have a theory here, let me share it with you: I noticed these small "differences" between fully priced- official site things, and the ones selled in the two most famous China online stores. I have bought several "fake" things and compared them hand in hand with the "original" ones, and unlike your barlow, find NO difference but the lack of the orignal name branded on the cheapest. I am talking about real leather wristbands for famous smart watch, and other things that you can clearly see and feel they have no differences in the making. MY CONCLUSSION: pretty much everthing is made in China these days, this is the world factory now whether some people like or not. Perhaps factories with the official international brand contract to manufacture those "official" items (and this is my "conspiracy theory" hehe) might get surplus lots and change something here and there, or just do not brand them as the "original" as to be able to sell them on their own, without direct legal issues??? Most online selles in these two big chinese online stores are direct factories anyway.
Hello Beleghan, your quite right, a lot of things are made in China these days both Celestron and Skywatcher products are made in China.....It turns out that they are not fake all they have done is change the housing a little and added a filter thread....Turns out is all one of those internet rumours... I have done a update video on this subject ..Take care :)
Checked with celestron. It's a later model.
My Celestron OMNI 2x Barlow was purchased in 2010, and the labeling on the tube reads that it was manufactured in Taiwan. It has the gray colored lens cell without filter threads.
Hello Dan, I'm beginning to think that all they have done is change the cell housing to a black one, could be wrong though, it's still up for debate.
Hi Jason. I too ended up purchasing 'fake' omni Barlow ! But the brick and mortar vendor also sold me Celestron 100Az telescope ! Now I don't know what to think ?!!
The silver lens cell is the older model barlow that was built in Taiwan. The black lens cell version is the newer model from China
That is a genuine Celestron Omni Barlow. It is not a fake. I have the very same one, bought direct from Celestron.
Check the celestron website. Celestron show the one with the black base end, not the silver one.
Thanks edcar61, I have done a update video on this barlow, it turns out the black ones first appeared on wish.com and some folks put 2+2 together and got 5....it's all just one of those internet rumours....The black lens ones are genuine, all Celestron have done is change the housing a little, the optics are exactly the same as the silver one.
On the celestron website it now looks like the one you received so it appears they updated the model and you got a newer one very early!
Hi Jason, Just bought this lens. If it is a fake then Amazon is selling fakes, which I doubt very much.
Awesome Review Jason..You Explained The Correct Value Of The Barlow. !! I believe The One Which Is Black is Fake because Single Element Lens. Anyways Clear Skies🪐🔭👍
Edit: Congratulations For Your 100 Subscriber Milestone..Keep Pushing Those Video's👍
Hey Cosmos, thanks pal, The single element lens was out of another barlow not the Celestron, I was just using that one as an example of what I thought would be in a fake. The Celestron does have a double element in it, the double lens I show in the close up is out of the Celestron :)
@@smalloptics753 Thanks A Lot Buddy..Clear Skies..I Will have To Look For One Of These
Hi, sorry about my English. I wrote in the previous video that your Barlow lens was fake for a reason.
(There are genuine Barlow lenses with the black and silver Lens cell).
The Lens cell must not have a filter screw!
If it has a filter thread it is a fake. Celestron does not manufacture Barlow Omni with filter threads.
I think your Barlow lens has a filter thread, but I'm not sure.
Hello Carlos, Thank you for commenting again. As I say in the video, I accidentally deleted your last comment, sorry about that. Yes the barlow I bought does have a filter thread on it, you say that these are fake, if you don't mind me asking how did you come by this information. Any search I do on the subject draws a blank can't find anything on it. Would appreciate any help. Thank you again Carlos for your input. Take care buddy.
@@smalloptics753 Hello again. I write from Spain, so please forgive my English.
I'm sending you the link of where I saw the fake barlow celestron onmi lenses.
The link is in Spanish, you will have to translate it.
www.espacioprofundo.com/topic/33532-aliexpress-barlow-celestron-omni-falsificadas/
@@caff70 Thank you Carlos I appreciate that, you have been a big help. Take care friend.
