A Barlow lens is one of the simplest and most cost-effective upgrades you can make to your telescope.
Whether you’re a beginner learning the night sky or an experienced observer wanting more magnification for the Moon and planets, the right Barlow lens can dramatically improve your views.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best Barlow lenses for beginners, budget observers, and advanced users — plus how to choose the correct size and magnification for your telescope.
• A Barlow lens multiplies your telescope’s magnification (2×, 3×, or more).
• A good Barlow improves detail on the Moon, planets, and tight double stars.
• 2× Barlows are the most versatile and beginner-friendly.
• Look for multi-coated or fully multi-coated optics for sharper views.
• A Barlow can effectively double your eyepiece collection without buying more eyepieces.
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Top Picks at a Glance
- Best Budget 1.25″ Barlow: Celestron Omni 2x – reliable, great optics, excellent value
- Best Mid-Range 1.25″: Svbony SV137 2x – solid construction, brass ring, very sharp
- Best Premium 1.25″: Celestron X-Cel LX 3x – apochromatic optics, superb clarity
- Best 2″ Barrel (High-End): Explore Scientific 3x Focal Extender – telecentric design, top-tier image quality
- Best 2″ Value Pick: Celestron Luminos 2.5x – bright, sharp, extremely well-built
Why a Barlow Lens Is a Smart Upgrade
A Barlow lens is one of the most useful accessories any amateur astronomer can own. It increases the magnification of your telescope by multiplying the power of your eyepieces—typically by 2x, 2.5x, or 3x.
For example, if you have two eyepieces—a 25mm and a 10mm—adding a 2x Barlow lens instantly gives you four magnifications instead of two:
- 25mm eyepiece → behaves like a 12.5mm
- 10mm eyepiece → behaves like a 5mm
This not only saves you money but also helps reduce the number of eyepieces you need to carry.
Most Beginners Should Choose a 2x Barlow
A 2x is considered by many to be the best barlow lens by choice, as it’s the most versatile option that works well with nearly all beginner and intermediate telescopes.
Higher powers (3x or 5x) can be more demanding—especially on smaller telescopes—often resulting in:
- difficulty reaching focus
- reduced brightness
- narrower field of view
A 2× Barlow is also listed in my guide to the top telescope accessories for beginners, because of how much flexibility it adds.
Make Sure You Choose the Correct Barrel Size
Barlow lenses come in two standard sizes:
- 1.25-inch (most common)
- 2-inch (for larger, more premium eyepieces)
Always match to the size of your existing eyepiece holder.
Best Barlow Lenses – Top Recommendations
1. Celestron Omni 2x Barlow Lens (1.25″) — Best Budget Pick
Why We Recommend It
The Celestron Omni 2x is one of the most widely recommended Barlow lenses for beginners and intermediate users. It delivers consistently sharp, bright images at a very wallet-friendly price.
Key Features
- 2x magnification
- 1.25-inch barrel
- Fully multi-coated optics for improved light transmission
- Blackened lens edges to reduce reflections
- Metal thumbscrew for a secure hold
Why It Stands Out
This Barlow offers excellent optical performance for the cost and is ideal for lunar and planetary viewing. Build quality is solid, and the optics are reliable across a wide range of telescopes.
Rating: ⭐ 9.8 / 10
2. Bresser 2x Barlow Lens (1.25″) — Best for Flexibility
What Makes It Special
Bresser has been producing optical gear for over 60 years, and this 2x Barlow is a great example of quality at an affordable price.
Key Features
- 2x magnification
- 1.25-inch barrel
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- 4-element optical design for improved clarity
- Removable optical cell that threads onto 1.25″ accessories
Why It’s a Great Choice
The removable optical cell allows you to screw the Barlow element directly onto eyepieces and adapters, offering flexible magnification options.
This is especially useful if you’re getting into planetary imaging — something I cover in detail in A Guide To Astrophotography for Beginners.
Rating: ⭐ 9.7 / 10
3. Svbony SV137 2x Barlow Lens (1.25″) — Best Build Quality for the Price
What We Like
Svbony continues to impress the astronomy community with budget-friendly accessories that perform brilliantly. The SV137 is no exception.
Key Features
- 2x magnification
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Metal housing for durability
- Brass compression ring (prevents scratches on eyepieces)
- Blackened interior to reduce stray light
Why It’s Worth Buying
If you want a well-built, reliable Barlow that punches above its price range, this is the one. The compression ring and internal baffling elevate it above many competitors.
Rating: ⭐ 9.7 / 10
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4. Celestron X-Cel LX 3x Barlow Lens (1.25”) — Best Premium 3x Barlow
Why It’s Premium
Celestron’s X-Cel LX series is aimed at enthusiasts who want better-than-average optics. This 3x Barlow is no exception, offering apochromatic correction for sharper, more colour-accurate viewing.
