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Vigneting with 2X/3X barlow

Started by JMG, 01/08/2003 05:14PM
Posted 01/08/2003 05:14PM Opening Post
I have a Skywatcher 10'' dobson and I'm looking for the ''best'' low-cost eyepiece collection. I already have the Televue 25mm and 32mm plössl and I was planning to buy the 20 and the 15 plus a 3X barlow (all televue) (so my ''collection would be 32 / 25 / 20 / 15 / 11 / 8.5 / 7 / 5mm) but I have read that barlows causes vigneting when used with some EP with long focal lenght.

Anyone has experience with barlow?

Thanks

Jean-Marc
Posted 01/09/2003 05:37AM #1
I use an older (much older; was known as #124 but is ~same as later #127) Meade 2X-3X variable Barlow (26mm clear aperture) used with 1.25" eyepieces and 6" f/8 newt. My 1.25" format 32mm Type I Konig w/27mm diameter field stop vignets with this Barlow. But my other eyepieces with field stop diameters of 23mm or less do not vignet when Barlowed. These eyepieces are 27mm Jaegers Kellner, 20mm Erfle, 12.5mm ortho; they provide a nice power range with a few duplications and always good eyerelief. Ron
Posted 01/09/2003 05:44AM #2
The 32 and 25 will vignette. The 20 and 3x will a little, but I don't think it is too objectionable. The 15 and smaller won't ,but might be too high of power on some nights. You might want to try the 2.5x Powermate. It has a corrector which will eliminate vignetting in all but the 32mm. Would also give you a nice range of powers
Jason
Posted 01/09/2003 10:30PM #3
Thanks to all for the answers.
The problem, I think, is that - in my neophyte's naivete - I was mistaken in thinking that a barlow was a sort of ''Eyepice collection doubler'' when in fact a barlow is designed to be used with short f.l. eyepieces to achieve high power while keeping a good eye relief. It can be used to ''double'' an eyepiece collection, but there are tradeoffs.