Scope advice please

willie45 · #1 (**permalink**) 14-04-2009, 01:09 AM

Hi

First post here so hello all. I expect this is quite a boring one to start with, sorry about that, but I am looking to buy a spotting scope for my wife for general birding. It needs to be light enough to carry around and waterproof with good anti-fogging characteristics. This is her first scope so don't want to spend a fortune and would need to be under £400 and preferably under £300.

I looked a the Nikon RA III 65 angled because it seemed to meet the requirements admirably. Does this sound like a good buy or would you recommend others?

I know she should try before we buy but I'm not sure where to do this. We live in Kent and I know RSPB have a shop at Rainham where they let you try ther scopes but this is only the brands they sell.

Anyway all advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Maverick47 · #2 (**permalink**) 15-04-2009, 07:06 PM

Hi Willie and welcome to WAB

Its been ages since I've looked at any scopes so I'm not really up to speed with the latest stuff thats around.

The Nikon scopes have a good reputation from what I remember but it would be best to have a try with as many as possible before buying.

A quick google search has thrown up RSPB Dungeness, and also several places in Canterbury. Countryside Optics, Canterbury camera centre among others. They may even have some secondhand trade-in bargains.

Hope this helps, happy hunting

willie45 · #3 (**permalink**) 18-04-2009, 08:20 PM

Hi Maverick and thanks. I have managed to find some open days in Kent where In Focus will be demonstrating some equipment. In fact I am hoping to get to one tomorrow. Anyway, I will let you know how it goes and thanks again for the welcome and advice

Willie

welsh.lensman · #4 (**permalink**) 18-04-2009, 09:30 PM

Hi Willie and welcome to WAB, I'm a camera man myself and therefor have not had a great deal to do with scopes, but I just wanted to welcome you and your wife to the best wildlife site on the net, enjoy.

willie45 · #5 (**permalink**) 21-04-2009, 12:39 AM

Thanks Welshlensman for the welcome. I'm a cameraman too so all this is a bit new to me.

I did go to the In Focus day but unfortunately they had left early so I never got to try anything out. A bit annoying after a 100mile round trip

I made a few calls to some dealers over the weekend and was advised that is would make more sense to go for a pair of binoculars first and and leave the scopes for later!

I then went to the RSPB shop in Dungeness today and bought a pair of Viking Navigator 10x42 binoculars today. To someone of my limited experience they seemed good quality and although they were a fair bit more expensive than online I suppose the money goes to a good cause so I wont moan too much

Thanks again for the warm welcome and advice

Willie