Best Telescope Barlow Lenses in 2022

Last update: December 12, 2022

Are Barlow lenses worth it?

Assuming you are asking if Barlow lenses are worth the money: Barlow lenses are a great way to get more use out of your existing telescope. By adding a Barlow lens to your telescope, you can increase the power and performance without having to buy a whole new telescope. Barlow lenses are also good for people who want to experiment with different powers and magnifications without having to buy multiple telescopes. The downside to Barlow lenses is that they can add some extra weight and bulk to your telescope, and they can also be a bit more expensive than some

Can you double up Barlow lenses?

Yes, you can double up Barlow lenses to increase the power of your telescope. This is a great way to get more magnification out of your telescope without having to buy a new one. Just make sure to get a high-quality Barlow lens to avoid any image quality issues.

Can you use a Barlow lens on a refractor telescope?

Yes, you can use a Barlow lens on a refractor telescope. This will increase the power of the telescope and allow you to see more detail in the objects you are observing.

Does 2x Barlow double magnification?

A Barlow lens is an optical lens that is used to increase the effective focal length of an optical telescope, thereby increasing its magnification. A 2x Barlow lens will double the magnification of an optical telescope.


Celestron Omni 2X Barlow Lens Review:


Users that are clueless about what they are doing or talking about severely irritate me. A review of the newest electrical gadget or a set of spoons are both possibilities! But this explains why I took so long to get to my review's concluding observations on the Celestron 2x Omni Barlow.I've spent thousands of hours gazing through the eyepiece and hundreds of twilight to dawn sessions practicing observational astronomy during the past 33 years.I worry that most individuals who buy a Barlow lens either have unrealistic performance expectations or are attempting to make up for having bought a telescope whose f/ratio is so high that any high magnification observations would be disappointing. For example, an f/5 telescope works well for viewing a large area of the deep sky. The finest applications for an f/15 refractor are planetary, lunar, and binary star observations that call for high magnifications and high contrast images.What does the user notice the most as we switch between low and high power eyepieces? It relieves the eyes. A 32 mm has an eye relief that is long enough to accommodate glasses. However, the eye lens gets much smaller as we go closer to 6 mm, 5 mm, and 4 mm. You have to get so close that your eyelashes will occasionally brush the eye lens. To get near to the eyepiece, you must take off your glasses if you wear them. Your eyes' ailments are now left untreated. Your chromatic aberrations, severe astigmatism, etc., could be introduced into the telescopic image as a result.There is, of course, the telescope itself. The best instruments can use, at most, 50x to 60x (power) per inch of aperture in favorable air circumstances. "Empty magnification" refers to increased magnification. Why? since you have already beyond the telescope's theoretical resolution limit. Magnification increases do not disclose greater detail. The visuals simply enlarge, darken, and become blurrier.For illustration, a 4 "optical limit of the telescope will be 240x. An 8 "Theoretically, a telescope is capable of 480x. But there are so many factors to take into account. Is the telescope a Schmidt-Cassegrain, a Newtonian (is the f/ratio long or short? ), or a refractor (is the f/ratio long or short)? What are the visibility circumstances? Stars can sparkle and any planetary or lunar image can become blurry even in the clearest of skies due to bad "astronomical vision" (unsteady air). You can ignore those theoretical precepts completely!The standard 10 mm and 25 mm "run-of-the-mill" eyepieces that come with entry-level or moderately priced scopes are of poor quality. Even a high-quality Barlow will draw attention to imperfections in low-quality optics. What can you anticipate from a 5 mm Barlowized eyepiece if it wasn't an excellent eyepiece at 10 mm?But with our Barlowized 2 mm at 750x, we were hoping to see Neil Armstrong's footprints on the moon, so we invested in a reliable, miraculous Barlow! Is it surprising that beginners quickly grow disenchanted with the pastime due to ignorance and inflated expectations, or maybe they blame their brand-new, shiny, polished Barlow?2x, 2.5x, and 3x barlows are available. At 4x or 5x, some are nonsense! Barlows are made to increase the focal length of an instrument. However, in actual use, their main purpose is to maintain the long eye relief of low power eyepieces while obtaining higher magnifications with them. This keeps viewing at high magnifications comfortable even when wearing glasses. Recall my earlier remarks about eye relief and people who wear glasses? The full range of eyepieces in your kit should not be utilized with barlows.The performance of a Barlow is best with eyepieces ranging from 32 mm to 12 mm. That Barlowized 12 mm is now a 6 mm but still has a 12 mm's worth of eye comfort. The ultimate limit for using a Barlow and expecting any level of visual fidelity is a 12 mm or 10 mm eyepiece. Beyond that point, you are merely abusing your "things" while playing with them! A Barlow is a practical tool, not a magic wand.The Celestron 2x Omni Barlow is the subject of this review.Just today, my neighbor received his package in the mail. He let me test it on his terms. I contrasted it with an early Parks Barlow, a Unitron Achromatic Amplifier, and a 60-year-old original Goodwin Barlow. I compared the entire Unitron Orthoscopic line, a set of König wide-field eyepieces, and a set of Vernonscope "limited edition" brass Brandons, which employ hand-selected unique glass. The preferred eyepiece among seasoned astronomers is a Brandon.The telescope was a 100 mm, f/15 Unitron refractor with a Pentax-made Unitron objective lens. These Pentax objective lenses are regarded as Unitron's "jewels in the crown" objectives, meaning they are of the highest caliber.What did I determine? Celestron's Omni 2x Barlow was flawless, exhibiting no aberrations or faults even at the field's very edge. Aberrations were only seen when using high power eyepieces that shouldn't be used with a Barlow. EVER! More so than the Omni Barlow, the quality of the eyepieces was primarily being examined. Pushing the eyepieces' capabilities past their breaking point.Particularly considering the cost, the Celestron 2x Omni Barlow is a well made Barlow. So it's not the Barlow's fault if you're having issues with it.



