Product Description
The Powermate is a 4-element parfocal compact amplifying lens system that consists of a negative achromatic doublet (a Barlow) plus a positive "pupil-correcting" doublet. While it looks and functions like a Barlow, your eyepieces will operate with pupil locations where the eyepiece designer intended, avoiding vignetting and mismatch problems with wide field eyepieces. The Powermate optimally mates its power to your eyepieces. No additional "interface lens" is needed, since the Powermate already has it built-in.
This new model is nearly parfocal (unlike the 2" Big Barlow/Interface Lens combination), so it can be effectively used in TeleVue 2" diagonals. Its performance is excellent with every 1.25" or 2" TeleVue eyepiece made, even the 31mm Nagler Type 5, so you won't have to do any major refocusing as you change from an eyepiece alone to an eyepiece/Powermate combination.
It is fully multicoated, with blackened lens edges and internal antireflection threading for excellent contrast. Both the 2" eyepiece holder and the supplied low-profile 2" to 1.25" eyepiece adapter use brass clamp rings for secure, non-marring operation. A captive thumbscrew on the Powermate (that can't be lost in the field) operates its clamp ring. There's an undercut safety groove in the barrel of the 1.25" adapter that helps hold it and the eyepiece in place should the Powermate thumbscrew accidentally loosen. The Powermate is optically corrected down to f/4 for use with fast f/ratio reflectors, but will provide excellent performance with any telescope type or focal ratio.
An optional T-ring adapter, #9122T, is available to allow the 2x Powermate to be used for lunar and terrestrial photography with short focal length refractors.
Tech Details
Barrel Size | 2" |
---|---|
Number of optical elements | 4 |
Power | 2x |
Weight | 22 oz |
Warranty | 5 years |
Reviews
This is an heirloom quality piece of gear. The first time I picked one up on a table at a swap meet I instantly thought "Jeesh how many pieces of glass are in this thing ?" It feels like a big 2" Nagler. I mean these are stout. The 1-1/4" reducer sits so freakishly precise in the 2" body it feels like something built by NASA.
I was fortunate enough to receive this as a gift, after putting it on my "if you think I have been REALLY good this year" list. I won't ever part with it.
Worth noting is that these as all TV adapters are guaranteed Parfocal. Meaning as you swap out eye pieces to really drill into detail on Saturn or Jupiter, you're not going to be dramatically fiddling with the focuser. For SCTs this is a big deal because not all of us have invested in expensive Fine-Focusers or Motors.
In short, I cannot say enough about the products from TV, in particular this 2x Powermate. I only wish I had the liquidity to start meticulously replacing my other EPs with their wide-field units to mate up with this Barlow.
NOTE: You can frequently find these on sale, and many times if you're buying a big "setup" from Astronomics you can call and maybe get a few % off. (Posted on 9/8/2019)