Vixen 2614 VMC95L Telescope

Outstanding for the price I paid ($197). It arrived properly collimated, for which I was thankful. The included 25mm 50-degree apparent field of view (FOV) Vixen eyepiece is quite good but I ordered a 24mm 68-degree apparent FOV Explore Scientific eyepiece (which were also on sale this Christmas) to maximize the FOV in this relatively long focus telescope. One of the other reviews indicated the eyepiece holders are not "parfocal." That is misleading because both eyepiece holders have a threaded adjustment collar which allows adjusting the eyepiece positions to accommodate "parfocalization" for many eyepiece combinations.

I have this telescope, purchased in 2011 or so (significant, because the earliest units were not quite up to Vixen standard, apparently. Later units, like mine, seem to be fine).I use it mostly for lunar viewing from a suburban area with significant light pollution. The skies are never black, but there is no direct glare.When the skies are steady, I can put a 4mm Vixen Lanthanum EP on this scope (262X) and the views are still reasonable. I notice things that I didn't notice before. However, when I back it down to 150X (7mm EP), the features are there, I just hadn't noticed them. I would say, therefore, that anything above 150X or so is "false magnification", at least from my location. False mag can be useful, however, because the view is brought closer even if there is no added detail.The flip mirror is useful, but the two positions are not parfocal; refocusing a bit is necessary.It has a very solid feel in the hand and, mounted on the Porta II, it is easy to move around.The Red Dot Finder needed a new battery immediately. Test yours to be sure.Great little scope for almost no money. Perfect for casual use, great images up to 100X and a bit beyond.