Orion 1.25" Shorty 2X Barlow Lens and Camera T-Adapter Review:


as promised. Fast shipping, excellent performance. An 8 inch Dob telescope was initially purchased as a test piece to explore what it was capable of. I took this lens outside and just stared into the distance, focused on a street lamp across the street that was lit up at night. The clarity and magnification are excellent, and this will be used a lot. It has threads at the top where I could, if I wanted to, screw an adapter on. It fulfils the promise made when it was created to make it easier to see the stars. The second purpose of the purchase was to support experiments involving the capture of crystal-clear video using an 8-inch Dob telescope. That is still under construction.



Celestron 93428 X-Cel LX 1.25-Inch 3x Barlow Lens (Black) Review:


Barlow Lens 3X 1.25in X-cel Lx from Celestron I bought this 3 Times Barlow X-Cel LX with the aim of using it with a webcam designed to fit the X-Cel LX Series eyepieces to get closer, live, detailed photos of the Moon, and it works beautifully! The 9mm X-Cel XL Eyepiece is used to view this 720P video. After the Barlow, without the Barlow



Orion 08711 Shorty 1.25-Inch 2x Barlow Lens (Black) Review:


The shorty Barlow is one of many Orion goods that are good to adequate (and whose customer service is renown). One of the most popular Barlow lenses might be this one, and it comes highly recommended.The somewhat larger eyepiece opening is presumably the cause of the product complaints. The excessively large opening, which is likely there to accept a broader variety of eyepieces and components, can slightly misalign the eyepieces and introduce a little bit of astigmatism. When used visually, this is undetectable and unproblematic, but when utilized with photography or other equipment, it may become problematic.The astigmatism that resulted from using this Barlow to increase magnification on a guiding scope/camera was really glaring. The alignment of the camera barrel or eyepiece might be enhanced. I believe the astigmatism is not brought on by the superior lenses that were used.



Gosky 1.25 Inch 2X Fully Blackened Metal Barlow Lens and Camera T Adapter for Telescopes Eyepiece - Accept 1.25inch Filters-Also Can Be Used for Astronomical Photography - Coated Review:


after reading Brett's assessment, I bought: "Solid construction, especially considering the cost. The lens provides good vision clarity and is detachable, allowing the tube to double as a quick extension tube. As a result of it being like two goods in one, I was able to save some money."It has the attributes I desired:1. The ability to switch between different magnifications by removing the lens and placing it directly into the diagonal, a zoom eyepiece, or a standard eyepiece (experiment a little).2. Magnify it two times from its original size.3. Disassemble the lens and use it as an extension tube; the cost is about half that of Orion's.Four. T adapter (which I am not planning on using at this time)Though I may not have included everything, I tried. Great, affordable product that is sturdy. Regards, Gosky.P.S. I paid almost half as much for their zoom eyepiece as I did for Celestron and Meade. Excellent value for the money as well.Their adjustable polarizer is also quite effective.



