Finally nailed focus for Jupiter after switching from a Barlow to a dedicated eyepiece

I kept getting soft, wobbly images with my 2x Barlow on my 8-inch Dob, but a 6mm gold-line eyepiece gave me a rock-solid view of the bands last night. The difference in sharpness was huge, like going from a blurry watercolor to a crisp pencil sketch. Anyone else find Barlows tricky for planetary imaging?

3 comments

3 Comments

stellanelson1d ago

Barlows are just fancy paperweights, honestly.

seanjackson1d ago

Fancy paperweights is a funny way to put it. I saw a video where a guy used one to split kindling in a pinch, said the thick blade was good for not breaking. Another time I read about someone keeping it in their truck for cutting rope or opening boxes. They're simple, but calling them just a paperweight feels like missing the point of a tough, basic tool.

joel_hall171d ago

Exactly, that's the whole point. They're basic tools that just work when you need them. Not everything has to be a super steel tactical folder. I bet @stellanelson has never actually carried one for a week. Try batoning a bit of wood with your fancy flipper knife and see what happens. The Barlow's strength is in its simple, thick build. It's for doing real jobs, not sitting in a case.