Nikon ED 50 Field Scope

[Naturenutz]

I have recently been thinking about getting a spotting scope.I like to be very mobile and often walk a lot of miles carrying my Nikon d300 and a few lenses.My primary interest is photographing wildlife but there are many occasions when i carry a small pair of Chinon 10x21 compact bins.Although i have had very good use from these,i would like the extra power of a spotting scope.I have had a few pointers in the direction of a nikon ed50 field scope,i have also heard they can be mounted on my manfrotto 190xb tripod saving on carrying a second tripod.Does anyone have any experience of these or any similar scope .
Thanks
vic .

[Naturenutz]

opologies folks,did not see the post below on the mighty midget

[John D]

Hi Vic
Like you my primary interest is photographing birds and like you I have a set of binoculars that I always take with me. However at times I also take along a scope mounted on a tripod with my camera and lens mounted on a monopod. Whilst I can manage with this it can become quite cumbersome and can lead to missed shots or missed viewing, depending on what device is being used at the time. There is no doubt the scope has advantages over binoculars in terms of distance viewing but the best combination by far, in my opinion, when out to get photographs is - binoculars round the neck and camera/lens mounted on a tripod. On the very odd occasion when visiting sites where I know photography is not possible, due to birds etc being too far away, I take only the scope and binoculars.

Note - my scope is an Opticron GS665 GA ED with SDL 20-60x Zoom eyepiece. I I find this combination to be very good.

John D
Zenfolio | John's Wild World

[Naturenutz]

Thanks john,i have a decision to make,spotting scope or a quality pair of bins.Like you,i usually carry my tripod with camera attached,and often have my small bins around my neck.I have just looked at the opticron gs655 and will consider this depending on which way i go,scope or bins.I guess thinking about it in the ideal world i would have quality bins and a large scope and a small scope,covering every likely situation,but in reality i will have to decide on just one of the 3 .Sometimes it seems you need to air your thoughts before you can concentrate your mind on the most suitable option,rather than "i would like one of them "type thoughts .I will have a longer look at what is the most important to me,distance,portability,or clarity etc.Thanks for focusing my thoughts .

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Naturenutz

I guess thinking about it in the ideal world i would have quality bins and a large scope and a small scope,covering every likely situation

Definitely the best option - but then you need to decide which to take with you each time you go out!

I have a Nikon ED50, primarily as a travel scope (although I do sometimes take it when I'm carrying a lot of photo gear). I usually have a pair of binoculars around my neck regardless, but you might be interested to know that it is possible to use the ED50 as a monocular, try one out somewhere where they allow field testing (best to buy the straight model if you want to do this, but I have used my angled model hand held - not easy, but it works!).

If you want to have some extra magnification available, then the ED50 is a useful easily portable scope (13-40x magnification with my zoom lens). It's not great in very low light, especially if you try and increase the mag, but it works well in most conditions. It will fit on any tripod - easily swapped with a camera if you have a quick release plate already attached (although even at the higher mags, I tend to just rest it on the camera or lens, or even a fence post).
As a lightweight, easily carried scope I would definitely recommend the ED50 over others like the Opticron Mighty Midget (which I have also used).

[Naturenutz]

Thanks for your input Roy.Its good to have some comparisons.Do you know what eyepiece choices you have for the ed50.

[RoyW]

Any of the eyepieces that fit the other Nikon Scopes will also fit the ED50, but they give a lower magnification (eg. the zoom eyepiece that I have is a 25-75x on my ED82, but a 13-40x on the ED50). I don't think that you can get anything that covers different magnifications, but you can get various fixed mag eyepieces within this range.

[Graeme B]

I use my ED50 when I don't want to carry my main scope or when on holiday I use mine with a Cullman shoulder pod and it's a great outfit.

The shoulder pods sometimes appear on e-bay.

[wizzo]

Hi Naturenutz. I would highly recommend that you take a look at The Hawk ED range of bins. You can see them at Chew Valley lakes (Lakeside Optics) or, why not pop along the big optics show, this comng Saturday. It's at the Holiday Inn (off the 2nd juction of the M32, heading for filton - just on the left). Having owned top of the range Leica bins, I'd say that these are virtually as good. definately worth a look mate. If their ED scopes are as good, I may even consider trading in my Leica 77! (which I love, by the way!) Wizzo

[Naturenutz]

thanks wizzo,i know holiday inn but i did not know the show was on.I may well have a look on saturday.I may have a look at chew too as i sometimes visit the lodge.Thanks graeme ill look at the shoulder pod .