SVBONY 1.25 inches 5X Barlow Lens Fully Blackened Metal Multi Coated Broadband Green Film with M42 Thread for Standard Telescope Eyepiece Astronomy Review:


I have a 5" f/5 Newtonian reflector telescope.About 260X is the greatest usable magnification.But the included high power eyepiece only provides 65X.I always wanted higher magnification when I was seeing the moon's surface.4X barlow lenses should be perfect in theory because they only use their full capability.In actuality, even 3X barlens was unaffordable because to its high cost.(Taking into account the telescope's own cost.)I discovered this lense with the use of Amazon's effective price sorting (from low to high).The seller's specifications state that the item is of great quality APO design, and the price is reasonable.But another user left a very unfavorable review.Anyway, I wanted to make the most of my telescope, so I took the risk and gave it a shot.Fortunately, the outcome was fruitful.Although it is a little heavy and long, it only costs $25 and offers great magnification and clear image clarity.I rate it 5 stars because of the great pricing it has.ConThe weight balance of telescopes is easily upset by this lens since it is too long and hefty.(Therefore, the unfavorable comment from the other user who brought up focal length has merit.)When the weight balance of the telescope is disturbed, it becomes unstable and directing can be challenging.This barlow lens' high magnification power exacerbates the issue.The object is readily lost in the area of view because even the smallest movements caused by unstabilization are amplified.There are two typical methods for restoring the balance.1. Rebalancing - Adjust the position and tighten the bolt holding the dovetail after loosing it.- Verify that it is balanced; if not, repeat the process.- There is no extra expense, but it is annoying.(You should follow these steps each time you install this barlow lens.)2. Using a magnet attached to the telescope's back to serve as a counterweight- It will cost more money to buy a magnet, but keep in mind how inexpensive this lens is.- If the OTA lacks a dovetail plate, the only method to attach something is by using a magnet, which is far more convenient than loosing and tightening a bolt.- Theoretically, a magnet that weighs nearly the same as this lens will be required.If you're unsure about the right size of magnet, it's best to buy many little magnets and alter the amount of them attached.(Handling a large number of little magnets is manageable since they easily stick to one another as a bundle.)A problem with excessive magnification exists as well.With 5X, it is very simple to exceed the telescope optics' maximum performance.(The most common maximum usable manification is 2 * aperture in mm.)After the maximum, the vision becomes hazy.In my instance, the combined output of the high power eyepiece and barlow lens was roughly 120% of the maximum, and image quality suffered slightly.ProIt provides 5X magnification power with adequate image quality for such a low cost.Image quality is fairly decent with the low power bundled eyepiece attached to this lens.Although the image becomes slightly blurry when using a high power eyepiece in combination with this lens, I am still happy to fully utilize the optics' potential.It is quite pleasant to see the Moon's surface in great detail.With this lens, you can attain great magnification while yet maintaining portability.CautionA stable mount and a finderscope that is aligned are required (or red dot finder).With this lens in place, the telescope appears to be 5X more sensitive.The mount's instability and the finderscope's alignment are also accentuated.Weight rebalancing is crucial because of this.Conclusion.a little heavy and long. Breaks the weight balance easily.However, once the balance has been restored, it provides 5X magnification with good image quality.Short focal length telescopes, which frequently lack magnification power, are a perfect fit for it.I wholeheartedly suggest this lens if you require more magnification but are concerned about the associated costs.



SVBONY Barlow Lens 5X 1.25 inches Fully Multi Coated Metal Thread M42 for Astronomical Telescope Eyepiece Accept T Ring with 1.25 inches Interface Review:


Great. reasonable price given the quality. Because the shaft you place into your optical tube is somewhat short and not threaded, a heavy eyepiece or camera attachment could make the telescope unbalanced. Use this only in clear viewing conditions; otherwise, the barlow may result in a grainy image from ambient light, fog, or heat radiation from the ground (i.e., avoid setting up over sand, dirt, or concrete). However, with the proper settings, I can crater the moon and divide nebulas. can distinguish Saturn's storms.



SVBONY 1.25 inches 2X Barlow Lens Doubles The Magnification Multi Coated Broadband Green Film with M42 Thread for Standard Telescope Eyepiece Review:


