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    Pentax PF80 EDa and fixed eyepieces

    sergilda, The old shorty Barlow thread is here : Modifying a low cost Barlow lens for use with the Pentax PF-EDAII spotting scope Be sure to read later posts in the thread, since I learned a better way to adapt the shorty Barlow AFTER making the first post. Posts 3 and 5 in that thread will...
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    Pentax PF80 EDa and fixed eyepieces

    sergilda, If you have a good example of the PF80EDa (most brands of scopes have some variation in optical quality among different examples), you should find it to be VERY versatile. As you've discovered, the Pentax zoom does NOT give optimal views when used with this or other Pentax spotters...
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    Minimum focus distance.

    If you are looking to focus closer, spotting scopes that accept standard 1.25" eyepieces can provide that. Closer minimum focus distance can be achieved by pulling the eyepiece barrel partially out from its fully seated position, by using the eyepiece in a Barlow tube with lenses removed, or by...
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    Quick release plate adapter to mount a "red dot" (reflector/reflex) sight to a spotting scope

    Hello Lucas, I just came across your recent addition to Henning's excellent thread. I've been using a somewhat similar "low tech" mounting, but attach to the scope and use it over the stay-on case that protects my scope. Since my scope is a Pentax, I posted this in the seldom visited Pentax...
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    Attaching a Red Dot Finder OVER a stay-on spotting scope case

    Attaching a Red Dot Finder OVER a stay-on spotting scope case I've always liked the stay-on cases that come with Pentax PF spotting scopes. These provide protection, yet allow quick and easy deployment with zippers and velcro - even providing a pocket in the objective-lens-covering flap to hold...
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    Prism modified RDF for ergonomic aiming angled spotting scopes

    Just to be clear, the refractor partially shown in the first post is not my Jaegers 5" f/5, but another ATM 4" f/6 with a conventional rack and pinion focuser. The Jaegers 5" f/5 I use for "owl watching" has a different type of home-made focuser (LSDF) with built-in Amici prism, pictured below...
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    Prism modified RDF for ergonomic aiming angled spotting scopes

    That refractor is one I made with a 127mm 629 mm FL Jaegers objective. A 30 mm FL eyepiece gives 21x with a bright 6 mm exit pupil. I rarely use more than 60x, which is about what a 10mm eyepiece gives. That's down to a 2 mm exit pupil, though, so is for daytime only. I've been lucky the past...
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    Prism modified RDF for ergonomic aiming angled spotting scopes

    About 5 years ago there was some information and discussion on this forum regarding the use of Red Dot Finders (RDF's) to aid in precision aiming higher powered spotting scopes. A couple of members from Germany had particularly good ideas about this. Recently, I've developed a prism angled...
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    Pentax xw 3.5mm phone adapter?

    The top part of the Pentax XW eyepiece unscrews to reveal a threaded section around the eye lens. Pentax used to make a camera adapter, the PF-DS1, that fit their now obsolete "Optio" series point and shoot cameras and attached onto those eyepiece threads. The PF-DS1 adapters still come up...
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    Field Optics Eye Sheild

    Hello Steven, "above" ? I see no picture or info on an eye shield attached. Do I need to do something else to see it? Thanks - Bill
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    Spotting scope on rifle stock a bad idea?

    Hello George, Unless you do your birding at a wilderness site with no other folks around, I think it is a matter of courtesy to NOT give others, especially city folks, the perception that you might be pointing a rifle. That pretty well rules out using a repurposed rifle stock or even airgun...
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    Looking into a eagle nest at 3,200 feet away. Indoor glassing options

    Hello Eaglejonny, May as well turn the "firehose" on full, so long as you've asked the question about image erectors for telescopes. Lots of alternatives here to consider: 1. The simplest "image erector" if you happen to choose a Newtonian (sometimes called Dobsonian because of its mount)...
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    Barlow lens

    Hello SwannyBC and welcome to Birdforum, Your Celestron Ultima 100 model uses screw-on eyepieces, so unfortunately, an astronomical 1.25" slip in Barlow will not fit. You MAY be able to make an adapter to do that, but I do not have an Ultima, so cannot offer any confirmations on that. The...
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    Pentax EDA PR-65 Meets The APM 12.5 mm Eyepiece

