iPeace

Agreed. I had been a "TeleVue Man" from the start, and still like their stuff, but recently I opted for an ES 24/68 at less than half the price of a 24mm Panoptic - and then got another one because it was so good.

I appreciate the sentiment - however, it would seem that items like the wedge and the "standard" (reverse image) prism diagonal don't face the same inherent manufacturing challenges as an amici prism; I wouldn't expect to see the quality of such items from Baader drop off over time.

I suppose it means that you get what you are discerning enough to accept. Whether any type of floodgates have been opened, time will tell.

And with a limited audience for amici prisms for astronomy - due to their inherent traits - it falls to nutters like me to find this stuff out. I accept this is so. Just got another confirmation that a perfect one will be selected for me - but will be after the Easter holiday. So I'm kept well informed, and it will be worth the wait.

That seems to be the currently operative suggestion, anyway...

Exactly! I concur with your qualification of 'interesting'. As stated, Baader are on top of this and working to get me another excellent one.

Good point. My use of 'dud' here is to designate these specimens as inferior to my first one, which is, to my eyes, perfect and which set my expectations. I have since been in contact with Baader, and they have echoed your thoughts by stating their suspicion that what I've been seeing in the two specimens I have returned is within their tolerances, something only noticeable by the keenest of observers. Fair enough. I'm fully prepared to accept this is the case - and if I didn't know otherwise, due to having acquired one which is absolutely excellent, that would be the end of it. I would either live with it, or go back to reverse-image observing, as there are no high-quality, correct-image alternatives I know of (Baader's own 2" ClickLock version has been out of stock for some time now). As it is, I've been spoilt into expecting - now turned down a notch to hoping - another excellent specimen is to be had. Baader have promised to compare the one most recently returned to their current stock and to make absolutely sure the next one delivered is as good as it gets. Excellent service; cannot ask for more. Worst case, I have my excellent specimen to keep and cherish and will have to compromise when it comes to any others. Hardly worth mentioning in the ledger of problems. For the moment, I will hope that another excellent one is to be found. To be continued.

Unfortunately, another dud. Back it goes. This one comes directly from Baader, so I will engage with them to try and find out what's going on. I already have one that's perfect and would very much like another. Hope my good one is not the exception. To be continued.

Replacement is in and we will see if we can dodge the clouds to check it out after dark. Will report.

Quite deplorable of me to harp on about this, but how does one truly express one's gratitude for a scope that will endure all the accessories applied by one so optically challenged, and still deliver, night after light-polluted night, in full denial of its aperturial limitations? How do you give thanks for something so above gratitude?

You asked for it. Stanley is truly heroic and yields to no other.

I like this diagonal so much that I got another one...but had to return it. When observing a bright object (Jupiter), a pale smudge of light could be seen running horizontally through the object from one side of the image to another. This is clearly not supposed to happen... However, I've ordered another one to replace it, will give it a few more tries if necessary to get another good one.

With apologies for the (lack of) picture quality, under all the accessories lurks a SkyWatcher SkyMax 102mm Mak with a whole bunch of Baader hanging out the back. I must say, this scope does provide an excellent amount of enjoyment on Luna and Jupiter at a fraction of the cost and weight of other options. Very good build quality and solid mechanics. Nice.