I've learned over the years, that the more you spend on optics today, the
longer between buying again in the future. Scope envy is a real malady for
which there is only one cure, $$$.Buy the best glass you can afford then apply
15%-20%.If you believe it not to be true, ask your nearest photographer...
Tom Becker, BBDFloyd County, IN
http://www.flickr.com/groups/kentucky_ornithological_society/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/iasphotos/
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Nally <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: BIRDKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Apr 18, 2021 1:49 pm
Subject: [birdky] Re: Scope Recommendations
My first scope was a Celestron Regal M2 with the 65mm objective lens version. I
think it typically retails for around $500-550 but I got it on one of Amazon’s
“warehouse deals” for around $250. The main attraction to me to this particular
scope was that it did have pretty good optics for the money but also that the
eyepiece was interchangeable with telescope eyepieces as well. There’s tons of
great eyepieces that work well for it (though I’ve only tried a couple
personally). They also make an 80mm and 100mm objective lens versions but as
you’d expect those get much more expensive (and heavier if that’s of concern).
The real drawback to this scope (regardless of eyepiece I used) was that once
you zoomed somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of the zoom range, the view degraded
pretty rapidly. There was a fairly substantial loss of detail by 1/2 zoom. It
just got worse from there.
I would mention at this point that I upgraded to the Vortex Razor HD (2nd
generation) and its vastly superior to the Celestron. However, they also have
the Diamondback and Viper lines that both are supposed to be great options as
well (I haven’t personally looked through them so I can’t necessarily recommend
them). The nice thing about the Vortex is that warranty. A couple of months
ago, my tripod leg lock broke and my Vortex scope went crashing to ground
(concrete) breaking the eyepiece. I called vortex and they had me send it to
them, about a week later it came back with a new eyepiece at no charge. They
even paid shipping both ways. That same warranty coverage is on their lower
level scopes as well. The warranty is reason enough for me to continue to
consider their other products. I believe their cheapest (diamondback) scopes
are in the $400-500 range and their mid level (viper) scopes are around
$900-1000 if I’m not mistaken. I guess they need to determine what they
consider affordable to budget accordingly. I know when I bought mine I quickly
realized that at any given budget there always seemed to be something just a
bit better for a bit more money all the way up to the most expensive ones so
you just have to cut it off somewhere.
Eric Nally Boone County
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 18, 2021, at 12:49 PM, andrew melnykovych <estiles74@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have a Vortex Razor HD 20-60 zoom with the 85mm objective lens. It's very
good - I've looked through scopes costing twice as much and noticed only a
minor difference in quality. The newer model starts at 27X on the zoom - I find
myself usually staying within the bottom two-thirds of the zoom range.
The new one sells for about $1600 - but you can sometimes find discounts. I was
able to knock about $300 of the cost of mine.
Andrew MelnykovychLouisville KY
On Sun, Apr 18, 2021 at 11:21 AM Stephen Tyson <kytysons9152@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Also, don’t assume that high price equals heirloom quality and reliability! We
learned that the hard way through bad experiences with a Swarovski scope and
binoculars.
Stephen Tyson, Schochoh
On Apr 18, 2021, at 10:11 AM, mikesindahouse <mikesindahouse@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS
Frank,
On scope cost and quality, truer words were never spoken. I guess the word
affordable is relative.
Good to know that the Pentax works well for digiscoping and sounds like a
good mid range option worth looking into further.
Thanks,
Mike Callan
502-592-7008
On Apr 18, 2021, at 10:47 AM, Lyneart <lyneart@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============
There’s a little bit of a conflict between the words good and affordable.
It doesn’t seem real likely that a good scope would be what anyone would
call cheap. My scope is no where near the high end price wise but it wasn’t
cheap either. My criteria for choosing a scope was to get one tat would
match up well with a camera for digi-scoping. I chose a Pentax PF-80ED. It
zooms from 20x to 60x. It also has a retractable eyecup. The eyecup works
well as a sleeve for holding my Canon Powershot A1400 up to it. I can
retract the eyecup for viewing, which also helps. because I wear glasses.
Frank Lyne
frank@xxxxxxxxxxx - near Dot in Logan County, KY
On Apr 18, 2021, at 9:07 AM, mikesindahouse <mikesindahouse@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
A birder friend of mine is looking to buy a good affordable scope. Has
anyone bought one recently that you would recommend?
Does anyone have a used scope in good condition you are willing to part
with?
Thanks!
Mike Callan
502-592-7008================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============
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