Opinion on ES80 (1 Viewer)

[Ash1456]

Is the ES80 scope any good?
I know nothing about scopes but a friend recommended this scope.
these 2 bundles are what I have found at a local optics shop...
1 http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?KEY=2256 Zoom ep

2 http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?KEY=1609 Fixed ep

 

[stevetb]

Yep, it's a good 'un, probably the best in its price range. A bit on the heavy side but I managed to get a pretty sharp image @ 60x when trying one. Search it on here, there are a fair few positive opinions on it.

 

[purple highflyer]

Hello Ash,

I,ve had the es 80 ed for about a year, dont find the sdl zoom very good , much prefer the hdf zoom , yeah i presume its a good scope for the money , fairly narrow field of view with the zooms but you get used to it, on the right day you can get a useable image at around 50x , I,ve never found 60x any good for detailed id, example you can tell a gt northern diver by the shape of it,s head but not by plumage detail , up to 40x its very good , have compared with a kowa 883 prominar on a long tailed duck way off over hanningfield reservoir, the kowa user could make out the deail and id the bird but i could just see a blob with a white head ,but then you,d probably expect that for the price difference ,so what I mean to say is if you dont need anything over 40-50x it will be ok !

PH

 

[purple highflyer]

If this is your first scope you will not be disapointed, but I would still steer away from the sdl zoom.

PH

 

[dipped]

Hi Ash

If you want to read a review on it it's here, by Kimmo Absetz who posts here regularly.

It says it all - basically a good scope if you get a good specimen. Since the review a Mk. 3 version with "improved" optics is out.

Nev

 

[obrot]

have compared with a kowa 883 prominar on a long tailed duck way off over hanningfield reservoir,

The Kowa though sells for more than TWICE the price of the ES 80 ED

 

[obrot]

have compared with a kowa 883 prominar on a long tailed duck way off over hanningfield reservoir,

The Kowa though sells for more than TWICE the price of the ES 80 ED and is an 88 mm scope. This is an unfair comparison as the Kowa 883 is widely regarded as the best scope on the market currently in the UK

 

[purple highflyer]

The Kowa though sells for more than TWICE the price of the ES 80 ED and is an 88 mm scope. This is an unfair comparison as the Kowa 883 is widely regarded as the best scope on the market currently in the UK

Hi knobrot,

I did mention in my origional reply the price difference,the comparison was not meant as a recomendation, just to highlight the limitations of the scope.

PH

 

[mcepjg]

So the downsides to this scope is that it is heavy, has a small FOV, and it has non ED glass combined with a large objective lense so inevitably there is some chromatic aberation that makes it largely unsuitable for digiscoping. but other than that it is a very good scope for the money. Is this right?

 

[Guizotia]

I have an ES80 with the SDL zoom. It's plenty good enough for me (for example, I would upgrade my DBA Oasis binoculars but I have no urge to upgrade my scope)... except that I would get an HDF 32x eyepiece instead of the zoom.

In most conditions I've been in (windy or in hides with bouncy floors) I haven't got much extra detail over around 30x to justify the narrower field of view with the zoom compared to a fixed mag eyepiece.

For the 'weight', I have nothing to compare it too, but it certainly doesn't smack you as overly light - for this reason I use a scopac to carry it. This to me is pretty much a requirement.

 

[stevetb]

So the downsides to this scope is that it is heavy, has a small FOV, and it has non ED glass combined with a large objective lense so inevitably there is some chromatic aberation that makes it largely unsuitable for digiscoping. but other than that it is a very good scope for the money. Is this right?

No, the ES80 does have ED glass. It is a good scope for digiscoping. Even the SD version of the ES80 apparently has low amounts of CA.

 

[purple highflyer]

No, the ES80 does have ED glass. It is a good scope for digiscoping. Even the SD version of the ES80 apparently has low amounts of CA.

Hi AC/DC,

I have the es 80 ed with the hdf 20-60 zoom ,and ca is not realy a problem even at mags over 40x ,but the image looses alot of light over about 45x,as I,ve said before I find plumage based id over 50x impossible in most conditions , if you think you will not need mags over 40x then the ed is great,the hr 80 , on paper, is a very good scope ,apochromatic glass, bak7(?) prisms, 570mm focal length , but this would only make a difference at mags over 50x,as long as it weighs under 2kg,if I get the image I want (within the obvious financial constraints) , I,ll cary it !,cant coment on the es 80 sd I,m affraid.

