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Equipment Discussions >> Eyepieces

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csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

End of an era?
#5619344 - 01/12/13 04:04 PM

University Optics Volcano Top Abbe Orthos are no longer being manufactured. Their source closed up shop on December 31, 2012. They are limited to stock on hand.....

Post Extras:

junomike
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/07/09

Loc: Ontario

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5619398 - 01/12/13 04:34 PM

Sad to see. These were the "go to" eyepiece for many discerning observers who couldn't (or didn't) want to spend big dollars for the premium eyepieces.
Looks like they are indeed gone as seen on the Website

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Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: junomike]
#5619448 - 01/12/13 04:59 PM

Damn! That really is too bad. I recently bought the complete set, I'm now glad I didn't wait. I thought they'd be around forever. I guess not.

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FirstSight
Postmaster

Reged: 12/26/05

Loc: Raleigh, NC

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Bart]
#5619537 - 01/12/13 05:52 PM

Astronomy equipment of any kind is a relatively niche industry where the premium makers are at largest, only modestly larger than mom-and-pop operations and the smaller ones are literally that (sometimes just pop, not mom). Most of them are vulnerable to quick extinction if one to a very tiny handful of key people retire, quit, or die. Some of them are mere sidelines to the principal's primary business (e.g. Astrophysics, or for a larger corporate example, Pentax eyepieces after the company's purchase by Ricoh.)

Along those lines, let's wish Al Nagler an even longer, happier life.

Edited by FirstSight (01/13/13 01:15 AM)

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Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: FirstSight]
#5619558 - 01/12/13 06:04 PM

If Al would only do Abbe Orthos...

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edwinh
member

Reged: 03/01/08

Loc: Chandler AZ

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Bart]
#5619650 - 01/12/13 06:56 PM

Wow, sad to see. These things are must-haves. Just ordered a 25mm UO to complete my set...

I noticed Agena doesn't have the KK ones (same EP) either anymore...

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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: junomike]
#5619664 - 01/12/13 07:03 PM

Cool. Looks like my complete set (25mm, 18mm, 12.5mm, 9mm, 7mm, 6mm, 5mm and 4mm) of pre-undercut-barrel UO Abbe Orthos just got significantly more valuable.

From Kokusai Kohki's website:

"Japanese Orthoscopic Eyepieces

SOLD OUT & Gone Forever :- ("

Hmm, I'll start the bidding at $1500...

- Jim

Edited by jrbarnett (01/12/13 07:09 PM)

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Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5619693 - 01/12/13 07:22 PM

Quote:

UO Abbe Orthos just got significantly more valuable.

- Jim

I was thinking the same thing......

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JIMZ7
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/22/05

Loc: S.E.Michigan near DTW

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Bart]
#5619698 - 01/12/13 07:26 PM

We could see that coming. Jan at University Optics served us well past few decades with Japan made products.

Jim

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Mariner@sg
super member

Reged: 06/28/12

Loc: Little Red Dot

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: JIMZ7]
#5619948 - 01/12/13 10:35 PM

Circle Ts ended production earlier than that. Guess UO had a healthy stockpile to last slightly longer.

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ibase
Vendor Affilliate

Reged: 03/20/08

Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Mariner@sg]
#5619984 - 01/12/13 11:07 PM

Sad to hear the news. Have a handful of them, not gonna let loose ever.

L-R: UO/HD Poor Man's XO 5mm, 9mm & 12.5mm pair VT's

Best,

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dscarpa
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/15/08

Loc: San Diego Ca.

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5620018 - 01/12/13 11:34 PM

If the BCOs and Kasai HCs weren't coming down the pipeline that would be it for bought new Abbe Orthos. I should have my 18 BCO in a few weeks and 9 Kasai HC in a few months. David

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Bart]
#5620024 - 01/12/13 11:39 PM

Quote:

If Al would only do Abbe Orthos...

I have a TeleVue branded ortho, it's a 9mm eyepiece with an illuminated reticule for guiding. Apogee Inc sold them.

Jon

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csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5620631 - 01/13/13 12:00 PM

Only have a couple that I recently picked up. Got two of the UO HD (7mm,9mm), and got one (12mm) called OPS. Apparently, they made a few "Planetary" orthos where they gave them a special coating to enhance the light frequencies mostly given off by planets. Not sure how well it works, haven't tried it yet. I have the chance to get the 9mm in the OPS series, but not certain how good they are. The cloudy nights article from 2005 wasn't too thrilled with them (apparently increased the contrast at the expense of sharpness). The article also did not like it for double stars, nebulas, etc....(but then, it IS a Planetary eyepeiece). It apparently does dim the view a little, but for planets like Jupiter and Saturn, that shouldn't be much of a problem. Oh well, not every eyepiece idea pans out.....It is sad to see any quality eyepiece line go......

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Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: csrlice12]
#5620747 - 01/13/13 01:00 PM

I sold off all my UO VT's except for the 4mm and two of the 25mm. All the rest were replaced by BGO's ... which are also no longer made. I sold the BGO 5mm when I bought an XO 5.1 ... which is also no longer made. I've kept the remaining BGO's except for the 12.5mm, for which I received an offer I could not refuse. The BGO 5 sold for more than I had paid for it used.

The coatings on the BGO's are better and I prefer the flat-top format - with an after-market eyecup - to the VT's. The XO's are clearly better optically than the BGO's.

IMO, the only reasons to prefer the UO VT's are sheer nostalgia and collector's mania. If there had been 4mm and 25mm BGO's, and would not have kept any UO VT's!

Mike

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FirstSight
Postmaster

Reged: 12/26/05

Loc: Raleigh, NC

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5620753 - 01/13/13 01:03 PM

Quote:

I sold off all my UO VT's except for the 4mm and two of the 25mm. All the rest were replaced by BGO's ... which are also no longer made. I sold the BGO 5mm when I bought an XO 5.1 ... which is also no longer made....

I see a pattern here. Please don't start buying any Televue eyepieces...OH NOES, look at your signature!

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5620761 - 01/13/13 01:07 PM

FWIW Edmund Optics still has Circle-T Orthos.

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Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: FirstSight]
#5620765 - 01/13/13 01:08 PM

Nope, I haven't drunken the TV Koolaid. So far I have only a smattering of mostly used TV products: some Plossls, a Radian and a Paracorr. Those Ethos cost upwards of

!

Not happen' here. And for the same reason I don't have Apple products.

But I might go for a used Delos or two if I sell my XW's.

Mike

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astro_baby
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/17/08

Loc: United Kingdom

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5621110 - 01/13/13 03:56 PM

Are Kasai going ahead with the HC ? i thought I read on here they werent making any more of them. Did I ipick up wrong ?

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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/24/11

Loc: Chattanooga, TN

Re: End of an era? new

[Re: astro_baby]
#5621177 - 01/13/13 04:34 PM

Quote:

Are Kasai going ahead with the HC ? i thought I read on here they werent making any more of them. Did I ipick up wrong ?

Manish of Agena Astro posted back at the first of December that they would be available mid December. They are still not in stock at least at Agena and I haven't seen them in any quantity at any other retailer. I'm starting to lose interest.

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