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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. Craig H

    Spotting Scopes - Personal needs and perceptions vs optical ability

    Around four years ago I sold my faithful Leica Televid APO 77 with its 32x Wide eyepiece after nearly 20 years of service. There were a few factors, weight being one, but what I was really missing was the ability to zoom in that I was seeing on so many 'new' scopes. I bit the bullet and bought...
  2. Craig H

    Kowa vs Swarovski

    I currently have a Swarovski ATX85 which I’ve had for a few years - warranty runs out this year. Despite it being optically excellent I have never really got on with the helical focus (previous scope was a Leica APO77 and I loved the focus). I should have swapped years ago but held on purely due...
  3. Craig H

    Tips please

    I have dabbled one and off for years with pencil sketching, watercolours and, more recently coloured pencils. I think an area I'm going wrong is in my paper choice. I can never seem to get the 'texture' of the drawing correct. Should I be using a smooth paper or a rough one etc etc. What do...
  4. Craig H

    Advice on birding in Cornwall

    I'll be down in Cornwall for a family holiday in May, staying near Newquay. I'd appreciate any tips advice people have on places to go nearby. I will be nipping out in the mornings before the tribe get out of bed so won't have time to travel too far - maybe 10-20 miles max. Cheers
  5. Craig H

    ATX 85 - Initial thoughts

    Some members may remember I was asking a few questions about this scope before xmas and, eventually I bought one second hand, choosing this model over the Leica, Kowa and Zeiss equivalents. Here are my initial thoughts - not technical stuff, just how I find it in use. Prior to this scope I had...
  6. Craig H

    Nikon UK Service - experiences

    I have a pair of 8x32 HG that I'm considering sending in for a service and possible re-armour. Nikon can't give me an estimate and as I'm looking to sell I cant decide whether it will be worth the investment (I know they need new eyecups and maybe, at a push, a re-armour). Any idea of what Nikon...
  7. Craig H

    Kowa after sales - good, bad or indifferent?

    The 883 is one of three scopes I am considering buying, but never having had any Kowa products I have no experience of their after sales performance. Through personal experience I have found Swarovski are very good and Leica a bit more hit and miss. If I'm forking out over £2000 on a product I'd...
  8. Craig H

    Opinions sought

    I'm considering a new scope and would like to hear others views. The contenders are Leica 82mm, Kowa 883 or the Swarovski ATX 85. I currently have a Leica APO 77 that is still good but I've been drawn into wanting a zoom and I only have the 32x eyepiece. But I love the view through the Televid...
  9. Craig H

    Your advice please

    Hi all. I'd welcome your thoughts and any advice on my next purchase. I have only dabbled with photography so far, and I have no intention of making photography my main hobby - I'm a bins and scope first person. However, after dabbling with an entry level canon kit I bought a couple of years ago...
  10. Craig H

    Warranties

    I was told some considerable time ago, that the reason Leica (and presumably Swarovski - can't comment on Zeiss) stopped providing a 30yr Warranty as per my Trinovid BA's, was because of some new (at the time) legislation from the EU. Something about them not being able to guarantee that parts...
  11. Craig H

    High Grade 8x32 eyecup replacement cost

    Just thought I'd check to see if anyone else has had these replaced. I emailed Nikon and they have quoted me £13.60 +VAT (£16.32 total) EACH plus p&p. I only want the rubber bit for crying out loud. Does this sound right to everyone else? Nearly £40 for two rubber eyecups seems a touch high.
  12. Craig H

    British Bird Fair - info please

    I know it's a long time off, but I'm prepared to wait if the answer is what I'm hoping! Is it any cheaper buying new optics at the bird fair? Is it a case of buying direct from the manufacturers or are there just different optics retailers there? I've been several times but never ventured into...
  13. Craig H

    Would you sell?

    I've mentioned on this forum before that i'm considering buying a pair of ultravids. Finding out that Leica has decided to discontinue the standard Ultravids in favour of the HD version has 'encouraged' me to think about buying a bit earlier. But...to do that I'd need to raise a bit of cash...
  14. Craig H

    Whats happening??

    Pardon my ignorance, and appologies if this has been brought up before, but whats going on with Leica binoculars? I presume the BN's are now discontinued? But am I right in saying that they are also scrapping the standard ultravid so that the Ultravid HD is the only Leica binocular out there? I...
  15. Craig H

    DVD Drives

    Luddite warning!! I've just got a pc with a DVD +/- RW, which I presume is a DVD reader and writer. Looking at DVD's in the shops they seem to be DVD + or DVD -or DVD +/- what does it all mean? Also, is it just a writer or can I use rewriteable DVDs, and what about CD's?
  16. Craig H

    Heathrow Expansion Consultation

    Dont know if this has been posted before or not - appologies if it has. http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/heathrowconsultation/
  17. Craig H

    Costa Brava advice needed

    I'm off on a family holiday to the resort of Santa Susanna (just N of Barcelona) in May and was wondering if anyone had any info on the place (with regard to birds obviously). As I say, its a family holiday so I'm going to be a bit limited to time, and am unlikely to have a car. The area around...
  18. Craig H

    Black Grouse at Worlds End

    Does anyone know if the Black Grouse are 'showing' at Worlds End? Birline NW had reports of Black Grouse at a car park at Worlds end the other day, but I didint catch all the info and dont know if this was the RSPB site or not. Anybody help?? Just realised I've posted this in the wrong forum...
  19. Craig H

    Hide clamp query

    I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a hide clamp. I've never bothered before a) I preffer to be outside and b) always managed by just balancing the scope on the window. However after nearly seeing my scope topple out of a hide window I have come to the conclusion that I need a clamp. I use...
  20. Craig H

    Any idea what this is?

    Just found this whilst browsing for some kit and havent got a clue what its for. It really bugged nme so thought I'd ask here. http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web/recorprod/11/product/11321/cat/1108/ph/cat/keywords//recor/1/SearchFor//PT_ID/1/product.asp Tree Screw!!!! Whats all that about...
  21. Craig H

    Decisions Decisions

    Ok -here we go. To change or not to change. I've had a pair of 10X42 BA's for about 11 years or so now, and I love em to bits. They're still in excellent condition and there isnt (that I can see) a mark on any of the lenses. But... I recently looked through a pair of 10X42 ultravids and...well...
  22. Craig H

    How long do clearwing pheremone lures last

    I bought a full set of these a couple of years ago. Apart from two or three that I've taken out locally, most have never left my freezer. Will they still be OK? I'm off to Wales in a couple of weeks and was hoping to try them out for Thrift Clearwing but will they still work or should I order a...
  23. Craig H

    Scarce Chaser sites - Help

    Can anyone help please. I'm down at Minsmere Tomorrow and Thursday and was hoping some one might know a reliable site for Scarce Chaser nearby. I know of Geldstone Locks, but wont get chance to travel that far north. Is there anywhere enroute to Minsmere, ie. in Northants??
  24. Craig H

    Red Veined Darters in Greater Manchester.

    In case there are any other Greater Manchester /Lancs dragonfly enthusiasts out there - approx 6 males and 1 female at Pennington Flash Country Park, Leigh. Still present Saturday at least. Exact Grid Ref is SJ 63634 99213.
  25. Craig H

    Duovid bargain???

    I know bidding can go through the roof in the last few seconds, and I'm not sure how genuine this is but if you're after new bins you surely couldnt go wrong with these. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Leica-Binoculars-10-15x50-Duovid-Black_W0QQitemZ7623704975QQcategoryZ10955QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem...
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