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Barlow the PF80ED? (1 Viewer)

Texun

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I have just purchased a PF 80ED having sold my first one in 2004. I tried Barlowing with an Orion Shorty Barlow and could not reach infinity focus with it attached. Has anyone used a Barlow successfully with this scope?
 
Hi Texun - As far as I know nobody has successfully barlowed with a pentax scope. Birding spotter scopes do not have the range of focus travel that a real astronomical scope would have.
 
Texun,
You need a TV powermate (have a look at Test of 2.5x magnifiers, on cr-telescopes at http://pt-ducks.naturlink.pt/). As far as I know only also the Siebert Telecentric barlows will work - I found interesting the modular one from 1.5x to 2.5x, but never found a review of it. If you will go for it, please post your opinion.
David
 
Thanks David!

I read the Test of 2.5x magnifiers section. One question. The 2.5x Powermate worked in your Pentax without any type of modification? That is, are there any tweaks (like the ones mentioned in other threads for barlows) required to make it work?
 
Yes, no modifications needed.
As you could see at http://www.pt-ducks.com/cr-telescopes.htm#Test_of_2.5x_magnifiers it's long, looks strange (aesthetics also count...) and can be limiting if you are in a small hide. As I wanted to use with a zoom and it increased too much, I sold it... I tried the 1.6x barllow cell http://www.pt-ducks.com/cr-telescopes.htm#Test_of_a_1.6x_magnifier that is great. Recently, trying to use the HW 12.5 in spotting scopes http://www.pt-ducks.com/cr-telescopes.htm#Test%20of%205mm%20eyepieces, I found a way of using the Hyperion Barlow 2,25x cell with other eyepieces on spotting scopes - I plan to update the barllow test with more barllow cells models tested... By the way, Hyperion Barlow 2,25x cell use is possible with a 1.25" tube extension...
 
Thanks David!

One more question. How is the powermate attached to the scope? Via the locking ring of the scope, or is that only meant for eyepieces from Pentax?
 
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