I just bought my first scope LXD-55 10" scmidt newt F-4. What barlow would work the best to bring in planets and deep space objects?? Help me someone. thanx Jim
what barlow would be best
Started by homewrecker395, 02/07/2006 02:12AM
Posted 02/07/2006 02:12AM
| Edited 02/07/2006 02:13AM
Opening Post
Posted 02/07/2006 07:20AM
#1
Posted 02/07/2006 12:15PM
#2
Very tough subject Jim. Depending on what size also?
In 2", my recommendation would be the Astro-Physics Barcon.
Very versatile, superb build quality, and optics. Brass Clamping Ring, and the Unit does unscrew, in that the Lens Unit can be placed in front of Camera Adapters, and the Main body can also serve double duty as an extension if you have some very low power eyepieces that have difficulty coming to focus, due to much out-focus needed.
I won't say that the Barcon was the best Barlow to ever be built, I'll reserve that title for the Zeiss Barlow, but the optics are superb, in that it doesn't seem to get in the way like cheaper barlows usually do. Mark
Posted 02/07/2006 03:18PM
#3
jim beck said:
I just bought my first scope LXD-55 10" scmidt newt F-4. What barlow would work the best to bring in planets and deep space objects?? Help me someone. thanx Jim
If you want a 1.25" barlow, the two best ones I've tried are a Clave 2x, and a TMB 1.8x.
On a 2", the best I've found so far is the AP Barcon.
Posted 02/07/2006 03:32PM
#4
Hi Jim,
Just my own personal experience, but...
this last year I've had STUNNING views of mars and Saturn (good quality telescopes/good quality eyepieces) with both celestron's 2X Ultima barlow, and U.O.'s 2.8X Klee barlow. Neither one is very expensive-$60 or so used-but both of them perform very well for me. Hope that is helpful for you!
Larry Seguin
Taos, New Mexico
Just my own personal experience, but...
this last year I've had STUNNING views of mars and Saturn (good quality telescopes/good quality eyepieces) with both celestron's 2X Ultima barlow, and U.O.'s 2.8X Klee barlow. Neither one is very expensive-$60 or so used-but both of them perform very well for me. Hope that is helpful for you!
Larry Seguin
Taos, New Mexico
Posted 02/09/2006 06:24PM
| Edited 02/09/2006 06:33PM
#5
Ramble mode on-
The general rule is: don't shop price on barlows.
Powermates are often regarded as about a good as it gets. Their extra (and real) optical engineering snazz costs extra.
Shorty barlows extend eyerelief to a greater degree than even normal barlows. This can be a real help when combined with simple design short focal length ep's that have tighter eyerelief! It may be a pain with low power ep's though. May. Shorty's combined with any ep that already has ample eyerelief can extend it even more and make eye position difficult and annoying.
Shorty barlows are a bit of a compromise. Generally work very well in any scope. But the concept was more specifically designed for use in star diagonals, where size/ weight issues can be a factor. Lots of us will own more than one type of scope, so they are a popular type of barlow.
Televue and Astrophysics make scopes that pretty much require star diagonals. But neither of these guys is marketing shorty barlows.
Don't shop price. : ) Used is one thing, especially from the classifieds here. Budget barlows are another.
I've had the oppurtunity to own four different units. From UO, Seibert, Vixen and Edmund. The shorter ones extended the eyerelief more than the longer ones, as expected. All work(ed) great with the simple three and four element plossls, konigs, orthos and rke's that I've combined them with. From the compact little Klee to the old school seven inch long Edmund. All are/were mid priced, very well performing barlows!
I often regret having sold the Klee. Haven't replaced though. Yet. Klee's really are sweet little units. Not exclusively, but especially in a small scope that's focal length challenged.
-end ramble.
The general rule is: don't shop price on barlows.
Powermates are often regarded as about a good as it gets. Their extra (and real) optical engineering snazz costs extra.
Shorty barlows extend eyerelief to a greater degree than even normal barlows. This can be a real help when combined with simple design short focal length ep's that have tighter eyerelief! It may be a pain with low power ep's though. May. Shorty's combined with any ep that already has ample eyerelief can extend it even more and make eye position difficult and annoying.
Shorty barlows are a bit of a compromise. Generally work very well in any scope. But the concept was more specifically designed for use in star diagonals, where size/ weight issues can be a factor. Lots of us will own more than one type of scope, so they are a popular type of barlow.
Televue and Astrophysics make scopes that pretty much require star diagonals. But neither of these guys is marketing shorty barlows.
Don't shop price. : ) Used is one thing, especially from the classifieds here. Budget barlows are another.
I've had the oppurtunity to own four different units. From UO, Seibert, Vixen and Edmund. The shorter ones extended the eyerelief more than the longer ones, as expected. All work(ed) great with the simple three and four element plossls, konigs, orthos and rke's that I've combined them with. From the compact little Klee to the old school seven inch long Edmund. All are/were mid priced, very well performing barlows!
I often regret having sold the Klee. Haven't replaced though. Yet. Klee's really are sweet little units. Not exclusively, but especially in a small scope that's focal length challenged.
-end ramble.
Funding Member
