Vernonscope Brandon 12mm

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Eyepiece Reviews:Vernonscope Brandon 12mm

 Info  Votes  Messages  More Stats  Up One Level
Brand and Model:Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
Price ($USD):$189.50
Type:Orthoscopic
Focal Length:12 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:42.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:2 mm
Elements:4
Weight (lbs):0.1
Description:
Vote Highlights Vote
Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
Highest contrast, sharpest (center of field) eyepiece I have ever used IMO. Very good light thruput and comfortable to use for non-eyeglass users. This eyepiece has a relatively small field of view and relatively poor optical correction at the edge of the field of view, both of which mean nothing if you are looking at a planet or trying to reslove a globular. Have compared it head to head for hours against the following eyepieces: 12.5mm Ultima, 12.5mm UO ortho, 12mm Edmund RKE and 13mm Tele Vue plossl. There is a myth on the internet that this eyepiece is no better than a UO ortho and is overpriced. Its funny how things get started based upon cursury reviews. Clear skies! Ralph Juniu

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By: ralphjunius
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=204307 

Hey Ralph,

You ought to check out Jeff Medkeff's review of the Brandons on Todd Gross' website.  It contains a field assessment AND bench testing.  Haven't seen many reviews of eyepieces that involved bench testing.
Take care,
john
 
"There is a myth on the internet that this eyepiece is no better than a UO ortho and is overpriced.  Its funny how things get started based upon cursury reviews.  Clear skies!"  Ralph Juniu
Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
Sharpest 12mm eyepiece I've ever used.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.207.191)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43020

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
As sharp and contrasty an ocular available today. Light scatter around
bright objects is non existent and I have not seen any evidence of ghosting
so reflection is not an issue. I have owned more than 30 very expensive
eyepieces in my time and this 12mm ranks at the top. I use long focus length
scopes greater than f10 so I don't know how well this occular performs on extremely fast scopes such as f5. Views are bright and tack sharp to the edge.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.103.176)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43019

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
I recently performed a side-by-side test between a 12mm Brandon and a 12.5mm Takahashi LE. I used the Aristarchus area of the moon, during daylight, as a test of the two oculars. The scope used was a Celestron G5 SCT (f/10), which is a very good performer in its own right.

My first impression was that I was able to find the point-of-focus easier on the Brandon. I have no idea why this would be, but it was a real observation which was apparent every time I switched between eyepieces. The Brandon was also able to show me detail that the Tak LE could not, which, quite frankly, surprised me. The difference was subtle, but it was there. Given the high quality of Takahashi production in general, I can only assume that the extra lens (it has 5 compared to 4 in the Brandon) made the difference. Perhaps?

Overall I liked the fit & finish of the Tak better but one spends ones time looking through the eyepiece not at it. Eye relief often discussed as a problem with the Brandons was not a problem for me. Field of view was not significantly different enough for me to really make note of it.

While the Brandon was more contrasty than the Tak, a similar test of the same area of the moon, using 8mm & 15 mm TV plossols (compared to 8mm & 16mm Brandons), showed the TV plossols to be as sharp if not sharper over a wider field of view. Go figure.

Perhaps Brandon and Takahashi should consider lowering their prices?

Overall the Brandons are very nice eyepieces, if a bit over priced.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.58.195)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43018

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
Nice lightweight 12mm ocular. I find it very sharp in scopes that I have.(f/9 to f/15) Particularly like it viewing planets & double stars. Fov seems wider than the apparent 45* listed(closer to 50*)

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.178.11)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43017

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
One of my favorite eyepieces for lunar, planetary and double star observing. Works great with a barlow.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.155.7)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43015

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
High contrast good eye relief

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.195.100)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43013

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
Very sharp, high contrast.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.56.183)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43012

Vernonscope Brandon 12mm
One of my favorite eyepieces for planetary observing. Works great
with a barlow.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.155.7)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=43016

Click here to see all votes (9 total)
[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!

Jay Freeman's Eyepiece Primer
Starting out in Amateur Astronomy
 
How to use This Site
Why Register?
Voting Guide