Orion VariPower Barlow

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Brand and Model:	Orion VariPower Barlow
Price ($USD):	59.95
Magnification:	3.0x
Barrel Size:	1.25 in."
Description:	2x-3x variable

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Orion VariPower Barlow

I had high hopes when I bought this barlow. Why buy a 2x and a 3x when I could just buy this?

Sadly, the lens is an underperfomer. It suffers badly from chromatic aberration and dims objects more than most other barlows I have used. I can get decent images with it at 2x on my Meade 26mm Super Plossl but the higher you boost the magnification the worse the barlow performs. At full 3x it is impossible to get a sharp focus and the chromatic aberration makes bright objects almost unviewable. Even 2x with my 7.6 mm Televue Plossl gives a poor image. And to top things off it is difficult to slide the lens elements back and forth in the tube, especially with cold fingers.

If I could go back I would have spent about the same money on a decent 3 element 2x barlow and almost certainly gotten a better product. Orion generally makes pretty good optics but this lens is a glaring exception.

Overall Rating: 4
Optics:4 Value:3
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 08/28/2002 06:29:02 pm PST
By: Whyzard
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=129644

Reply Replies: 0

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