Explore Scientific 2x 1.25” Focal Extender - Full Review

[@videotrexx]

I have the 3X and 5X 1.25" extenders, and the 2X and 3X 2" extenders; I love them.

[@littlesunny63]

It also comes in a 2” version which is said to be just as good as a Powermate but > 1/2 the $.

[@ishanr8697]

I have the 2x 2 inch and the 3x 1.25 inch. Both are heavy (especially the 2 inch) but finely crafted.

[@KE4VVF]

Thanks!! I really like your videos. Clear Skies.

[@nordmende73]

Great review. Thank you!

[@cattaraugustonawanda4426]

Nice review and I wish I had known about this ES Barlow. The lens/filter thread is a big selling point over TV Barlow. The centering of the EP in the Barlow is dependent on the size of the barrel and hole with no difference between having single screw and two screws.

[@KingLoopie1]

Maybe do the 2" es focal extender too? I'm thinking of getting one if it's the same quality. $200 is not a lot of money for this...

[@BogdanDamian]

@KingLoopie1 Hi, I put the 2" version on the list for future items to review. Based on it's little brother's performance, I suspect the 2" will work very well.

[@schotoka]

Great video once again, Bogdan. Consider including focal reducers into your barlow video or to make a separate one. thx

[@BogdanDamian]

@schotoka Thanks! I will mention focal reducers will be in the Barlow video. Thanks for the tip.

[@michaelstephens4421]

So these are not needed with all scopes correct? SCT with 2030mm focal length would be too much to add this?

[@BogdanDamian]

@michaelstephens4421 It depends on what eyepieces you already have. As long as the resulting magnification is still usable, then a focal extender can be used with any telescope.

[@MountainFisher]

Sounds similar to Tele Vue's 2.5x Powermate in 1.25", but cheaper. They have a 2x version in 2" and both of them use 4 elements. That 2" version is $350.

[@user-hn1gw1gt7d]

I was concerned about the potencial light loss caused by the FE's 4 lens design. Now you made my concerns go away with this review Mr. Bogdan. This will solve my 12mm FL problem: I already have the ES24/68 which is a superb eyepiece (maybe not as much as the 24mm TV Panoptic - but look at the price tags), but due its long eyerelief doesn't fit well with normal Barlows. The focal extender will do the job, and I will have an excellent 12/68 eyepiece (in this focal lenght only plössls or TV products at stellar prices available for me.) I have another ES eyepiece as well, the 5.5/62 and I tell you, the ES products is something like what I could call the affordable luxury - so now I'm 99% sure I won't go wrong with that ES FE either.

[@ronm6585]

Thank you.

[@cattaraugustonawanda4426]

Two screws aren't better than one from mechanical stand point. The standard threads on the lens cell on the ES is a big advantage.

[@olivier8326]

Thanks for the review. Do you think that a 4" F4 newtonian could support the explore scientific 5X focal extender? (only for visual) What is your opinion concerning light scattering inside the focal extender? Have you tried the 2x focal extender from svbony (sv216)? Thanks in advance

[@BogdanDamian]

@olivier8326 In theory it could work, but only with a low power eyepiece so that you won't blow past the max theoretical magnification of your telescope (~200x). I haven't tested the 2x FE from svbony yet, but I plan to do so in the future. I heard good things about it.

[@Billy-je6mq]

Do you have any reviews on the vixen SLVs? I'm looking for a couple of EPs, say 4mm and 6mm, for Planetary viewing, and the eye relief seems appealing. I'm wondering how they'd work on my bresser 10" dob.

[@BogdanDamian]

@Billy-je6mq Unfortunately I didn't had the chance to test the vixen SLV eyepieces yet so I can't comment on their performance, but I believe they will work without a problem in combination with your dob.

