I have a question regarding the GSO 2 INCH barlows. I was originally going to get a 1 1/4 inch Televue barlow...but I have an Antares 2" 32mm erfle and if I get a 2 inch GSO I could also use it with my 9mm Nagler as well, instead of just getting a 1 1/4 inch Teleview for the 9mm. My question is this; has anybody tried the 2 inch GSO barlows???....how is it compared to the televue barlow???...is the difference big???...I know for sure that the magnification factor will differ between the two because the 2 inch barlow is longer than the televue. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I have a pic of the 2" GSO. Thanks. Here is a pic of the very barlow I am talking about.
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Mark G.
12" GSO SCOPE
I bought one of them aswell....they are cheap...$79 I think.....I cant compare but you would think some think like the 2 x Powermate 2" would provide much better quality viewing....If I had nagler eyepieces I would most definetly go for the powermate from what I have heard......
My suggestion is simple. Try one. At the price you can't fault it.
I have a Powermate 2.5x and a 5x, both really for imaging. I did have an Intes Micro 2.4x, and to be honest the time I changed didn't really reveal any discernable difference, except in my PayPal account.
If you can afford/justify the TV then go that way, otherwise at least try the GSO.
Gary
I have seen on astromart forum comments that the gso 2 inch barlow is quite good and quite a bargain. The nice 1.25 compression ring adapter you get with it makes it even better value.
I have both the GSO 2" 2x barlow and a Teleview 2" 4X powermate.
The powermate is by far better in design and performance but the GSO barlow is a lot better than some of the units around today as far as barlows go.
I use the poermate both visually and photographicaly but only use the barlow visually.
It cheap and well worth the mony and performs well.
have a looky at the review section on EP for a little trick you can do with the GSO barlow.
thanks for the reply mark, and others...but as far as the televue is concerned I didnt mean the powermates (even though a powermate would be the BEST choice) , I meant the televue 2x barlow, (1 1/4 inch), because there is a store near where I live that is selling a televue 2x barlow, (not a powermate), used for $115.00 + tax canadian. The GSO 2 inch barlow sells new for $129.00 + tax canadian. I wanted to know which one would perform better quality-wise...cheers and clear skies.
So where talking a 2" GSO barlow verses a TV 11/4" barlow!
If it was a 2" TV verses a 2" GSO I would go the TV but where talking a 11/4"TV so it will depend on the above.
The thing is that with a 2" barlow if you have long focal ratio 2" eyepieces like 30mm for example you can use them in the 2" barlow and get 15mm eyepiece with similar eye relief and afov's .
I said similar as a barlow will change things a bit.(PM's won't)
If you are a spectical wearer for example this can be advantageous as far as eye relief comfort goes. It will depend what EP you are using of coarse.
With the 11/4" barlow you are limited to that size in eyepieces
and the Afov's offered by them.
This is what I do with my 30mm 80deg and 42mm 65deg EP and find the results work very well in those eyepieces .
As far as the GSO Barlow goes , I use it regularly and it appears to be very well made and of solid design and recommend it .
(I use the PM for CCD work and planetary)
So it will come down to your choice in EP's in the end, but with the EP's you have mentioned go the 2"GSO.
Those Canadian prices seam a bit step as we pay only about $70 Aus for them from Andrews , don't know what that works out to in $CN ?Have you checked around you local dealers for a comparison pricing.
Hey mark...!!!! thanks a whole bunch !!!...you just gave me a wicked idea !!!!!.....i could actually get the equivalent of 6 eyepieces out of the GSO 2 inch Barlow !!!.....eyepiece #1. 32mm 2 inch erfle, (by itself) #2. 32mm 2 inch erfle in the barlow. #3. 32mm 2 inch erfle with the bottom of the barlow screwed into the bottom of the 32mm barrel. #4. 9mm nagler by itself. #5. 9mm nagler in the 1 1/4 inch part of the 2" barlow. and finally #6. 9mm nagler with 2 inch skirt inside 2" part of the barlow,( its a 9mm nag type 1). all these configurations wil give me slightly different magnifications for diff applications !!!!...I was going to go for the 1 1/4 inch televue....but you've changed my mind and I would like to thank you greatly for sparking this idea !!!!!...WOOOOOHOOOOO.. I just have one question to ask...: How long is the 2" GSO barlow from top to bottom????...this will give me a rough idea of the magnification factor......yeeeeeeeeeee hawwwwwwwwww.....( I just hope that the threads in my 2" Erfle are the same as the Gso's bottom part)
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Mark
12" GSO SCOPE
112mm for the complete barlow and 90mm for the barlow housing less the lens assemble.
The trick with the Barlow lens in the bottom of the EP works better on some of my eyepieces than others .
But works on most .Would depend on the design and distances.
