Meade #128 3x Barlow

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Brand and Model:Meade #128 3x Barlow
Price ($USD):40
Magnification:3.0x
Barrel Size:1.25"
Description:This is an economical 2-element achromatic 3x shorty barlow similar to Meade's 2x shorty. While it is designed to fit Meade ETX scopes, its short (2.5") length allows it to be used in the 1.25” star diagonal or focuser of any telescope for true 3x magnification. It's best at focal ratios of f/6 and above. Weighs 3 oz.

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Meade #128 3x Barlow
Works just fine. I use this one all the time for planetary work, and have never seen a real reason to upgrade - even though I have upgraded all of my EP's to premiums over the years. I also have a 2x version and it works well also.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Value:8
Weight: 9 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=242103

Meade #128 3x Barlow
I got this used for $25 on Astromart just to test how my mid-range eyepieces would perform with a 3x barlow, and I didn't expect much from this cheapie piece.

Wow, this one knocked my socks off. Combined with my 30mm and 24mm Ultimas, it gave me the highest contrast views of the Orion nebula I have yet seen in my urban skies. It also produced exceptionally sharp planetary images at the center of the field with my 12.5mm Ultima (180x) and 9mm UO ortho (250x) - actually better sharpness and contrast than my Ultima 2x barlow at similar magnifications (a real shock).

Like any cheap shorty barlow, images were soft at the edge of the field, there was some vignetting on longer focal length eyepieces and its construction was typically cheap Chinese work. This is not a barlow for purists, but it will thrill you if you are on a tight budget and want to squeeze power from mid and longer range eyepieces for better eye relief.

I'm certainly keeping this "test" item until I can afford and Antares or Tele Vue 3x.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=140229

Meade #128 3x Barlow
they have made in china barlows ,that compared to japan's barlows have poor quality, if you gonna buy one of this , i would recomend to spend $25 more or so for a good one like antares, orion

Overall Rating: 5
Optics:5 Value:4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=349269

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