I've been using this with my Celestron COSMOS FirstScope Telescope for a few months now, and I've had good results. The price is also unbeatable. However, I hesitated in writing a review because I am inexperienced with telescopes despite good general knowledge about optics. The Meade Instruments 216005 Polaris 127 EQ Reflector Telescope (Blue), however, has given me more confidence because I can compare it to a Meade Barlow on two different telescops.The construct of this product, metal body and all, is very refined compared with the plastic body that comes with Meade. This VITE Barlow has no visible aberration to my untrained eyes. In contrast, the Meade Barlow gives very obvious chromatic aberration when I tested both Barlows on Cosmos FirstScope as well as on Polaris 127EQ.Meade is an established brand name. So this comparison weighs a lot in my mind even though Polaris is in Meade's low-end.Update: I have since used this VITE on a much better telescope SkyWatcher S11600 Traditional Dobsonian 6-Inch (White) (White). The scope's collimated parabolic mirror provides clearer images on the edge of field of view so it is easier to evaluate quality. I stack the 2x Barlow with the 20mm Kellner from the FirstScope and compare with the 10mm Plössl that comes with SkyWatcher. FirstScope's eyepieces are not as good as SkyWatcher's; stacking two optical elements together is generally worse that one piece of the same focal length. Even so, the Barlow combination compares favourably. (The picture of Jupiter and its four Galilean satellites is taken with the 4mm from VITE Telescope Eyepiece Set Aspheric 4/10/23mm 1.25" Wide Angle 62-Deg Fully Coated for Astronomical Telescope and the 2x Barlow on FirstScope.)



SVBONY Barlow Lens 5x Blackened Metal with T adapter M42x0.75 Thread for 1.25 inches Telescope Eyepiece for Superior Sharpness and Color Correction Review:


I've been using this with my Celestron COSMOS FirstScope Telescope for a few months now, and I've had good results. The price is also unbeatable. Despite my general grasp of optics and lack of experience with telescopes, I was hesitant to write a review. The Meade Instruments 216005 Polaris 127 EQ Reflector Telescope (Blue), however, has given me more confidence because I can compare it to a Meade Barlow on two other telescops.In comparison to the plastic body that comes with Meade, this product's metal construction is extremely sophisticated. This VITE Barlow has no obvious distortion to my inexperienced eyes. When I tried both Barlows on Cosmos FirstScope and on Polaris 127EQ, the Meade Barlow, in comparison, produced extremely noticeable chromatic aberration.Meade has a well-known brand name. Therefore, despite Polaris being in Meade's low end, this comparison weights heavily in my mind.A much superior telescope than this VITE, the SkyWatcher S11600 Traditional Dobsonian 6-Inch, has subsequently been utilized (White). It is simpler to assess quality since the scope's collimated parabolic mirror produces clearer images near the field's edge. I compare the 10mm Plössl that comes with SkyWatcher to the 2x Barlow when combined with the 20mm Kellner from the FirstScope. The eyepieces from FirstScope are inferior to those from SkyWatcher; generally speaking, stacking two optical components together is poorer than using one piece with the same focal length. The Barlow combination, however, compares favorably. The 4mm from VITE Telescope Eyepiece Set Aspheric 4/10/23mm 1.25" Wide Angle 62-Deg Fully Coated for Astronomical Telescope and the 2x Barlow on FirstScope were used to take the image of Jupiter and its four Galilean satellites.


Does Barlow reduce image quality?

Yes, Barlow lenses can reduce image quality in some situations. When used with a telescope, they can cause a loss of sharpness and contrast. This is because the Barlow lens increases the effective focal length of the telescope, which can reduce the quality of the image. In addition, the Barlow lens can introduce chromatic aberration, which can further reduce image quality.

How big of a telescope do I need to see Saturn?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, such as the quality of the telescope, the atmospheric conditions, and the observer's level of experience. However, a good rule of thumb is that a telescope with an aperture of at least 4 inches (10 cm) is necessary to see Saturn's rings and its largest moon, Titan.

Is a 5x Barlow lens worth it?

A barlow lens is an optical lens that is used to increase the effective focal length of a telescope, making it more powerful. A 5x barlow lens will increase the power of a telescope by 5 times. So, is a 5x barlow lens worth it? That depends on what you want to use your telescope for. If you want to see faint objects in the night sky, then a 5x barlow lens will definitely help. However, if you just want to see the Moon and planets, then a barlow lens might not be necessary.

Is a Barlow lens better?

Barlow lenses are a great way to increase the power of your telescope while still maintaining a clear image. Many amateur astronomers believe that a Barlow lens is the best way to increase the power of their telescope.

What does a 5X Barlow do?

A 5X Barlow lens is a type of negative lens that is used to increase the power of a telescope. It does this by increasing the focal length of the telescope, which in turn makes the objects appear larger. The Barlow lens is named after its inventor, Peter Barlow.

What does a Barlow lens do for a telescope?

A Barlow lens is an optical device that is used to increase the effective focal length of a telescope, making it more powerful. It does this by bending the light that comes into the telescope, which in turn makes objects appear closer and larger.