    I'm a little late with my contribution, but I bought this eyepiece in June, soon after gcole started this interesting thread. The APM 12.5 is indeed a nice, higher power eyepiece for use with all sizes of the Pentax PF spotters and I especially enjoy the wide field in the PF100 at 50x. I have...
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    Pentax EDA PR-65 Meets The APM 12.5 mm Eyepiece

    As one who enjoys adapted 2" eyepieces in the Pentax spotters, this appears to be a nice option for higher powers in those scopes. Thanks for your informative posts. One additional question, could you please comment on edge distortion with the larger field of this eyepiece. Some time ago I...
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    Adapting 1.25" Astronomy Eyepieces to the Nikon ED50

    The ring adapters I made in Feb of 2017 and mentioned in post 14 of this thread are all claimed, so I will no longer be able to fill requests to send one. I hope those who received the little rings have been able to put them to good use adapting astronomy eyepieces to the ED50 - Bill.
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    Anyone try high magnification in their 65mm

    Hello Dd61999, Welcome to Birdforum! I have a Pentax PF-65EDaII and occasionally use it with a Pentax XW 3.5mm eyepiece that normally serves for astronomical viewing with other telescopes. The combination gives 111x, a .63˚ true field of view, and an exit pupil of about .6mm. While images at...
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    Baader Morpheus eyepieces on sale

    The Baader Morpheus eyepiece sale ($175 US each rather than $239) has been ongoing for some time, but ends in two more weeks on May 15, 2018. I thought I'd better give this "heads-up" reminder lest some of you might miss out. The Morpheus series are all standard 1.25" barrel diameter and so...
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    Shoulder Stock for Nikon ED50 Angled Spotting Scope

    Template Available Most folks planning to build a wooden stock for angled spotting scope use will want to modify the design shown above to fit their own physique and ideas. But for anyone wanting an accurate copy of the one shown as a starting point, I can send you a paper with stock outline...
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    Shoulder Stock for Nikon ED50 Angled Spotting Scope

    Shoulder Stock with Nikon ED50a for left-handed use Because the Porro and half penta prism erecting system on the ED50a moves the eyepiece central axis about 15 mm to the left of the objective optical axis, the ED50a is ideal for right handed shoulder stock users who view with their right eye...
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    Shoulder Stock for Nikon ED50 Angled Spotting Scope

    For relatively low power (12-24x), wide field scope viewing, a simple shoulder stock holding a small spotting scope can be a good option. It is easy to carry, handy to use, much faster to point at a bird than a tripod mounted scope, and steadier than handheld high magnification binoculars. The...
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    Adapting 1.25" Astronomy Eyepieces to the Nikon ED50

    High Power Adaptable Eyepiece – On Sale! While I enjoy carrying the featherweight Nikon ED50 while hiking and normally keep the wide field, low power 20mm SWA eyepiece on the scope, occasionally views and conditions along the trail call for the maximum power possible in this small spotter. As...
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    Red Dot Sights (Reflex Sights) on Spotting Scopes

    Hello Henning, You are correct that the Nydar sight would not be usable in the darkness of an enclosed hide or blind. It also might have problems in a heavily canopied forest, though in normal forest there is enough light that the reticle is easily visible against the dark understory where small...
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    Red Dot Sights (Reflex Sights) on Spotting Scopes

    Another type of reflex sight - the Nydar I like red dot reflex sights for nighttime astronomy use, but use another reflex sight that needs no batteries with my spotting scope in daytime. It is the Nydar Shotgun Sight. It uses a little prism with ambient light to illuminate the white bullseye...
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    Need eypiece advice for Celestron M2 Regal 100ED

    Hello Eric and another welcome to B.F. I've been along the path you seem to be following - wanting a wide field view in a 100 mm scope. But in my case it was a Pentax PF100ED rather than a Celestron M2 Regal 100ED. I found the limitation on field is the 1.25" eyepiece barrel. To maximize the...
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