Focal reducers on Eps?

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

Those of you who do mainly visual tend to use Barlow lenses alongside your eyepiece collection to give double the possible magnifications. Is there a reason not to go the other way by using a focal reduced on the end of the eyepiece?

Just wondered.

Captain Chaos

[GazOC]

Why use a FR and peer down a 4mm to get the same mag you could have got through using a 7mm?

More eye relief and less glass. I'm not a big fan of Barlows for visual either.....

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

I was thinking more at the other end mate. You generally get a 20 or 25mm Plossl with the 'scope, so you could make that a 40mm or 50mm for cheap. I'm guessing that I'm missing something here.

Captain Chaos

[GazOC]

Cost? A half decent FR is £90, a Barlow is £40? :? :?

[daz]

I have a 0.5 reducer, and next time my eyeball is in close proximity to my scope, I'll test it and let you know the outcome.

[bern]

Well, I sell the Atik reducer so not surprisingly I've tested it with some eyepieces to see what happens.

It can work but the results depend on FL and barrel length. Using one on a 32mm will lead to vignetting, as you'd expect, and best results are with lower FL eyepieces. They're not expensive (£25) so any visual benefit is a nice addition to their main (imaging) use.

bern

[The Warthog]

What is the difference between using a focal reducer, and simply plugging in a longer ep?

[bern]

What is the difference between using a focal reducer, and simply plugging in a longer ep?

Not much, it's just the reducer is handy if you don't have a longer ep.

bern