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imhotep
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/07
Posts: 1168
Loc: Tampa, FL
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I'm in the market for a 3x barlow to use with my SPC900NC and I wanted to get some advice from the community. I will be using this barlow primarily for imaging and probably seldom for visual observing.
My knowledge of the quality associated with the various manufacturers is still at a beginner's stage, but my understanding at present is that TV and UO make some of the highest quality oculars. I'm considering the TV 3x as well as the UO 2.8x.
How do these premium barlows stack up against those in the $50-$75 range made by Antares, Meade, and Orion for example?
I hope this isn't coming across as a dumb question. I guess I'm just trying to be careful because more $$$ doesn't always equal higher quality.
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Curt
8" F5 Newtonian Astrograph (under construction)
Orion 80ED CUSTOM
80mm F5 guidescope (under construction)
Edmund Optics 4.25" 'Palomar' Newtonian, 1968 vintage
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Richard Scott
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 708
Loc: Tampa FL
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I may not have this right, and someone will correct me if I don’t, but imaging chips are small. At least the ones that don’t cost thousands. And as a small target, they image through the center of the Barlow. The outer fringes of a economy Barlow may suffer from poor optics, but through the center, most perform well.
Richard
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11” Celestron XLT SCT
Orion ED80 APO
CG-5 GEM
JMI NGF-CM Focuser
Orion SSDSI
Meade DSI Pro
an assortment of 1.25” & 2" stuff
all tucked inside the Blue Moon Observatory
http://tinyurl.com/29b9wn
Basically more scope than my abilities warrant
"I know I can never look upon the stars without wondering why the whole world does not become astronomers."
Thomas Wright
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imhotep
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/07
Posts: 1168
Loc: Tampa, FL
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So in other words, imaging with a webcam may not fully utilize the benefits of the more expensive optics found in the TV and UO barlows?
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Curt
8" F5 Newtonian Astrograph (under construction)
Orion 80ED CUSTOM
80mm F5 guidescope (under construction)
Edmund Optics 4.25" 'Palomar' Newtonian, 1968 vintage
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Richard Scott
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 708
Loc: Tampa FL
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Always buy the best you can afford. The momentary satisfaction at a small price tag does not even begin to compare to the nagging frustration at having to make do with less.
Remember, visual uses the entire field of view, You will no doubt use that fine Barlow with your EP’s some day. You will be glad you chose the better offerings. But your web cam will only use the dead center of the light train, it will not benefit from that flat field as much as your eye.
Richard
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11” Celestron XLT SCT
Orion ED80 APO
CG-5 GEM
JMI NGF-CM Focuser
Orion SSDSI
Meade DSI Pro
an assortment of 1.25” & 2" stuff
all tucked inside the Blue Moon Observatory
http://tinyurl.com/29b9wn
Basically more scope than my abilities warrant
"I know I can never look upon the stars without wondering why the whole world does not become astronomers."
Thomas Wright
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Chris_H
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 2858
Loc: Norway
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If you want a 3x, my vote is for the TV one
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Chris
"Big Papa Smurf" (254mm f/4.7 Sky-Watcher Newt)
Custom Orion Optics 150mm f/8 reflektor "Planet Killer" (On its way!!!)
SPC900
Canon Powershot A610 (CHDK modded)
Canon 10D (modded)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L
My Website
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GUNER
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/19/04
Posts: 1305
Loc: Bedminster,NJ USA
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I'd also go with the PowerMates. I have a 2 & 4x. I like them better then the Meade one I have.
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Thomas
12" SuperCharged LX-200 GPS!!!
TAK SKY 90 on a Vixen Skypod
Stacked GOLD!PST/EXT-70AT/DSX-125
Infinity 2-1 CCD Camera with Lucam Recorder
Custom Scientific 1.25" LRGB filters
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lernerda
sage
Reged: 01/21/07
Posts: 353
Loc: New Jersey 40.0 N 74.9 W
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I just purchased a very nice used TV 3x on astromart for $75. I figured at the higher, mag I wanted the best optics.
David
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David
www.seeingafterdark.com
Meade LX90GPS 8" SCT, Meade ETX 90, 10" f6 Dobsonian
Meade DSI-C, Meade DSI Pro II with IRGB filter set, Philips SPC900NC Webcam
Televue 3X Barlow, Meade 6.3 FR, 3.3FR
Meade 4000 set, ranging from 6.4 to 40mm, Planetary, LP, UHC, and Ha Filters
25x100 Busnell, 20X80 Konus Binocs, and homemade P-mount
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imhotep
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/07
Posts: 1168
Loc: Tampa, FL
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I just closed the deal on a TV 3x. You guys are right, no sense in settling for lower quality to save a few bucks on something like this.
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Curt
8" F5 Newtonian Astrograph (under construction)
Orion 80ED CUSTOM
80mm F5 guidescope (under construction)
Edmund Optics 4.25" 'Palomar' Newtonian, 1968 vintage
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