The best advice I ever received about camera lenses was buy the best glass you
can afford. I daresay the same applies to scopes.
The difference between the 80mm objective lenses and the 60mm is that the 80mm
"gathers" more light - in other words, it will give you better images in low
light conditions - which can be useful at dawn, dusk and in dark, overcast
conditions. A disadvantage with the larger bodies is that they are physically
larger, and heavier - which matters when you're lugging the thing through the
bush - in addition, a larger scope will require a sturdier (and heavier)
tripod. The 80mm scopes will offer greater magnification with the same
eyepieces. Most manufacturers list two magnifications (eg 16x/20x) for their
eyepieces - the smaller magnification is what you get with the 60mm scopes, the
larger magnification is what you get with the 80mm scopes.
I've used Leica scopes (and once you've looked through one of them, or a
Swarovski, you won't want to look through anything else), and I've got friends
with Kowa scopes. In my opinion, the Kowa scopes are good - for all up value
for money, the Kowa scopes are hard to beat. The PROFESSIONAL quality Nikon and
Pentax scopes also appear quite good. Don't bother with the cheapie Nikon
scopes, or any other cheapies - you'll just regret it.
I've not tried digiscoping with an SLR - simply because I don't have an adapter
and even if I did, my tripod is not sturdy enough. If you are going to try
that, you may want to consider the larger scope rather than the smaller -
firstly for the light gathering capabilities and secondly the size and weight
of the larger scope will balance the SLR better. Alternatively, there are some
good non-SLR digital cameras that you can use for digiscoping, whilst leaving
your SLR with a long lens "free" - this is what I do. You may get some better
information from some of the professional photographers on birding-aus, if they
respond.
I currently have an angled scope, and wish I had a straight scope. I suspect
this is very much a matter of personal opinion since there is no technical
advantage one way or the other. I'm a shade over 6' tall, and if I had a
straight scope I'd need a tripod that could raise the scope to my eye level.
This wouldn't help my wife though, who is only 5'10"!
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Melbourne
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Carl Billingham
Sent: Thursday, 6 March 2008 11:56 AM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: RFI Spotting Scopes
I am considering buying my first scope. My experience with scopes is very
limited so I am looking for some advice.
I am currently considering a number of options. The Kowa range seems to be
quite popular with birders and I have been offered the TSN-601 (60mm scope
body) and the TSN-821 (82mm scope body) at what I think are reasonable prices.
Initially I am considering getting a 30/32mm wide angle eye piece instead of a
zoom.
The main use for the scope is to try to figure out what those %^& waders
are that I have been seeing distantly through my binoculars.
I also enjoy wildlife photography and have a Canon 20D digital SLR camera along
with a very sturdy Manfrotto tripod with a uniball head. I can see that
eventually I will want to use the scope for some digiscoping as well.
My main questions are as follows:
What are the advantages/disadvantages between the 60 and 82mm scope sizes?
(Price is not a major concern for me with this purchase)
Should I go for a straight or angled scope?
What scope would be peoples preference?
Oh, I am 6'3" - not sure if that makes much of a difference but it may do when
considering whether to go for an angled or a straight through scope for
digiscoping with the SLR attached.
Thanks in advance,
Carl Billingham
Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.
www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail
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