[nigel_b]

Great advice so far.

I've got a Slik Master Classic which at £100 has done the job admirably for me so far. Its in use about 5 times a week and shows no sign of wear.

I'd also recommend the second hand route for optics. I've purchased a Kowa scope, probably for a third of the price of equivalent optics today. I've also purchased a set of Nikon HGs 8x42 and recently a second pair which are 8x32 both for less than half their original price.

As for Opticron, my son has the MM scope and we have 3 other pairs of Opticron binoculars between us, two compacts and one older porro-prism pair(and no others apart from the Nikons). They are in my opinion always good value for money.