This very same Barlow is on the Celestron's official website, so it is actually authentic and genuine.
I have the same Celestron branded, black tipped Barlow, bought from AliExpress for £11.93 including postage.
At the price, I was expecting a poor quality knock-off, but like yours, it seems to have coated lenses and perform perfectly OK. 😶
I have no idea whether they're just "out of the back door" of the factory that makes the Celestron Barlows, whether it an older/newer model, or whether it's just a shadily branded product from elsewhere.
I'd love to compare with a "known good" Celestron lens, but I have a Meade 3x and it doesn't seem any worse optically than that. 🤷♂️
Either way, for just over a tenner, I'm not unhappy .
Wouldn't worry about it one bit. This is what you find now on Celestron's site.
Everyone are probably buying them from the same manufacturer with different tube style or engraving.
I bought one of these via eBay (Australia) and cost me $25 AUD. Even if fake, for the price it does the job (I only use it on my Celestron C5) I have a few others for my C11. But like others have said. They all come from the same factory anyway. Oh I bought some SVBONY gear and all of it has black crap on the lens/mirrors. Total let down (2 diagonals and 4 eye pieces and now all sent back)
Rather a fake Celestron over the SVBONY gear
The Omni Barlow in your hand looks identical to the one sold on Celestron's website.
It's likely that Celestron simply updated the design and changed manufacturers. Since the form, fit, and function are identical, they don't legally have to change the part number, iirc. It probably would have been a good idea to call it the Omni 2.0 or v2 or something like that, but as long as it fits and performs the same or better, who are we to complain? LOL! BTW, I'm new to the channel and learning a lot. I just picked up a Celestron DX130 Starsense Explorer (got a great deal 2nd hand but new in the box) as my first scope. And I actually have one of these barlows on the way from Amazon. Haha!
Hello Dave, Having done a bit of research on this that is exactly what's happend. Celestron have just changed the housing to cater better for astrophotography by adding a filter thread. So it's looking like it's genuine after all. The Celestron DX is a great starter scope, nice and simple to use. It's nice when you find a bargin on astro stuff, I got my Skywatcher 130 Boxed all accessories and motor for £70...What a steal :) Enjoy your new scope and barlow buddy. Take care, clear skies.
Your video was very helpful to me, thank you!
Your welcome friend :)
My celestron omni Barlow looks just like the supposed fake. When I went to the celestron web site the picture for the omni is just like the supposed fake. Either the all silver ones are fakes or the company changed the build to black frame lens housing for improvement. I believe they’re both real, just the silver was older build. The proof is the Celestron website itself.
thanks for your videos. very helpful
There are trolls claiming things are fake when they aren't just to be disruptive. That might be what happened here.
Hello William, yes that's exactly whats happend, I wrote to Celestron and they have comfirmed that they are genuine all they have done is change the housing a little to cater better for photography. Stay safe, clear skies :)
It's real. Latest model.
It's on the website so it's probably not fake.
I just ordered a 15mm fully coated plossl eyepiece from eBay it was only 16.99 pounds plus 3 pounds postage.all the rest are 30 40 pounds so makes me think it must be fake.it is advertised as new so who knows!
I've found the 1.25" Skywatcher x2 Deluxe Achromatic Barlow Lens preformed better.
I bought this barlow here in cn. They run about $10.00.
I have the same omni barlow and I bought it from B&H Photo. I do NOT believe it is a fake.
Na Aliexpress także piszą , że to podróbka. Myślę , że robi to jedna fabryka ale sprzedaje różym pośrednikom pod innymi nazwami . Zamów u ich 10 000 szuk Barlow, to wyprodukują je pod nazwą na przykład ,,Small Optics "
I had the same issue in recent times looking for the Celestron Omni 2x barlow. On retail sites it costs between £55-£60 and on Ebay I noticed the very cheap ones from China with long delivery times. I also had a feeling there might be fakes due to the slight difference in appearance with the black bottom. I won one on Ebay this week paying £40 including shipping and turned up today, looks very well put together but not used it yet. Guessing it might be fake as looks identical to your one? As far as I know even the real Celestron stuff is made in China anyway.
