Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 312
Loc: Wisconsin
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Wow! that was fast! 
Marj at Astro-Physics just reported that all sets allocated for Astro-Physics are sold.
Not sure how many they had allocated but it was less than 24 hours untill all were spoken for,
Very happy that I got a set. 
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AP 105mm f6 APO (Traveler)
TEC MC200/15.5
AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D
DFK21AU04.AS
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Doug D.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1327
Loc: Virginia
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Mark,
Do you know when the announcement went up on the A-P site? I've been checking since Monday and as of early afternoon yesterday I still hadn't seen it. Later that evening I noticed it was up and placed an order online.
I'm just curious about it because I confirmed this morning by phone that I would be getting a set but I missed the cut-off for a case. I'm happy I'll be getting my EPs also but a bit disappointed about the case.
Which leads me to question why Baader just can't make available more cases? Seems a bit silly when they so obviously have had no trouble selling out on sets - not exactly as if the case was necessary to build interest... at A-P or AlpineAstro from what I gather.
Ah, what the heck - I wouldn't be using the case in the field anyway. I'm just glad to get the glass. 
Even though I may have to eat cat food for a few months to help pay for it....
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Refractors mostly.... solar and dark sky.
Charlottesville
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SteveC
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/15/06
Posts: 1191
Loc: The Garden State
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Hi Doug,
Somebody will sell the box alone in the classifieds.
I'm hoping all the sets are sold out worldwide. I don't need the temptation. A voice in my head tells me that there was a lot of money left on the table and we may see ZAO III's with a new and improved box. I'm holding out for the box with slow motion openning action when the top is pressed. Of course there will be a hidden latch lock.
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SteveC
TEC 140
Intes Micro 715 deluxe
WO Zenithstar 80 FD
SolarMax 40
Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini, DM-6 w/Sky Commander on SV wood tripod, Vixen Skypod
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Teal'c
Indeed
Reged: 08/02/05
Posts: 3484
Loc: TN
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[Quote]Even though I may have to eat cat food for a few months to help pay for it....[Quote/]
If you can afford it? Try Eukanuba or Iams. It will help keep you regular, and.....give you a shiny coat. 
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Etch-O-Sketch and an eraser. Although....the eraser dosn't work 
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Doug D.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1327
Loc: Virginia
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Good points guys, LOL. The "shiny coat" would be an important factor but unfortunately, a little late in my case; typical 50 year old bald guy, I'm afraid. Regular is always good though - I'll keep it in mind.
Maybe you've gotta plunk down for 2 sets to get a box...? But you're right, better to hold out for the improved box with hidden latch and red LED lighting.
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Refractors mostly.... solar and dark sky.
Charlottesville
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Larry Geary
sage
Reged: 09/24/06
Posts: 470
Loc: NJ, USA
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Nope, you only needed to buy one set to get a box, but you needed to be quick. Missed out on the box? There are custom wooden eyepiece box makers, so you can make your set unique. Or you can get a Pelican 1400 case to hold the set for field use. And you don't want a shiny coat - it just reflects stray light. 
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1-20-2013
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Doug D.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1327
Loc: Virginia
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Yeah, I know Larry I was sort of kidding. But fast is right - it seems that I ordered within 4 or 5 hours after the announcement came up but that wasn't fast enough. Not even close based on what I learned today (several folks ahead of me without cases). Either more deep pockets than I thought or more fanatics.....
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Refractors mostly.... solar and dark sky.
Charlottesville
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 312
Loc: Wisconsin
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I ordered immediately after the message went out.
I should get a box. 
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AP 105mm f6 APO (Traveler)
TEC MC200/15.5
AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D
DFK21AU04.AS
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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
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Doug heres the point as to why these eyepieces/cases/barlows aren't made in high volumes.
The same reason you are wondering why you cant get a case, is the same reason it is sold out. If they had a large supply of these i do not think it would have as much of an impulse buy appeal. People are worried that they wont get case or an eyepiece/barlow set altogether so they order immediately.
Many limited edition items of any type sell out very quickly, especially if they are highly priced and pushed forward by a very reputable company.
They make a set limited amount not only to ensure that all the inventory is sold, but to make a very quick cash out.
Also, they understand that a 2000 dollar eyepiece set is NOT going to sell that well if mass produced. This is an item for the hardcore, so many amateur astronomers will not be interested. It is a niche market, which even further explains why there is such a limited amount.
