Here is the place to talk about all those equipment(Telescope, Mounts, Eyepieces, etc...) you have. Not sure which scope/eyepiece is best for you? Trash it out here!
I recently obtained a Skywatcher AZ-GTI with the Skymax 127 MAK and am very pleased with it. However, i find the views a bit too narrow from the standard 25mm eyepiece. Similarly with my attached camera, the Svbony SC001, everything is too zoomed-in. The first thought that came to mind was to purchase a low power eyepiece like a 1.25" 38-40mm (does my skymax 127 have a 2" visual back?) to achieve 40x magnification and a focal reducer for my camera. What are the drawbacks to using such a low power eyepiece on my skymax 127? Also, how do i determine the focal reducer needed? eg. 0.5x or 0.8x.
The scope paired with AZ-GTI is 1.25" visualback. Scope sold separately by McGill was 2" vb.
2"vb + 2" mirror diagonal is 1770mm FL measured by cloudynights forum , it doesn't operate at 1500mm.
1.25" vb + 1.25" prism diagonal = 1500mm
1.25" vb + 1.25" mirror diagonal = 1540mm FL
The further the eyepiece or camera from the rear of the scope , the more the mirror have to move towards the front to "throw" the image to focus behind , focal length changes due to moving mirror and multiplied by the magnifying effect of the secondary mirror. It doesn't mean you move behind 1cm the focal length change 1cm only.
If you want to use reducer , must see whether the threads before the VB is 44.5mm mak thread or 2" SCT thread. The newer production run is said to use SCT threads I'm not exactly sure by CloudyNights memory or it apply to 6" 7" only.
If you want to buy 0.63x reducer which is SCT thread , it's said to be compatible with Mak 5" optically (solve the mechanical connection first) , go ahead .... just don't get those angeleyes or antares because those only reduce and doesn't flatten , info source from aliexpress buyer review.
In the past the mak owners go aliexpress to buy the mak-to-sct adapter which is cheaper or blue-fireball brand adapter from agenaastro USA , then attach the Celestron brand SCT 0.63x reducer.
I wasn't interested in that because fully sealing the air inside doesn't sound right to me for fungus prevention view.
FYI I saw your advertisement and I think you need be more urgent to sell your setup (bigger discount than 8%) or store it in dry storage first while waiting for buyer , keeping in cardboard box will eventually grow fungus and 5" mak resale value plummet to $200.
Drawback is vignetting because the primary baffle tube going through the mirror is 27mm internal diameter , it cannot fully illuminate the outer edges of 2" eyepieces.
I visually use the scope with 32mm 1.25" plossl ($30 at aliexpress), I don't use it for photography. No point buying 1.25" 40mm plossl with lower AFOV.
Visually , the 0.5x reducer to eyepiece is said to "Compress and throw the image out further away" , the product exist but others don't use this combo.
Narrow FOV problem , maybe buy another short refractor or APO , don't try to force the maksutov be versatile both narrow and wide.
We have monthly astro classroom and sidewalk with telescopes at CCK a few km north of Bukit Gombak maybe you can try to attend next month. I don't know astrophotography but others can help.