$250 is hard to come by, if you want any level of high quality/lower weight in one unit.
Reparto Corse used to have the Ciocc COM 12.5 on sale for $400. I'm sure they'll run the sale again this fall. A little above your budget, but all reviews on quality/weight were very good for the money.
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President, OCP
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"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--