trouble with Powermate 2.5x and 12" scope

have you ever checked your Barlow setup magnification ? You could've had
it
set up for much higher magnification than the x2-x3 and now by comparison
the Powermate seems to be magnifing less than the barlow .

matt tudor

Apparently, that's been the case. With the focuser increasing the path, my
barlows are apparently acting as even greater magnifiers than their normal
design. The Televue standard 3X barlow for example must be giving 3.5X or
greater. No wonder the planets are showing up so much smaller with the
Powermate.

If the Powermate is acting this way, by equaling the amount of magnification
at any distance, what happens if I place one of my barlows directly behind
it? Will the barlow now be acting on the 2.5x of the Powermate only, or
will the path of the focuser plus Powermate greatly increase the
magnification of the barlow since it is so far from the normal visual back
distance?

Thanks,
Anthony