Hello James, If you have bought one don't worry...Having done a little research and a quick email to Celestron , I now know that they are genuine, all they have done is simply change the housing a little and also added a filter thread on the lens cell. I will be doing a update video very soon to put this one to bed. Take care buddy, and enjoy your new barlow :)
Hi Jason, I have just purchased a "genuine " one of eBay, they supposedly fake 1 stood out a mile to me, 1 it's a diffrent design, 2 it's shipped from China and 3 its way too cheap.
But I suppose fake or not fake, if its a great value Barlow for the money, then surely that's all that matters.
£21 for that spec is great value, prehaps it's me that is paying over the odds and getting the bad deal ha ha.
Thanks for your review, I think I will buy the fake one, I have found it at 11€ on Alibaba...from the comments looks like even if it is a fake it is good
With all that rambling on before getting to the point, I was expecting a casserole recipe.
Dose it really matter if its fake or not ,u r very happy with the performance and the quality its actually a very helpful video as I like a lot of people c these on Ebay and didn't purchase it as I was thinking its was a fake and will be rubbish as it literally 1/2 the price but after ur review on how good it is i will be getting one along with a couple eyepieces and save myself around £100 in the process.👍 I guess the shop has to make a profit and celestron but I'll spend the £100 better 😂
Hello Andrew, Having done some research on this, what I found is it is NOT a fake. All celestron have done is change the housing to cater better for astrophotography. Hope you enjoy your new purchases. Take care, clear skies.
@@smalloptics753 that's even better then genuine celestron 50% off 👌😀 thank you the skies r clear but its too cold for me to venture out not hard core enough yet 🤣
That's the same barrel as the OMNI 15mm i got free with my first scope in 2009 Not bad for £15 value as a freebie on a £130 scope.
The optics you describe match too. So i'd say it is genuine.
Apparently they are not fake. Style is different and share the same box. Works well. I have no issue.
Hello Station2066. Yes I agree, having done a little bit of research I think that is exactly what has happened.
I don't think you are aware that many common telescope accessories like this are all made side by side in the same factory with the same workers and the same tooling. The products are then bought up by different vendors who pay the producer or a third party to label it with the vendor's name and package it. The retail price for the same item is based mainly on the buyer's perception of what the value should be when comparing company C to company M or O, and so on. It kind of puts a different perspective on what fake actually means. Is the vendor selling a product for 3 times the cost of the same item sold by another vendor selling a fake or just taking a higher profit to absorb his higher marketing costs? And what happens to the out of spec products that are made? If they get bought up by a low end vendor, are they fake or just a bargain? Clearly products that are labeled from a vendor, but not actually sold by the vendor are fakes, but they could still be the same product - in other words a grey market product. This is why legitimate reviews based on performance are needed, not just a casual inspection of an item.
I am perfectly aware of how it all works, Celestron are based in California, all Celestron products are manufactured at Synta Tecnology Taiwan, my concern is, is this barlow from said facrtory or a non legit one. That would make this barlow a FAKE. Btw I have done a thorough visual test not just a casual inspection.
Just wondering whether it would be worth producing such small quantities of fakes.i could understand if it was a fake Rolex or a Tag,but somebody sidling up to you saying "psst,i've got a barlow if you're interested!"really?
Hello Geoffrey. Hehe that was my original thought to, but I had to check it out... And yes it is all just a internet rumour... I have done a update video on this subject.. Take care.
I have the Barlow you have, came from China as well. I also bought a omni 12mm eyepiece after that which also came from China. What are your thoughts on that? The quality of both are really good and both came box as celestron covered in Chinese writing.
I have also noticed my Barlow does not have a filter thread on it.
