[texbirds] Re: Scope Recommendations
- From: Holly Reinhard <holly.reinhard@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: jim.sinclair@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 19:36:49 -0600
Texbirders,
I would like to share my experience with scopes...I must say that I most
certainly do not regret buying a "cheap" (ish) scope. Sure, eventually I
would like to get a super nice scope like a Swarovski or Leica or Kowa. But
for now I definitely do not have the money.
Here are the scopes I have had--all of them have been used with the
exception of the one my work bought:
- When I first started birding as a teenager in Oregon, I was somehow the
recipient of a pretty old Bushnell Spacemaster. I used it on my parents'
old camera tripod (which was really awful), and it worked great for a
while. It digiscoped terrifically.
- I got another scope, a Leupold Sequoia, for my birthday about 10 years
later--my mom bought it for me at a garage sale. It wasn't amazing, but it
was a step up from the old Spacemaster, which a fellow Oregon birder had
called "a piece of Oregon birding history". This scope came with a pretty
awful tripod from the garage sale. I think my mom paid $150 for the whole
set-up.
- A few years ago in 2011, I bought the scope I currently own, a Nikon
Fieldscope III, from a fellow Oregon birder. This scope came with a decent
Manfrotto tripod and head. It's good, but my next optics-type purchase will
be a new tripod. The birder from whom I bought the scope gave me a *really*
good deal--under $400 for the scope, the tripod, and two different
Manfrotto heads. This scope is a very good scope, and really not a low end
at all, but the price I paid, since it was used, was pretty low,
relatively.
- For my current job working at Lake Casa Blanca State Park, we bought a
scope for the park for when I lead bird walks and such. We ended up getting
a Leupold Ventana scope, and a Manfrotto tripod and head. The tripod
package we got was Manfrotto 128RC, 190XB tripod and head. The tripod
package was $300, and the scope itself was $250. This is a great scope, and
terrific tripod.
I know that is rather wordy, but my point is, that I have been birding for
15 years, and I "still" don't have a top-end scope. I'm very much okay with
that, too. Eventually I will get one, hopefully, because they really are a
joy to look through. But as I said, I certainly don't regret getting low to
mid range scopes. If I had held out for a top of the line one, I still
might not have one, and I have seen many great views of birds through the
various scopes I have owned.
Eagle Optics is a terrific website that I highly recommend to everybody for
comparing optics for birding. It's very helpful to compare and read reviews
on there, and it has great customer service and virtually free shipping
(free when you spend over $50, which you're bound to do even if you're just
buying binoculars).
Just my two cents' worth.
Good birding,
Holly Reinhard
Laredo, TX
On Sun, Nov 24, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Jim Sinclair <jim.sinclair@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> One thing about Joseph's excellent comments is that the shoulder mount,
> although great for photographers, makes it a little hard to share.
> Many of you know Michael Marsden. When I first met him in Mexico many
> years ago, he did not use binoculars - just a hand-held scope. I remain
> amazed to this day about how well he handled that!
>
>
> On Sun, Nov 24, 2013 at 3:35 PM, Joseph Kennedy
> <josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
> > My recommendation would be similar to Jim Sinclairs. Go for the best and
> if
> > you have to wait a bit to save the extra $$$, think of how much character
> > that will build for you.
> > I went with the KOWA 883 angled eyepiece scope back several years ago
> when
> > it was the scope of the year and was also top rated several times since.
> > Kowa also makes a "regular" scope with the same sized eyepiece but
> without
> > the fluorite glass that allows really good light through the setup.
> >
> > Getting the better glass (which is in top of the line canon and Nikon
> > lenses) gives you 2 f-stops better photography which means you get
> pictures
> > early in the day or when cloudy that you would otherwise miss. If you
> can,
> > try to look through both at the same time and you will quickly return the
> > non-fluorite glass scope.
> >
> > Swarovski does make a scope that will make do and there are those who do
> > speak sort of well of that make. You would want the HD glass there. They
> > also have the ability to use it with cameras. etc.
> >
> > I would get the zoom lens which lets you really get on the rarities way
> out
> > in the bay etc. Remember that as you zoom to view, you are reducing
> > lighting and depth of field which will affect any photography.
> >
> > There are lots of adapters etc that let you digiscope with whatever scope
> > you have. The adapter have changed a lot when you stuck a tuna fish can
> up
> > against the scope and the camera against that. You had to get a camera
> that
> > fit a tuna fish can.
> >
> > Or you can get a second eyepiece such as the Kowa TSN-PZ that replaces
> the
> > regular scope eyepiece. An o-ring attaches to it made for your camera
> maker
> > that lets the scope/lens/o-ring attach to the camera like any lens. You
> > still have a scope that works as a scope looking through the camera
> > eyepiece. While not the best glass, you still have a 20 or 25 power scope
> > from say 15 years ago to look over way out there birds. Not the same as
> 60x
> > zoom but then a grebe a mile out in the waves is still a grebe a mile out
> > in the waves and if necessary go birding with someone with a traditional
> > setup. I have not used my regular scope eyepiece since 2006 or so.
> >
> >
> > I gave up tripods for good back in 2005 for a bushhawk shoulder mount to
> > provide mobility and a little Velcro makes it easy to use from the car a
> > blind and no need for bean bags etc. Travel light. Not like some folks in
> > California who brag about who has the heaviest tripod and how far they
> can
> > carry it.
> >
> > The setup also works well photographing bugs etc and you do not have to
> > worry about scaring them off the flowers etc. It does not work well with
> > large flocks of birds or things that go zoom. And some do not do well
> with
> > manual focusing which is required as the scope is not electronically
> > adapted to the camera. And if you have not used an angled eyepiece,
> > practice without a camera to get used to finding a bird.
> >
> > If you don't wait and save for the top of the line you will always have
> > scope envy and wish you had waited or you save and buy another scope a
> > little bit. Character building is a great trait to wish on others.
> >
> > Or get the best scope your money can buy now and take it birding tomorrow
> > and forget about what might have been.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Nov 24, 2013 at 9:13 AM, Rick Folkening <hopsing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > >wrote:
> >
> > > I hope this topic is okay in this forum. I know the true experts on
> > > scoping will be the folks on Texbirds. I'm finally getting ready to
> > > purchase a scope for birding and would like some recommendations on
> which
> > > to buy or which ones to stay away from. I'd like recommendations for
> > both
> > > a lower priced option, less than $500 and the medium priced options
> > around
> > > $1500ish. I will be using this 98% for birding and would like to have
> a
> > > digiscope option. I would appreciate any feedback directly to my email
> > as
> > > to not bother the Texbirds crowd.
> > > Thanks for the inputs,
> > >
> > > Rick Folkening
> > > Holliday, TX
> > >
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> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Joseph C. Kennedy
> > on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
> > Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
> >
> >
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>
>
> --
> Jim Sinclair (TX-ESA)
> TOS Life Member
> Kingsville, TX
>
> "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of
> thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein
>
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