[@Hidden.Light.Photography]

Thank you for the review. I’ve been watching your videos and you are the reason I went with this one. I have a question though: I cannot seem to get focus. I have a Celestron OMNI XLT 150 Newtonian with an ASI585MC. I am very excited to use this and have tried twice so far. I started with just the ES 3x FE in the focuser and the camera on top with no luck. I went the entire focuser run from bottom to top. I continued to add 1 spacer at a time until I reached 145mm of spacers between the camera and the FE with absolutely no luck. I just have the superimposed mirror in view. Any ideas?

[@BogdanDamian]

@tonydenardo2731 Hi! Glad you enjoy my videos. If you use your eye instead of the camera, does the view slowly come into focus as you extend the draw tube and add extension rings? If yes, then you'll just need to add more extension rings. You could also take the camera out of the Barlow and with steady hands, try and move out until the taregt comes into focus. If it's the other way around, then you might have a problem because you can go in with the focuser only so much. In this case you might need a less powerful Barlow. Which, I know, is contra productive when you want to photograph the planets.

[@Hidden.Light.Photography]

Makes a lot of sense. I have been searching high and low for any kind of back focus measurements for this piece of equipment. ES’ site has back focus measurements for their field flatteners and focal reducers, but nothing listed for the FE. I found one retailer that mentions in the description the ES FE will magnify without changing the native back focus requirements for the camera. That leads me to believe I am doing something wrong, but I see so many people that get this thing up and running right out of the box.

[@BogdanDamian]

@tonydenardo2731 It is a very interesting problem, because normally you should be able to run that setup without any issues out of the box, especially with an extension tube. My recommendation is to try to focus on a distant landmark during the day and experiment a bit in order to get a better understanding where the problem lies.

[@SaneGuyFr]

is the same as 2x barlow??

[@BogdanDamian]

@abodyhiader It has the same effect on the magnification as a 2x Barlow, but where a Barlow increases the eye relief of the eyepiece, a focal extender doesn't.

[@linou1968]

Hello bog.saturn5 behind you .is it lego? Where do you buy it? Thx

[@BogdanDamian]

@linou1968 Hi! Yes it is. I bought it on Amazon a couple of years ago: amzn.to/3TwHEXO It's a great lego set!

[@linou1968]

@@BogdanDamian you see they sell thé lights for thé reactors!!!

[@linou1968]

Do you have Messenger i would like to write you more often for advises.you ré my master!!!

[@linou1968]

I m look in for a mark IV zoom for second hand do you now? Where i can find one?

[@linou1968]

Custom LEGO Saturn V rocket display with audio activation. / adam j kzbin.info/www/bejne/np20oKWhZd-BhZY

[@whatmattersmost6725]

Hi Bogdan, I just purchased from your aff link, BUT in that sellers pic it's not the same as your video? It only shows in the pic 1 thumb screw and no removal of the bottom Focal Extender that black? I trusted you posting the correct link but now can't cancel or return as it's Amazon UK. Part # is 0218750. I just noticed that from the link Amazon picture it's NOT the same Focal Extender?

[@BogdanDamian]

@whatmattermost6725 Hi! Thanks for using the affiliate link. It is the correct link. When I received mine (SN 125005050) I thought the same thing. I ordered it on Amazon Germany and it has the same different product image there, the one without the black bottom part and with only one thumb screw (SN 12500054). Explore scientific also doesn't list two different 2x 1.25" focal extenders on their main website. This is why I believe that you will get the same focal extender I have. Let me know how this turns out.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

@@BogdanDamian 1 Thing I noticed is the box is I think is the newer packaging and would hope also getting the same extender as you got? Thanks I will let you know..

[@whatmattersmost6725]

@@BogdanDamian Hi I received the same "Explore Scientific 2x 1.25” Focal Extender" so thank you!!!👍

[@BogdanDamian]

@whatmattersmost6725 You are welcome. I'm glad you got the newer version as well. Clear skies!

[@charlessands6933]

Pronounced ArkanSAW.

[@r.dwayne2067]

Promo'SM 💋