PH

 

[Timo2112]

Interesting, I have the ES 80 ED and bought it with the SDL zoom as I thought, being more expensive it would be better. Have to say I'm happy with it, but as I have nothing to compare it to, it now makes me wonder how much more fun I could be having with a different eyepiece. I'd be keen to know the perceived shortcomings of the SDL.

 

[dafi]

Theres nothing at all wrong with the ES80.

It a good scope for the money.

All zooms have a narrower field of view than a fixed mag so dont fall for that its just a red herring. As to the weight, i might tramp miles in a day with mine and its no bother. I dont think a pound here or there realy makes a difference in the real world.

Its perfectly fine for digiscoping as well. Dont be fooled by the need for the latest most expensive kit with the fancy new coatings. The ES80 does the job just fine...Good scope!!

 

[purple highflyer]

Theres nothing at all wrong with the ES80.

It a good scope for the money.

All zooms have a narrower field of view than a fixed mag so dont fall for that its just a red herring. As to the weight, i might tramp miles in a day with mine and its no bother. I dont think a pound here or there realy makes a difference in the real world.

Its perfectly fine for digiscoping as well. Dont be fooled by the need for the latest most expensive kit with the fancy new coatings. The ES80 does the job just fine...Good scope!!

Hi dafi,

would agree with most of that ,field of view is one of thoes things you just get used to , I have both the sdl zoom and the hdf ,with the es80 ed, IMHO the hdf is superior for brightness of image & field of view,I never use the sdl,but if its your only lense you still got a good set up,the difference wont be worth the extra money.

PH

 

[dafi]

What i find is that with the zoom lens it gives you far more flexibility in framing your shot. As PH says the fixed mag is better for hunting stuff out at distance and you do get a crisper wider view. Yet i have a zoom and wouldnt change as i prefer the flexability of the zoom and the advantages that brings. I can live with the minor trade off.( and i think it is only a minor trade off)

I think the best advice here is to go to where the local birders are. Dont be bashfull and ask for a shot of their scopes. Even with a mid range scope it is far better to try a few out so you have a wee bit of a feel of them before you commit your hard earned cash!!

 

[purple highflyer]

What i find is that with the zoom lens it gives you far more flexibility in framing your shot. As PH says the fixed mag is better for hunting stuff out at distance and you do get a crisper wider view. Yet i have a zoom and wouldnt change as i prefer the flexability of the zoom and the advantages that brings. I can live with the minor trade off.( and i think it is only a minor trade off)

Hello Dafi,

Wich zoom do you have ? I ended up with both the hdf and the sdl, I had the hdf ,then bought the es80 ed as a bundle with the sdl & soc,in the hope that the sdl would be even better than the hdf, I definitely prefer the flexibility of a zoom,I regularily use high mags,but a fixed 50/60 x would be useless for general observation,thinking of up-grading to hr80 ed for better performance at high mag(?).

PH

 

[dafi]

I have the HDF, it works ok. I cant comment on the SDL as i have never used it.

Most of my photos are taken between 15 and 30x and i dont go much over that. I dont think you need to upgrade, give the scope a good bit of time till you have sussed it out in all conditions and are well used to using it. You might get better images at high mags with a HR but at what price. Even with the top end scopes you are pushing it for capturing images at 50 to 60x.

As to the opticron SOC well it sucks the popers went on mine the first day and the velcro is now gubbed i hold the lens covers tightly to the body with elastic bands now to stop them flaping and catching the wind as they are a total PITA when your going for a shot.

 

[purple highflyer]

I have the HDF, it works ok. I cant comment on the SDL as i have never used it.

Hi Dafi ,

Yeah, well in my opinion you got the best zoom anyway ,I dont use my es for proper digiscoping ,only the odd record shot and wouldnt ever try to get an image at over 30x,the reason for possibly going for the hr 80 ed would just be better id at long range ,I do find the es 80 ed falls off badly over 50x and I fInd it frustrating when I can get a large image in view but the lack of detail is dissapointig,but then somethings always gonna be out of range !.
I like the soc , execept the velcro flap,wich is a bit noisy.

PH

 

[dafi]

Is there such a thing as proper digiscoping.?`