AP SPL eyepieces

Wow! Is the SPL line really selling for $400 each now? I haven't heard much about them but they originally started out new for around $200 didn't they? What's the reason for this?
Bill

Well - first off, these are GREAT eyepieces. I think anyone that has had an opportunity to use them would agree. They have wonderful coatings, provide a crisp clear view, have an ortho-like FOV, and yet a more realistic eye relief. They are very sharp, and provide a very high contrast view. They are simply one of the best planetary eyepieces available.

They did sell for $200 when new and in production. If you were a European buyer at that time, you'd pay an additional 17% VAT (+/- a bit) to import them. Then you have to consider the exchange rate - which would have been much lower than the $1.472 to 1 Euro that it is today. If you correct for these additional costs in Europe.....in today's dollars - $400 is not that much of a premium. Then there is the fact that these are somewhat rare and out of production. This is not that different from the situation with the Zeiss Abbe Orthos......they sell for $600-800 these days, when they become available.

If you think only in terms of the original sales price of $200 - they are probably not worth $400 to you. If you have a few examples and would like to double up for use in a bino, or fill in some holes in the set you have been putting together, then they probably are.

Just my thoughts.....YMMV

It looks like production has ceased so collectors are pushing the prices up. Great eyepieces too.