Thanks, Frankie! Yeah, I was one happy camperI read your reply before I went out tonight, and now I'm reading it again. I'm thinking a 9mm might be better than the 6mm..... I also need the 25mm
It showed up today, and just like the last one (18mm), it was in a box that fit into the mailbox, and again, no duty taxSeriously, that saves me about $220-$30 bucks CDN on this. I don't know how Agena Astro does it, but my hats off to them!
I'll keep this short. I'm tired, but very happy. Skies tonight were so-so; I could make out Cassiopeia and Andromeda. I took out my orange C80 and my Tasco 4.5" Lunagrosso. I figured a Japanese lens would go well with Vixen and Towa optics.
I was not disappointed, even with the lousy skies. Transparency was pretty crap, but the view of the Double Cluster was stunning. Starting with the KK 18mm, I could get half of both through the scope. What a view. The colors were so vivid; especially the difference between blue and white stars. Orange and red were more subtle, but I'm sure that will be apparent on a better night.
Next, I popped in my new purchase, the 12.5mm. OK, first thing I didn't know or read, is that they're parfocal. What a nice surprise! My C80 is stock, and the one-speed stock focuser is butter on a hot stick; so sweet. That 12.5mm snapped into focus, and all of a sudden, everything is still sharp, slightly more color contrast , and a smaller field of view. Not even a quarter of the clusters through the lens, but for what there was, it was great
And this was with a not so good night.
As for the smaller field of view, I prefer it over the "move your-head-around" view. My ES 16mm and 20mm are great lenses, but I really like these orthos better than them. Not to mention the eye relief (for me) is perfect.
I then took a look at the Andromeda galaxy, as this was the only DSO I could pick out visually. Through the C80 with the 12.5mm, it was a distinct white smudgeWith the 4.5" Tasco and the 12.5mm, it was just brighter
.
I really like these lenses. The views are great, albeit a bit small, but I'll trade quality for quantity any day.
My wife at that time popped out the back door and said they were going to sleep. Just as well, the haze was getting a little more obvious, and like I said before, I'm tired.
Long weekend + busy first day back at work does not = lots of energy/enthusiasm. Simple math
I almost have enough saved from doing some OT for another one of these lenses. Actually, that was the reason I did the OT...
I like your suggestion, Frankie; I see a 9mm in my mailbox pretty soon
And as an edit, a pic of my scopes tonight
IMG_0001.jpg
Good night, all, and all the best!