Focal Reducers for Visual?

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

I should know this but I don't. Can focal reducers be used - successfuly -for visual obs? What I mean by this is; what kind of image degredation if any) can you expect and what effect (if any) will it have on eyepieces.
Sometimes I'd like a bit larger FoV than I get at f7.5 and Tak sells a reducer/flattener (f6.3) for the TOA/TSA series that gets excellent reports for AP but I can't find any reference for visual.
Thanks,
Peter

[Alchemy (Clive)]

I would imagine for visual it's just a case of using a different eyepiece, no matter how you play it the same amount of light comes in.
Focal reducers flatten the field so it can project onto a flat surface, the ol mark one eyeballs surface of light collection is curved so some degradation will occur to either the outside of the field or inside depending on where you focus. This will be consistent for all eyepieces as you have changed the light path for that flat surface.

Want a bigger FOV get an ethos.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

.....

Want a bigger FOV get an ethos.

The Reducer is cheaper!

[dannat (Daniel)]

borg make a reducer for visual/photography - peter tan sells them in HK - i think they aren't cheap though, about $400 if i remember rightly

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

No, you are correct sir. They are not cheap by a long shot. The Tak is about the same - $420ish.
Still. Cheaper than a Lomo 80/400 or an NP101.