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Originally Posted by freespace
Hrm, this is really interesting. Currently I have a bintel 2x barlow which in length is the same as the Orion Shorty. I think this barlow would be a good upgrade, though I only really use it with my 6.4mm meade - would it be worth it if just for that?
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I have that barlow also, for use at parties, around kids, intoxicated folk etc. It is a good barlow for very little money. Nice FMC optics. Its main shortcoming is the black but shiney lens assembly housing. You get strong glare when a bright object is just outside the FOV, and the contrast in general is not as good as in the Orion Deluxe or Televue barlows. The other minor complaint would be some false colour off axis with wide AFOV EPs (esp when trying to push the power higher using a barrel extension).
One nice thing about the Bintel (ie GSO 1.25" 2x shorty) barlow is that the lens assembly can be unscrewed and screwed directly onto the filter threads on any 1.25" eyepiece to give 1.6-1.8x magnification. Could be a good fairly cheap permanent fixer upper for use with lesser widefield EPs in fast scopes. (some treatment of the shiney metal surface with a matte black coating would be a good idea..)
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Also would it cause problems seeing as I have a 4" F/5 scope in terms of being able to bring the 6.4mm into focus?
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Barlowing the 6.4mm will yield too much power for that scope IMO.You would not have any problems with focus though.