Barlow, Televue Powermate?

[Solanum]

I have a Nexstar 8 and am considering getting a Barlow of some sort. In the past I have to say I haven't been a fan as I've always felt the degrade the image too much, though I had a 2" Siebert one that wasn't too bad.

Is the TeleVue Powermate as good as they claim? I'm thinking about a 1.25" 2.x Powermate, would it suit the scope? Any other options worth considering for the same money or less?

[Allan]

The TV powermates are very good, and don't degrade the image at all. You can't tell at the eyepiece that the powermate is in the optical train.

The only thing to consider, if you have a 2" diagonal, is perhaps get the 2" x2 powermate as it is a bit more versatile.

[Somnium]

i have a televue 1.25" 5x power mate i use for planetary and it is fantastic

[Nikolas]

I have the 4x and 2x powermate and can't fault them, they seem like they are just part of the eyepiece with zero to minimal degradation.

[Solanum]

Well, I think I'm sold!

[Fox]

I had an old Meade 140 2x barlow for a long time, and bought the TV 1.25" 2.5x Powermate based on recommendation. On the first night, A-B comparison with my barlow, the Powermate just blew away the barlow completely. Honestly, I just gasped the first time I used it. With Jupiter and 7mm Pentax XW, it was so uncanny how even though the magnification was greater with the 2.5x Powermate (vs. 2.0x barlow), the image was still significantly better - the planet was flatter, sharper and overall just better 'controlled'. The hype that the Powermate just 'disappears' (compared to the barlow) was totally justified - you can't go wrong.

[Merlin66]

+1 from me!