Barlow Suggestions

[Puffafish]

I am currently looking at getting my first telescope, and I'm pretty sure that I've settled for this Skywatcher 130P (and then can add a motor later if and when). http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p.html

However, this doesn't come with a barlow lens, so I shall be limited with magnifications, which might be an issue when observing the planets (apparently not so much when look at DSOs).

So I plan to buy a barlow along with the 'scope. Which leads me onto my question: what would be a suitable barlow lens to get?

Apparently TAL can do no wrong, but also they've vanished and no one has stock of them. No other barlow lens seems to have the same sort of following, so what would be suggested?

What would be wrong with going with this Skywatcher Deluxe 2x barlow? http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-eyepieces/skywatcher-deluxe-2x-barlow.html

[rory]

hi, im assuming you will be initially working with the supplied eyepieces ? id be tempted to wait and maybe put the money toward a eyepiece upgrade.

however popular barlows are - celestron ultima ,orion shorty plus ( not orion shorty ,needs to be plus) tal (rare as rocking horse plop).

i think the celestron and shorty are more or less identical in all but name. second hand about £60

for slightly cheaper barlow ,the revelation x2.5 ed is well regarded http://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/Revelation_Astro_2.5x_Barlow_Lens_1.25_.html

regards.

[John]

A good, low cost, barlow is the 2.5x Revelation:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/revelation-astro/revelation-astro-25x-barlow.html

Personally I preferred it to the TAL barlow.

rory's advice about having a go with the supplied eyepieces first is good though. Barlowing a poor quality eyepiece with a good quality barlow does not lead to good images !

[Stargazer_00]

Hi,

For your first scope you can't go wrong with any barlow really. You wont see these differences that people refer to. I happily used the 2 supplied eyepieces and a SW barlow for the first 6 months and was continually blown away with the views in my 150p.

Then I started upgrading eyepieces and then the other side of the hobby begins. My advice would be just to get the cheaper SW barlow. A 2.5x barlow doesn't work so well with the supplied eyepieces as it turns a 25mm into a 10mm which you already have. A 2x barlow turns the 25mm into a 12.5mm so it's more useful.

I'd say just enjoy the scope for a while with the 2 eyepieces and the SW barlow and when you find yourself wanting more start buying eyepieces first. Depending on how much you spend on eyepieces you will gauge if you need the barlow upgraded. I don't even use a barlow as I would sooner have more eyepieces at fixed lengths - i appreciate that may be a luxury though.

[Grotemobile]

http://www.astrobuys...price==

Have a look on here.You can

uaually pick one up

for a good price.

Steve.

[Schorhr]

Hello Puffafish,

as Stargazer_00 mentions, you can't go wrong with any barlow, as long as it's a achromatic one with glass lenses, and not cheap plastic included with cheaper starter scopes.

As mentioned in my reply to your other post, the cheaper one will do.

This one for example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Achromatische-Barlow-Linse-BA2-2x-fur-Teleskope-31-7mm-/200607942106?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Okulare&hash=item2eb52a45da

Other then the seben/orbinar telescopes, their Plössl and barlow are not half-bad IMHO.

If you spend more then 30-40gpb for a barlow, you may want to consider getting a eyepiece that costs less and will give you better results! (HR Planetary, UWA, BST...)