I have just purchased a minox 8x25 macroscope, it is so called because it has a very close focus although why you'd want close focus on such a device is a bit beyond me.the device is argon gas purged and very light.unusually it uses poro prisms,most monoculars are roof prism,plus it has a thread to screw it to a tripod or monopod.I had a fantastic view of mercury and Venus with it 2 nights back.my only complaint about it is it drops out of focus when it objective is pointed at the ground obviously due to some give in the focal mechanism. I'd obviously use it mainly pointing up or at least on the level as there's not too much to look at on the ground! Here is a list of the messier objects I managed to see in it:m44,45,42,43,81,82,51,41,38,37,36,35,3,50,67,thin cloud moved in after m50 so I gave up and went home.