Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Dec 28, 2010 7:59:25 GMT -6
2" Focal Reducer for the C11/C5
A Wise Acquisition?
(or waste of money..?)
A Wise Acquisition?
(or waste of money..?)
I often check out what's on the market and too often/too easy, I reach for my Paypal password. I came across this interesting optical embellishment - a multi-use variable focal reducer.
Now, I have always desired a focal reducer for the C11 for quite a while now, mostly to create a larger FOV and a little brighter scene for faster astrophotography usage. The thing here, is that there are plenty of focal reducers on the market, from Celestron, Meade and others, but they all require that it be screwed directly to the OTA, before anything else is attached, then the visual back and all the other attachments in a line. Normally, this would not be a problem, but I wanted the flexibility of a quick change from the normal f/10 of the C11 to the f/6 and back again for comparison viewing and mood. Having to disassemble the light path to bounce back and forth was not cool and prevented me from purchasing one.
But then...I came across this unique focal reducer above.
I have never seen one like this. I do have a smaller 1.25" focal reducer for my 1.25" eyepieces, but wasn't impressed with it. (But to be fair, I really I have not put it through it's paces.)
This is the description:
I dig that Rusell Optics assembles all their optics by hand with top notch optics. All the reviews I have read are quite pleased with their eyepieces.
(I bought their 56mm 2" recently over the Meade 56mm and await it's arrival.)
Back to the focal reducer....
It seems, via the description, to be a very versatile focal reducer kit. And best of all, easily removed and place in various positions in the light path, adjusting the amount of reduction. The difference from the normal f/10 to an adjusted f/6 and then to a f/3 is dramatic, but is it too much...and visually, will it be comfortable and or usable? I kept going back to the site for over two weeks, finding a reason not to buy it, but could find no reason not to try it out. I like the idea that it's a "reverse Barlow" - extending my 2" eyepieces in the other direction - low powered vistas. If this works and bringing the regular 2x barlow into play, then I would have a 2" eyepiece range of: 102mm down to a 11.5mm...?
Hmmmm.
I took a chance, there were only two available and I would have hated myself if they went and I didn't risk it. Worth it, waste of money, folly?...dunno. That will be determined on our next clear night, but will certainly be an interesting experiment in pocket change indulgence.
