Do you like your Barlow lens?

[Palomar]

For years I wanted one. Have an Astroscan (4.25"). Came with 1 eyepiece; subsequently purchased 2 more.

Finally decided to buy a Barlow lens (2x) especially designed for the Astroscan.

It's a fine piece of equipment. Easy to handle, does its job splendidly...

...but it is murder on the eyes. :( Have enough on-the-job eye strain. It's akin to peering down a pistol barrel. :-\ Yes, I knew the field would be narrower and etc. However, peering down into the lens itself is very uncomfortable.

Wish now I'd purchased a lunar filter and other goodies instead.

Is your experience with a Barlow lens similar? Sadly, I often no longer use it except with my lowest-powered eyepiece.

[Hornblower]

For years I wanted one. Have an Astroscan (4.25"). Came with 1 eyepiece; subsequently purchased 2 more.

Finally decided to buy a Barlow lens (2x) especially designed for the Astroscan.

It's a fine piece of equipment. Easy to handle, does its job splendidly...

...but it is murder on the eyes. :( Have enough on-the-job eye strain. It's akin to peering down a pistol barrel. :-\ Yes, I knew the field would be narrower and etc. However, peering down into the lens itself is very uncomfortable.

Wish now I'd purchased a lunar filter and other goodies instead.

Is your experience with a Barlow lens similar? Sadly, I often no longer use it except with my lowest-powered eyepiece.
I don't understand your discomfort. When I use a Barlow with any given eyepiece, the eye relief and apparent width of the field of view are unchanged, period. Those are fixed characteristics of the eyepiece. The only thing that changes is the magnification of the image that shows up in that field of view.

When I use the Barlow for high power, I can use a longer-focus eyepiece to get the desired magnification. The benefit is more eye relief and greater overall comfort.

[Palomar]

I don't understand your discomfort.

Understandable, since I certainly didn't anticipate any discomfort.

When I use a Barlow with any given eyepiece, the eye relief and apparent width of the field of view are unchanged, period. Those are fixed characteristics of the eyepiece. The only thing that changes is the magnification of the image that shows up in that field of view.

When I use the Barlow for high power, I can use a longer-focus eyepiece to get the desired magnification. The benefit is more eye relief and greater overall comfort.

Thank you for the feedback. I'm puzzled. Perhaps I'm overdue for a visit to the optometrist...

[Mihaita]

Those are fixed characteristics of the eyepiece. The only thing that changes is the magnification of the image that shows up in that field of view.


That’s right. It is the eyepiece that should give any discomfort to the eye and not the Barlow lens. But there maybe this problem with a poor Barlow lens, the one that I am facing with my scope, that the image is kind of yellow and not as sharp as it is only with the eyepiece. Mine is 2x as well and I am using it with a 25 eyepiece for the moon and with a 10 one for Saturn and Jupiter. It came with the scope and I have no other choice until I buy myself another one. Any suggestions on a better one, please?