Kenza Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I am buying my first Powermate. Should I go for the 2.5x or is it better to buy the 5x. I assume I don't need both. Or maybe i am wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargazer_00 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 5x is only for astro photography. 2.5x is OK for visual and is seemingly becoming quite popular as well. 2x is the most common for visual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 This depends on what you want. I have the 2.5x and it is very useful, as it turns my C8 into an F/25 scope which matches the pixel size of my planetary camera. A 5x would give F/50 which is way too slow for most cameras. I gather from your other thread that you have an Equinox 120, which is F/7.5. A 5x turns that into an F/37.5 which is a bit long for most purposes (an 11mm EP you mention in the other thread produces 409x magnification which is a stretch even with my 8" scope. The 2.5x yields about 204.5x which makes more sense (and gets the scope to F/18.75, which matches the pixel size of quite a few planetary cameras).The 5x is more useful in a really fast scope, like an F/4-F/5 Newtonian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billhinge Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I have the 2.5x power mate on a C11, the 2.5x & 5x are 1.25" fitting, the 2x and 4x are 2" fittingPersonally I would go with a 2.5x, I think 5x would be a real handful unless you have a very sturdy mount and you are very good at handling itIf you plan to do photography you may want to consider getting the Televue T ring which screws into power mate, its not expensive in Televue price terms (doesn't do anything a cheap one doesn't do but looks better, feels solid and looks like it gives a more streamlined and better fit on your camera) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamp thing Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I have the 2" 2x one. Love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charon Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I have the 2" 2x one. Love it So do I, one of my better investments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenza Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Thanks guys. This really helped. I think i'll go for a 2.5x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estwing Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 So do I, one of my better investments....and that makes 3 along with a paracorr,they're keepers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkSteele Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 ...and that makes 3 along with a paracorr,they're keepersMake that 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estwing Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 i see a pattern developing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ.will Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Thanks guys. This really helped. I think i'll go for a 2.5xAs you're going to pick up an ES82 11mm in your other thread, why not consider and ES Focal Extender too? It's the same thing as a Powermate (ie 4 elements and not a barlow), but they cost less.Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 That Focal extender may be the Meade TeleXtender 2x in a new package. I have the Meade 2x and 3x and they are very good indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenza Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 As you're going to pick up an ES82 11mm in your other thread, why not consider and ES Focal Extendertoo? It's the same thing as a Powermate (ie 4 elements and not a barlow), but they cost less.RussellOk, i admit I am tempted. But why is the Powermate much more expensive? Is there a big difference in quality between the two or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.h.f.wilkinson Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 If the ES 2x is the same as the TeleXtender, they are very closely matched, especially on a slower scope. At F/10 I could not really spot a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenza Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Since i have the Equinox (f/7.5) should i go for the 2x FE or the 3x FE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan potts Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I like the Powermate very much and used to use it, now I have so many fixed length eyepieces it never sees daylight, guilty of waste really. Maybe I should try my 8mm Ethos in it to see what a 4mm Ethos would look like.Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ.will Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 That Focal extender may be the Meade TeleXtender 2x in a new package. I have the Meade 2x and 3x and they are very good indeedI suspect that probably is the case, although all the usual caveats apply about coatings and who gets what off the production line. All I do know is, the views through the ES 2x FE, combined with the 11 & 14mm were good enough to put me off buying individual EPs to cover the same focal lengths.Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faulksy Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 i have the 2" telextender and used it the other week apart from the obvious power increase you couldnt tell it was there, very very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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