Yo dude, they're looking like really nice buds and i love how it's crowned out so well too with all those bud sites!
The only thing i thought I'd ask is how much longer you were thinking of giving them before chop, as you mention you may start flushing soon?
Reason i thought I'd ask is, from the looks of the 1st pic there's loads of new flower sites going on all over, and they still look like being the fresh, plump new pistils rather than the ones you often see at end of grow which just wither & go red/orange straight away. Plus it doesn't look like final swelling has completed yet, which may also be why you thinking they not as big as expected.
Also, you say 12/12 started 21/02, which if that was when the lights actually switched, the 8 week flowering period wouldn't start until 7 - 10 days after that, so my observations are that plant looks more like it's somewhere in week 6 rather than coming to end of week 8 and that would match the calendar too. If 21/02 was when flowers first appeared & lights did switch 7 - 10 days before, then yes this would be in week 8 but that probably just means it's a longer grower than 8 weeks.
If you were planning on chopping within 7 - 10 days then i just wanted to say I'd personally wait another 14 - 18 days, as i think they look like they're still packing on weight.
If your timetable means that you would be going another 14 - 18 days or more anyway, then please just totally ignore this lol!
Just wanted to make sure you not chopping asap, as I'd say that's only gonna get better and i wouldn't be surprised if it's still another week or 2 before you started seeing a noticeable rise in amber tric count anyway. (Congrats too on the new scope as they are awesome - i just got new one too and love it!)
Also, as a final point for why you think bud size is smaller than anticipated; I've never tried the gradual light reduction trick, though my readings on it is most growers who believe in it seemed to have found it only benefited in final couple weeks. So to my mind, you're reducing daylight hours far too soon if you're starting it 3 weeks after flip and continuing on 3 weekly increments - various grow reports I've read (the ones that believed in it anyway, as it is a classic argument, pretty much like flushing is lol!) said the same ripening effect can be achieved in final few weeks and the extra growth sacrificed by reducing any earlier than a few weeks left doesn't make it what extra ripening can be achieved be worth it. Most of them would reduce in increments too, but over the space of 4 to 5 days in final 2 week period, rather than over majority of flowering period.
That's just my take on it anyway dude so please don't think I'm ripping into your systems or anything, and apologies if I've not read anything correctly either - just hoped could help pack a few extra grams onto those babies if possible, as they look sweet now though i honestly think they'll push out the extra weight your eye's are expecting soon!
I'll get better, this was first time I turned it on. Even with the stand on a bucket next to bud it is very difficult to get a focus as depth of field is so short. The phone app is simple and basic but has a remote shutter control which is helpful so to be perfectly still.
