Names

[raffogreaves]

Hi all, can anyone help? I want to buy a scope but want to know if purchasing one like a Swarovski or Leica etc. I'd be paying for the name?
Are there other makes that will perform as well at a more reasonable price?
Cheers

[VinceS]

Hi,
I have always used Opticron for both scope and bins and I am sure a lot of other members have their own preferences. What I would strongly suggest is that you try as many as possible before buying. If you go on field trips with RSPB groups or other groups ask as many people as possible to look through their scopes and see the differences (if any). You can then decide what you are prepared to pay. There are also some good secondhand scopes from reputable dealers so look around once you have tried. Hope this is of some help

Vince

[ron1863]

Hi and welcome to WAB. I can't answer your question as I have never owned a scope but someone on the forum will.
I looked at the prices for the Swarovski and Leica and my god, they ain't cheap.

[ChrisJB]

Very important, try before you buy! Decent names (apart from the big two you mentioned) to look out for are Opticron, Kowa, Nikon and Zeiss. A pal recently bought a Viking scope (don't know the model), from an R.S.P.B reserve shop and I was really impressed with it. It came with a tripod and I'm sure was less than five hundred 'sheets'.

Regards, Chris

[raffogreaves]

Thanx for advive friends, it sounds like I really need to have to have a look through as many scopes as I can before choosing. I have the Optricon Countryman bins which at £199.00 are very satisfactory. I am leaning toward an Opticron scope but will, as advised, look at others first. Cheers, Raffo

[raffogreaves]

Thanx for advice friends, it sounds like I really need to have to have a look through as many scopes as I can before choosing. I have the Optricon Countryman bins which at £199.00 are very satisfactory. I am leaning toward an Opticron scope but will, as advised, look at others first. Cheers, Raffo

[Oscar2006]

My first scope was an Opticron, and it served me well for many years.
I upgraded to a "proper scope", a Kowa - that cost me approx £1100 with 2 eyepieces about 9 years ago as I could justify the expense due to the amount of time I spent using it.
My advice is to decide what your budget is and then try all the scopes within that budget. Try to view at low light levels and see what performs best