Key Features
- 3x magnification
- Apochromatic 3-element lens
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Rubber grip for safer handling
- Brass compression ring
- Threaded for 1.25″ filters
Who It’s For
Ideal for planetary observers who want high magnification without sacrificing sharpness. It’s pricier than standard Barlows, but the image quality justifies the cost.
Rating: ⭐ 9.8 / 10
5. Explore Scientific 3x Focal Extender (2”) — Best High-End Option
Barlow vs Focal Extender
A focal extender works similarly to a Barlow lens but uses a more advanced optical design—often telecentric—to deliver:
- reduced distortion
- better edge-to-edge sharpness
- improved colour correction
Key Features
- 3x magnification
- Telecentric 4-element optical design
- Fully multi-coated optics
- 2-inch barrel + 1.25-inch adapter
- Rubber grip for secure handling
Why It’s a Standout
This is one of the highest-quality magnification accessories available. It’s ideal for large, high-end telescopes and observers who want premium performance.
Rating: ⭐ 9.8 / 10
6. Celestron Luminos 2.5x Barlow Lens (2”) — Best 2” All-Rounder
Why It’s Excellent
The Luminos 2.5x is a beautifully built Barlow lens with high-end optics and exceptional contrast. It’s the only 2.5x magnification option on this list.
Key Features
- 2.5x magnification
- 4-element apochromatic optics
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- 2-inch barrel + 1.25-inch adapter included
- Brass compression ring + oversize thumbscrew
- Hard-anodized aluminium body
Who Should Choose It
If you own both 1.25” and 2” eyepieces and want a premium upgrade, this is one of the best-performing Barlow lenses available.
Rating: ⭐ 9.8 / 10
How to Choose the Right Barlow Lens (Quick Buying Guide)
1. Magnification: 2× vs 3× vs 5×
- 2× — best for beginners
- 3× — best for planetary observers
- 5× — only recommended for imaging or very large telescopes
2. Optical Coatings
Look for multi-coated or fully multi-coated surfaces for better contrast.
3. Optical Design
- 2-element: good
- 3-element APO: excellent colour correction
- Telecentric (focal extender): professional-grade
4. Telescope Size Matters
- Under 80mm → stick to 2×
- 130mm+ → can handle 3×
- 200mm+ → 3×/4× for planets
5. Avoid Cheap Plastic Barlows
They cause blurring, ghosting, and poor performance.
When a Barlow Lens WON’T Help
A Barlow may not help if:
- Your telescope has a very low aperture (<60mm)
- Atmospheric seeing is poor
- Your eyepieces are extremely low power (30mm–40mm)
- You are trying to zoom in on faint deep-sky objects
Barlows are best for Moon, planets, and double stars.
Conclusion: Which Barlow Lens Should You Choose?
Choosing the right Barlow lens depends on your telescope, budget, and viewing goals:
Best Overall Budget Choice
✔ Celestron Omni 2x – unbeatable value, ideal for most beginners
Best Mid-Range 1.25” Option
✔ Svbony SV137 2x – excellent construction and performance
Best Premium 1.25” Barlow
✔ Celestron X-Cel LX (2x or 3x) – superb clarity at higher magnification
Best 2” High-End Choice
✔ Explore Scientific 3x Focal Extender – top-tier optics with telecentric design
Best 2” Value Pick
✔ Celestron Luminos 2.5x – bright, crisp views and outstanding build quality
Whether you’re upgrading your current setup or expanding your eyepiece collection, any of the Barlow lenses above will noticeably enhance your telescope’s performance.
Barlow Lens FAQ
1. What does a Barlow lens actually do?
A Barlow lens increases the magnification of any eyepiece you use with it. A 2× Barlow doubles the power, while a 3× triples it. This lets you zoom in on the Moon, planets, and double stars without buying lots of additional eyepieces.
2. Is a 2× or 3× Barlow better for beginners?
Most beginners do best with a 2× Barlow because it offers a sharp, bright image and works well with almost any telescope. A 3× Barlow is useful for planetary viewing but can dim the image too much on small telescopes.
3. Will a Barlow lens work with my telescope?
Yes — as long as your telescope uses a 1.25-inch or 2-inch focuser (which most do), a Barlow lens will fit. Just match the size of your telescope’s focuser. If your scope is very small (under 60mm), a Barlow may not provide good results.
4. Does a Barlow lens reduce image quality?
A high-quality Barlow should not reduce image quality. Look for multi-coated or fully multi-coated optics, and avoid the very cheap plastic models that often come bundled with budget telescopes.
5. Can I use a Barlow lens for astrophotography?
Yes — a Barlow is extremely useful for planetary and lunar photography. It increases your telescope’s effective focal length, helping you capture finer details on planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. For deep-sky imaging, though, a Barlow is usually not recommended.