Vixens - wots going on?

davidpretorius · #1 14-12-2005, 03:28 PM

Hi all,

As discussed in other threads, I have seen the LV series (and i checked the current AS&T i received today, from AOS, they quote as being "from $249" for the LV series. MyAstroshop shows a 4mm at $185.

It may be a case of larger margins, or has vixen moved from japan in to china or taiwan????.

I have been very impressed with ASI's 5mm lv and believe it to be very good value in that $150 - $200 bracket, but not $250+

Something doesn't smell quite right???

ving (David) · #2 14-12-2005, 03:36 PM

well its not my socks dave!

is it possible that this AOS (who ever they are) have misstyped or are mearely overcharging?

davidpretorius · #3 14-12-2005, 03:39 PM

Australian Optical Supplies. They advertise near the front of the AS&T mag.

THey may have an old ad???

I know ASI paid $300 for his a few years ago and now they are $185, sounds like a change of manufacturing site for me?

What are socks?

janoskiss (Steve H) · #4 14-12-2005, 03:40 PM

It's just prices going nuts dealers getting greedy. Check out the advertised prices for the little Orion 80mm semi-apo. $575 one page, $870 on the next (more or less, cant remember exactly) from a dealer whose ad says something to the effect of "we have very competitive prices".

Thiink · #5 14-12-2005, 03:49 PM

That happened in the December issue of AS&T, or maybe thats the issue you were referring to.

The Bintel ad (only a page or two before) has them for ~$575, turn the page (or was it two?) and there was an ad that has them at ~$870 odd!

Dont know what happened there!

davidpretorius · #6 14-12-2005, 03:58 PM

i rang them in melbourne and yes they are also under the $200 mark for say a 5mm lv vixen.

LVW are $368.

The ad is not doing them any favours @ $249.

It has been in a few AS&T's.

But it is all ok. MyAstroshop and AOS both look competitive under $200 for these nice ep's.

Apparently not the full blown Japanese manufacture as it used to be, some of the manufacture is elsewhere and probably finished off in japan.

The guy at AOS in melbourne uses the 13mm in his schmidt and loves it.

Damn, another ep to throw into the mix with the pentax and radian and UO's

gbeal · #7 14-12-2005, 06:44 PM

So it pays to shop around then?? What else is new?
Good to see you guys are keeping them dealers on their toes though, keep it up.

matt · #8 14-12-2005, 07:09 PM

davo

I bought a Vixen LV6mm from myAstroShop and am very happy with it.

It's also likely I'll be buying from them the LVW 13mm for my Celestron 9.25 which has arrived in the country and should be in Sydney tomorrow.

I'm also buying that from myAstroShop.

I've bought a few other bits and pieces all from the same place and I'm happy with it all.

And the prices on the Vixen range of EPs is very good.

davidpretorius · #9 14-12-2005, 07:23 PM

i have asi's fully made in japan 5mm LV eyepiece and i would live to try out a sort of made in japan 5mm LV eyepiece to see if the quality has dropped.

hey guys, matts expecting a baby!!!

congrats mate, due in sydney sometime tomorrow or the next day. you know how pregnancies go, very hard to know when it will all happen!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #10 14-12-2005, 11:00 PM

I have also noted on the AOS website they often have very cheap prices on some Refractors too!

It certainly pays to shop around with the amount of dealers growing! MyAstroShop has some good prices on their site too.

Some (old established) dealers have the same products at 30-50% more! Identical Products!!!!

Robert_T · #11 14-12-2005, 11:06 PM

DP it may be as simple as the current exchange rate with Japan. The Aust $ to Yen exchange right now is the best it's been in years. I know that some of the Takahashi stuff you can buy now cost double in Australian $ just a couple of years ago and that this is due to the favourable exchange at the mo...

regards,

iceman (Mike) · #12 15-12-2005, 06:23 AM

As I said in another thread, myAstroShop will do you a better than listed price if you tell them I (or IceInSpace) sent you.

The vixens are sounding more and more like a good quality alternative to the $450+ naglers and pentax's in a short focal length.

33South (Chris) · #13 15-12-2005, 10:18 AM

I saw in AS&T that Astro Optical have Vixens on special - buy one get the second for half price, effectively 186.75 each for LVs.
Marginally dearer than MyAstroShop but there you only have to buy one to get the $185 price.
I recently got the 6mm but havent had the opportunity to give it a work out yet.

matt · #14 15-12-2005, 09:25 PM

You're right. Why buy 2 EPs to get the price you want for 1?

As for the 6mm? It's a very good EP for the money. I've enjoyed it very much through my Skywatcher. Really very crisp all the way to the edge of the FOV. Very nice contrast and very little dispersed light.

You'll really enjoy it. I've found it delivers all-round good results on planets as well as DSOs

mick pinner · #15 16-12-2005, 03:54 PM

l have been using these ep's for some time and find them to be excellent, the 5mm in my 12" SCT is great either on the moon or dso's at 610x. they are a very under appreciated ep.

matt · #16 16-12-2005, 04:06 PM

G'day Mick

Glad to hear you're also a Vixen EP fan.

That's pretty high magnification. Do you get many nights where the seeing's up to it?

mick pinner · #17 16-12-2005, 04:11 PM

on the odd occassion it is possible to use this ep from my observatory with great results, even on ordinary nights it will out perform any other ep l have tried at that mag.

matt · #18 16-12-2005, 04:21 PM

Mick

One of my favourite experiences is Tuc47 using the 6mmLV in the SkyWatcher.

I was surprised. I thought it would be too short on fl for a decent sized cluster.

I certainly didn't expect the image to be so bright. Very pleasing.

And they are very nicely made.

mick pinner · #19 16-12-2005, 04:36 PM

l would agree, some of the best views l would get would be with the 5mm and the 6.3 focal reducer on the brighter globulars. you cannot beat 20mm eye relief.