[TN-Bird] Celestron Ultima Scopes

Hello Birders,

There have been numerous threads about scopes on this list before, so
I am hoping it is okay to post to this list about equipment advise.
If not, please accept my apologies.

I realize trying out a scope is most important thing, but since I do
not have luxury of time (leaving for a 2 month trip to India in early
June), I am going to have to rely on other people's experience about
the scope I would like to buy.

I have so far been able to narrow down to two scopes, both celestron ultimas:

80mm (20-60x zoom, 45 angled)
100mm (22-66x zoom, 45 angled)

Most reviewers on Amazon.com had good things to say about the 80mm
scope, but they all seem to agree that light drops considerably after
zoom levels above 25-30x.  Since light gathering is a function of the
size of the lens, I am also considering 100m scope which Celestron
claims will fetch 50% brighter image.  However, things to consider
are:

Weight:  The 100mm scope is almost 1 lb heavior than 80mm.
Size:  The 100mm scope is longer by 1/3rd of a foot (19 inches
compared to 16 inches)
Price difference is approximately $100.

I am open to compromising on weight and bulkiness of the larger scope,
if it is significantly better.  However if the difference is going to
be such that only an expert could appreciate it, I would rather save
my $100.

Does anyone have any experience with either one of these scopes?  If
so, could you please share?  Also, if you would like to suggest other
scopes in the same price range ($300 max), please feel free to do so.

For the curious, I am hoping to have significant birding opportunities
in the tropical forests of West-Central India and also West coast
(Konkan).

Thank you so much for reading and for any input.

Happy Birding....
Vikram
=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with
first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
      To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
                    tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
                To unsubscribe, send email to:
                 tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
            with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                ------------------------------
                Assistant Moderator Andy Jones
                         Cleveland, OH
                -------------------------------
               Assistant Moderator Dave Worley
                          Rosedale, VA
__________________________________________________________
         
          Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
              web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                          ARCHIVES
 TN-Bird Net Archives at http://www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/

                       MAP RESOURCES
Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif
Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com

_____________________________________________________________

Other related posts: