Wanted vixen LV 25mm or larger

[bert]

As above wanted 25mm or larger vixen lv ep.

Thanks
Brett

[Timw]

give Astro Optical at crows nest a call - they had old model LVs (incl longer FL) for $139 which was a lot cheaper than theri new price

[Wavytone]

Brett,

If you're still interested I've been hunting for some myself... Astro Optics have virtually none of the old LV's left and are selling the NLV (new LV), some LVW and there's a pair of new NLVW's just released. There are some places on the net showing some LV's available at good prices:

www.bhphoto.com <-- can be as low as $US99 depending on FL, if it says its in stock it really is...
www.adorama.com
www.opticsplanet.com <--- doesn't really make it clear if they have stock or not, email them to find out.

... but not all FL's available. OpticsPlanet apparently have the 30 mm (in a 2" barrel) and there is a 40mm (1.25" barrel) as well as a 50mm if you hunt round for them.

www.myastroshop.com.au also have a few LV left.

I tried ordering from www.telescopes.com but they will not ship Vixen stuff here.

You might also like to look at http://www.kkohki.com/English/kkohkiparts.html

However... the NLV are optically same as the LV , with a fugly retracting eye shield instead of the rubber one. Ditto NLVW vs LVW. Personally I like the LV and LVW design better, the screwy retracting eyecup thing strike me as a dust-trap and more difficult to clean when the time comes. Also note the LVW are being discounted on the same sites - the going price seems to be around $US229 ... 239 as Vixen are starting to make a NLVW range (2 released) so there should be some bargains in months to come as stocks of LVW run out.

Last thing. I made a spreadsheet to compute the magnification, pupil diameter and actual field of view for the entire Vixen range and there are a few oddities to be aware of. For example the LV40 and NLV40 are both in a 1.25" barrel yet from the apparent FOV (50 degrees) the field stop should be 35mm, which obviously won't fit in the barrel, so possibly the FOV of the LV40 isn't really 50 degrees.

And yet the LV30 comes in a 2" barrel which makes sense.