Looking to get a Spotting Scope...

[DemonTraitor]

I have only just seriously thought of getting a spotting scope, and have started doing some minor research. It has just shocked me to find out that it seems that an average scope is going to cost me some serious £'s, and being short of funds - with just a spare £150 so far, it looks like I am nowhere near obtaining a usable scope :cry:

What to do? I was thinking of getting a Celestron Ultima 80 in the hope of just getting that much closer to the birds... at the moment I own a pair of Aspen 10 x 44 bins...

I also do photography and use a Canon 30D with an L4 300mm

Should I just forget the scope for the moment??? :err:

Thanks

[Brian S]

Try http://www.cleyspy.co.uk/pre-owned-telescopes-c21.html

There are one or two good scopes there from a very reputable retailer. Obviously, the more you spend the better, but the Kowa 612 or the Nikon after it are fair scopes and will do you well.

Brian S

[Colin Key]

Agree with Brian.

Would also advise to just "hold on" for a while - £150 is not going to buy you anything that would enhance your birding (assuming you have decent bins, and with the camera + lens set-you you have, you are O.K. for the moment).

"Cheap kit = bad birding experience", and there is no way to argue against that.

Save the pennies for a future purchase!!

Regards,

Colin :smile:

[MichaelF]

I'd go for either of the Kowas at the link Brian posted

... pre-owned ....
Yukk! Where's that vomiting face smiley? What's wrong with second-hand?

[DemonTraitor]

I was thinking a angled scope would be better than a straight?

Thank you for your replies :)

[MichaelF]

Matter of personal preference. A straight-through is much easier (= faster) to aim on a bird; an angled is more restful on the neck muscles. For raptors high in the air, an angled is nearly essential, for seabirds low over the waves below you, a straight-through is easier.

[darrenjhughes]

Where do you live I have a Optolyth TBS 80 with a 30xww that could find a good home for a few beer tokens(cheap or P&P)

[Colin Key]

Where do you live I have a Optolyth TBS 80 with a 30xww that could find a good home for a few beer tokens(cheap or P&P)

I still have this 'scope (the flourite job) and have to say that optically it stands up well against the best of today's top models. But why did I buy a "straight" 'scope as my first major optical investment - daft?

To be honest, the main reason for getting a Swaro was that the Optolyth was not waterproof - but that was before I moved here, where there is no rain!!!:laugh:

Colin :smile:

[MichaelF]

But why did I buy a "straight" 'scope as my first major optical investment - daft?
It won't matter where it doesn't rain, but with a straight-through, you don't get rain on the eyepiece, with an angled, you get puddles :twitcy:

[Brian S]

I still have this 'scope (the flourite job) and have to say that optically it stands up well against the best of today's top models.

Colin :smile:

Colin

I can't believe that. The Optolyth TBS80 as good as the top models now? Really?

Brian S

[Colin Key]

Colin

I can't believe that. The Optolyth TBS80 as good as the top models now? Really?

Brian S

Brian,

I bought my Optolyth TBS80HD at Vic Odden's (London Bridge) more years ago than I care to remember - I actually bought it based on the Optolyth advertising campaign which featured Lee Evans, and at the same time also bought an Optolyth Alpin 10x50 binocular after having my Zeiss Jena 10x42's "nicked". I was in heaven after having traded-in a Russian draw-tube x20-60 'scope which was dire (incidentally, I met a guy at Shellness nature reserve in Kent who had actually bought that very same Russian 'scope (I could identify it from a couple of scratches) from Odden's and he was absolutely delighted with it!!

Later, I went to Kay Optical (I have bought a load of stuff from them) to upgrade to an angled (I had by then realised that straight 'scopes are "naff") Kowa (cannot remember the model number) but was told that he would not sell me that $hit and that I must have a Swaro AT80HD (the one with grey metal armouring) - the best 'scope I have ever used and I still have it (my wife uses it) - mechanically and optically it is superior to my current Swaro ATS80HD which has virtually fallen apart (the barrel has separated into two pieces as a result of twisting and pulling the lens hood out from that stupid stay-on case).

I held on to the Optolyth which we sometimes let visitors use who have travelled light and brought neither 'scope or tripod. I had occasion to get it out the other day and after looking at a distant, perched Black-winged Kite was quite amazed at the optical clarity.

If I recall correctly, you were a great advocate of the Zeiss Diascope. My best birding mate uses one of these and I must say I find it dreadful - he was there when we viewed the said Black-winged Kite and the image trhough his 'scope was worse than either of the Swaros or the Optolyth. Maybe I just got a good one?

The Optolyth 100mm 'scope was a different matter - worst piece of glass I ever looked through!!

Colin

P.S. Currently using a Questar which has been loaned to me - interesting :ohdear:.