Scope advice

[watsthat]

I increasingly find that I could do with a scope on my rambles. My Opticron 10x42`s are not quite powerful enough on a couple of lakes that I visit. I recently took advice at RSPB Bempton and tried some out. However; I had a few difficulties because I wear glasses and my left eye is not too good. Historically I have always closed my right eye to look through scopes, viewers etc and I find it hard to close my left (bad) eye to squint through the eyepiece with my right eye. I had real difficulty seeing any sort of an image at all with the scopes I tried especially the Mighty Midget, (maybe its the size of the eyepiece). I don`t need a fantastic magnification and I don`t want to lug a tripod around. Any suggestions?

Pete

[John D]

Originally Posted by watsthat

I increasingly find that I could do with a scope on my rambles. My Opticron 10x42`s are not quite powerful enough on a couple of lakes that I visit. I recently took advice at RSPB Bempton and tried some out. However; I had a few difficulties because I wear glasses and my left eye is not too good. Historically I have always closed my right eye to look through scopes, viewers etc and I find it hard to close my left (bad) eye to squint through the eyepiece with my right eye. I had real difficulty seeing any sort of an image at all with the scopes I tried especially the Mighty Midget, (maybe its the size of the eyepiece). I don`t need a fantastic magnification and I don`t want to lug a tripod around. Any suggestions?

Pete

There is a wide range of scopes available but I doubt if you could make a real use of one without a tripod. It is quite difficult to hold binoculars much greater than 10X50 steady never mind a scope that will have greater magnification to make it worthwhile.
Just MHO
John D

[eeyore]

it might be feasible to use a monopod - you can get ones that can double at a walking pole

[muckshifter]

I just bought a new scope, like you I also wear glasses, but I'm the other way around ... my left eye is the good eye and is the one I close.

Most, if not all here, will tell you to "try before you buy" and that is what I did also ... my first "look" was at the Opticron range of scopes, didn't like any of them, though there wasn't that many to try ... however, I took one peek through a Vanguard VSP 85 and bought it.

I hasten to add, it was the only one that had a 80mm object lens, that did make a difference I think. I do like the eyepiece, but unlike my old scope, the Vanguard is better viewing without me glasses. It's a nice eyepiece for me.

Oh, and as John said, you really do need a tripod.

[watsthat]

Thanks for the advice lads, looks like I`ll be at the next/nearest binocular fair.

Pete

[nightshade]

I use the cheap Opticron Piccolo on a Benbo Monopod which also doubles as a hiking stickl

[richardkm]

The Opticron MM2 is a good compact scope, even better if you buy the HDF eyepiece. They even do an ED version which is superb for its size. I know people who use them on a monopod successfully, one of them even digiscoping and getting very good images.

The HDF eyepiece (28x on the HR66 model) comes out at 18x and with its twist-down eyecup will give you a good field of view with specs on.

No, I don't work for Opticron, just sell scopes for a living.

[JP]

This is just my take, my old nan used to say "Buy cheap buy twice boy!" And where optics are concerned she was damned right warehouseexpress.com do a blinding 12 months intrest free offer, look through cheap binos then through a pair of leicas or swavorski binos and you will get where i am coming from, im a bit of a nature addict, and looking through my binos or scope is my fix, ive leica bins and swavorski 65 ATS HD scope and the buzz is amazing when you zoom in and watch any wild life behaviour, Id set your limity high, go for the 12 month interest free for what you want then get a cheap rate card and finish whats left off. Im in no way an optic snob or rich im just practical, you only live once take me old nans advice and go for your dream binos or scope. Go for it

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by JP

This is just my take, my old nan used to say "Buy cheap buy twice boy!" And where optics are concerned she was damned right warehouseexpress.com do a blinding 12 months intrest free offer, look through cheap binos then through a pair of leicas or swavorski binos and you will get where i am coming from, im a bit of a nature addict, and looking through my binos or scope is my fix, ive leica bins and swavorski 65 ATS HD scope and the buzz is amazing when you zoom in and watch any wild life behaviour, Id set your limity high, go for the 12 month interest free for what you want then get a cheap rate card and finish whats left off. Im in no way an optic snob or rich im just practical, you only live once take me old nans advice and go for your dream binos or scope. Go for it

I agree with everything jp has just said. I use a pair of 10x42 leica trinovids and they are excellent. I also took advantage of the 12 months interest free credit that warehouse express offer to buy a swarovski 80hd scope and a 20x60 zoom eyepiece also excellent to look through optically.
Regarding the tripod, you need one with a scope and to get around carrying one over your shoulder all day long i bought a tripod/scope carrying backpack type thing (not sure what you call them) its made by viking.You attach the tripod to it and you can then carry the whole lot on your back just like a back pack. It makes the tripod and scope much easier to carry by spreading the weight on your back and also frees up your hands so you can use your bins as well...

regards mark............

[diapasonbill]

Originally Posted by watsthat

I had real difficulty seeing any sort of an image at all with the scopes I tried especially the Mighty Midget, (maybe its the size of the eyepiece). I don`t need a fantastic magnification and I don`t want to lug a tripod around. Any suggestions?

Pete

In defence of the MM2!

I purchased an MM2ED last year with the SDL eyepiece, I find it superb for what I use it for Pete, you mention that you wear glasses, so do I and mine have prisms in the lenses (this may be why I dont get on with 'binos'). Whatever Scope you do purchase you will probably need an eyepiece with adjustable eyerelief, and as others have mentioned trying to handhold a scope is difficult, I find the MM2 is fine at 12 x, but wind the magnification up and it does require a tripod, also the smaller final optic limits the light gathering so the image can be rather dark at high magnification.

Should you opt for a larger scope, check how heavy it is - it will be like carrying a bag of sugar with you.

Good luck in finding the one to suit you.

Regards Bill.