This can be compared with the car industry and how they release very limited editions of specially detailed cars. These cars sell out very quickly as well.
So yea i hope that helps...this isn't a pretty aspect of what business do to us customers, but meh it is what it is. The only way we can force them to not do that, is to NOT buy limited edition items...but when will that happen? exactly...
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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)
Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”
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Stephen65
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/14/07
Posts: 934
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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That saves me some internal debate, I was considering getting a set but a bit put off by the whole business about the cutouts (I do a lot of Lunar viewing) and also wondering whether they were worth getting since I have the 4-10mm supermonos.
Now my decision is made for me and I can spend the money on something else 
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Megrez 90
FLT 132
Mewlon 250
Lots of XWs, an Ethos, Supermonos and some other EPs
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ryderc1
member
Reged: 04/15/06
Posts: 94
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Given that the wooden boxes for ZAO's have recetly sold for $300+, it's too bad a box can't be supplied with each setof ZAO II's.
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Wehkoja
sage
Reged: 05/06/07
Posts: 222
Loc: Finland
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Baader Planetarium have ZAO II´s and accepts orders (maybe Europe only?) !but they only can give 1 wooden box per "customer" even if you buy 2 sets of ZAO II´s!
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TMB Megrez 80/480
Ethos 13mm
Powermate 2" 2x
Powermate 4x
Heq5pro
WO 2" Dielectric (Carbon)
TV 2" Dielectric Everbrite
Nikon Monarch 8.5x56
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Doug D.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1327
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
So yea i hope that helps...this isn't a pretty aspect of what business do to us customers, but meh it is what it is. The only way we can force them to not do that, is to NOT buy limited edition items...but when will that happen? exactly...
I get the argument and understand the "marketing hype" behind limited editions. But as you and others have said - this is an item for the hardcore (or the few of us - not me - for whom a few thousand bucks is nothing). I'm interested because of the legendary performance of the ZAO's. Simply limiting the number of units manufactured and hyping that fact should be enough to whip up sufficient interest to ensure the "user", the "collector" and the "speculator" will buy them out before the first set is ready to ship.
But the box - come on, stamp out few more of these things Thomas and the Zeiss guys!! I'm ok with a "mass-produced" walnut box for my super-duper "act now", limited edition, "bass-o-matic", gotta get em while they last, hand assembled one at a time ZAOs.....
Don't take me too seriously here guys - just having some fun but it does make you wonder. And no way am I paying $300 on Amart for a box after they ship.....
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Refractors mostly.... solar and dark sky.
Charlottesville
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jdownie
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/24/06
Posts: 737
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Quote:
Doug heres the point as to why these eyepieces/cases/barlows aren't made in high volumes.
The same reason you are wondering why you cant get a case, is the same reason it is sold out. If they had a large supply of these i do not think it would have as much of an impulse buy appeal. People are worried that they wont get case or an eyepiece/barlow set altogether so they order immediately.
Many limited edition items of any type sell out very quickly, especially if they are highly priced and pushed forward by a very reputable company.
They make a set limited amount not only to ensure that all the inventory is sold, but to make a very quick cash out.
Also, they understand that a 2000 dollar eyepiece set is NOT going to sell that well if mass produced. This is an item for the hardcore, so many amateur astronomers will not be interested. It is a niche market, which even further explains why there is such a limited amount.
This can be compared with the car industry and how they release very limited editions of specially detailed cars. These cars sell out very quickly as well.
So yea i hope that helps...this isn't a pretty aspect of what business do to us customers, but meh it is what it is. The only way we can force them to not do that, is to NOT buy limited edition items...but when will that happen? exactly...
The hole in the logic is the argument that mass production wouldn't change the price. A quick look at camera lenses shows us how much more we can get if an optic is produced in high volumes. The issues here include risk aversion on the part of the seller, and a "collector" mentality on the parts of the buyers. There is no magic to limited editions - some do well, some do not.
John
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ATM project - a terrible waste of good Pyrex.
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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
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Quote:
I get the argument and understand the "marketing hype" behind limited editions. But as you and others have said - this is an item for the hardcore (or the few of us - not me - for whom a few thousand bucks is nothing). I'm interested because of the legendary performance of the ZAO's. Simply limiting the number of units manufactured and hyping that fact should be enough to whip up sufficient interest to ensure the "user", the "collector" and the "speculator" will buy them out before the first set is ready to ship.