Hi Marc. I''m still not 100% sure that the threaded barlow ( the one I have) is fake or not, like you say optically they are really good and mine too came in an official Celestron packaging, so I'm still scratching my head over this one. So far I haven't heard anything on fake omni eyepieces so you should be ok on that one. I will do a update video if I here anymore on the subject. Take care friend, clear skies.
I’m happy with mine anyway, as far as I’m concerned there excellent. I’ll stay tuned for more.
I am a rookie amateur astronomer, but if the so called fake performs precisely like the real thing I would say, "What's the difference?".
I would then refrain from worrying about it and would keep on using it. Even if it turns out to be a knock off copy, but there really isn't any discernable difference, I would say, "Go with your pocketbook philosophy". Some folks do not understand what that means, but it is really simple. Are you like the kid who couldn't get his hand out of the coconut with the Snickers bar or like the kid who let the Snickers go and shook it out of the coconut? If it works why pay more for the real when the fake is the real?
for omni barlows, the black one is genuine. I dont know what the silver one is? you can look on celestron's website. celestron.com/products/omni-2x-barlow-lens-125in
Can you screw filter in that barlow? I want to buy it and observe moon with it and filter but i don't know if you can screw that in or you screw it in the lens you put in barlow? And sorry for the mistakes if i made one but dob't speak englisch well😅
Ne da się wkręcić filtra do tego Barlowa. Filtr wkręcasz do okularu i dopiero wkładasz do barlowa
just subscribed to your channel, i have the genuine omni barlow with the black coating and it does not have a filter thread. But thats not to say your one is fake as they may have used a different housing for the lens. To me the barlow you have is just fine 🔭👍
Hello Frack Centurion, thank you for your support buddy. Yes, bit of a head scratcher this one, some people thinks it's fake some don't, I'm still not 100% sure. There is nothing wrong with the build quality or the image quality. That was my initial thought that they had just used a different housing on the lens cell. I will eventually buy the "genuine" one and do a comparison video to see what's what. Thake care pal, thanks for your comment.
@@smalloptics753 if it was fake the element lens would be of bad quality, the one you have is up to spec. cheers bro 🔭👍
Seems a strange thing to fake! How much money would you make faking Barlow Lenses pretty much a niche market,cost you more to make them than what you'd make selling them.I have one really cheap 3x Barlow and I think that the lenses is plastic but I've never taken it apart.
Have you tried contacting Celestron directly?
Hello David, no I haven't, I was going to until i saw the same barlow for sale on some reputable astro suppliers. A lot of people are saying that Celestron just changed the housing to this new black one , and to be honest with the quality of the optics (which are good ) that is what I am beginning to think has happend...Still, a quick email to celestron is probably a good idea to put the matter to bed once and for all. Take care friend, all the best for 2021.
I just ordered one from China for $18 free shipping.
Fake or not, works fine for me!! 😅
Aren't many telescopes and eye pieces manufactured in china as a chinese company owns both celestron and skywatcher
Hello Wali, Yes that's true, both Celestron and Skywatcher are manufactured in china, but having looked a little deeper into this, it appears that there are some none genuine Celestron products out there, mainly on, Ali Express, Wish, and Ebay. So my advice is "Purchase anything astronomical from a reputable astro supplier."
i've paid the fake one only 8 euros on Aliexpress instead of 45 euros in Italy...i think is not original but i have to admit that it performs very well, seems to be APO or at least semiAPO. And differently from cheap oculars and barlows, this one fits the focuser perfectly
Hello Francesco, Yes I agree, it does perform well if it is a fake, I'm surprised Celestron hasn't done something about it, surely they must know about it.
E Bay , where your hard earned money gets lost .
Hello Tom. Yes usually the case. It turns out now that I've done more research on the matter, that it's all just a internet rumor, all celestron have done is change the housing a little to cater better for astrophotography.
Hi i cancelled mine after hearing it could be a fake ,then found out its not so i reordered using another seller which i am not too proud of but it was £5 cheaper so all ended well Every egg a bird as they say ,best wishes Brian