But the box - come on, stamp out few more of these things Thomas and the Zeiss guys!! I'm ok with a "mass-produced" walnut box for my super-duper "act now", limited edition, "bass-o-matic", gotta get em while they last, hand assembled one at a time ZAOs.....
Don't take me too seriously here guys - just having some fun but it does make you wonder. And no way am I paying $300 on Amart for a box after they ship.....
Haha i hear you doug, the fact that they didnt make enough cases for all the eyepieces was probably another plot by the company to sell out even faster.
Its like, we have these zeiss abbe 2s, but theyre very limited edition and they cost around 2 thousand dollars with the barlow. Oh yea and did we mention? on top of all that we didnt make as many wooden cases as there were eyepieces, soo only the first ones to order will get em.
I dont know, but it seems to me they could have easily finished the wooden cases to account for all of the eyepiece sets.
Is it actually easier to make a Zeiss abbe 2 eyepiece set than a wooden case? i sure hope not. 
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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)
Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 312
Loc: Wisconsin
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Maybe they only made half as many boxes because they hold two sets?
Oh well, Still hoping I get a box.
--------------------
AP 105mm f6 APO (Traveler)
TEC MC200/15.5
AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D
DFK21AU04.AS
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Doug D.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1327
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
I dont know, but it seems to me they could have easily finished the wooden cases to account for all of the eyepiece sets.
Is it actually easier to make a Zeiss abbe 2 eyepiece set than a wooden case? i sure hope not.
There ya go - exactly! Well said.
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Refractors mostly.... solar and dark sky.
Charlottesville
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Larry Geary
sage
Reged: 09/24/06
Posts: 470
Loc: NJ, USA
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Quote:
Maybe they only made half as many boxes because they hold two sets?
Not everyone is buying two sets. Zeiss boxed themselves in  because they don't know how many boxes they need. They should produce the cases after the sets are pre-sold, then they could produce the correct number - one per customer.
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1-20-2013
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jdownie
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/24/06
Posts: 737
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Quote:
Quote:
Maybe they only made half as many boxes because they hold two sets?
Not everyone is buying two sets. Zeiss boxed themselves in because they don't know how many boxes they need. They should produce the cases after the sets are pre-sold, then they could produce the correct number - one per customer.
A reasonable estimate might be one box per set.
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ATM project - a terrible waste of good Pyrex.
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Deep13
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 1454
Loc: NE Ohio
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Awww! The EPs I can't afford and are not available in BV-friendly focal lengths anyway are sold out. 
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Preserve the night sky. Join the Internat. Dark Sky Assn. for less than a cheap eyepiece.
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 312
Loc: Wisconsin
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16 and even 10, while pushing the limit, are BV friendly.
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AP 105mm f6 APO (Traveler)
TEC MC200/15.5
AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D
DFK21AU04.AS
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vahe
member
Reged: 08/27/05
Posts: 28
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Quote:
Very happy that I got a set.
Just curious, did you order yours with standard virtual crosshairs or AP's modified black painted version.
Vahe
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 312
Loc: Wisconsin
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Standard version.
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AP 105mm f6 APO (Traveler)
TEC MC200/15.5
AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D
DFK21AU04.AS
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mike bacanin
sage
Reged: 03/19/07
Posts: 346
Loc: united kingdom
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For me, the 4mm and 6mm would be of no real use in my tak sct. I wish they were offering the 25mm and 34mm like the originals,because combined with the zeiss 2x barlow and TMB 1.8X barlow, the powers would be great! i would consider selling most of my collection and going for it!
mike
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 312
Loc: Wisconsin
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Yes, the 4mm and 6mm will be all but unusable in the TEC MC200/15 on most nights here in the midwest but I will still have a wide field APO that can use them.
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AP 105mm f6 APO (Traveler)
TEC MC200/15.5
AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D
DFK21AU04.AS
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Keith Howlett
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 710
Loc: Northumberland, UK
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Seconded, I'd have preferred a 25, 16, 10, 6 set but the 4mm will work fine in the 105 so it will get used.
Cheers,
Keith
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14" f10 RCOS / AP1200
AP 105 Traveler / AP400 QMD
Coronado SM90 Filter
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rogerandgarf
super member
Reged: 06/01/05
Posts: 194
Loc: Arlington, Wa
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I'm sure looking forward to receiving my set! ...don't know if I'll get a box or not.
Placed my order with Bob Luffel at Alpine Astro; sets are still available, but the few boxes they had are now spoken for.
www.alpineastro.com
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