[BrianInnes]

I'm looking on some advice for a for a scope around £250-300, not sure what are recommended as decent scopes at this price point.

I may want to try digiscoping with it in the future (I have a pentax DSLR). I'd also want something reasonably compact too.

Thanks in advice for any suggestions!

regards

--
Brian

[postcardcv]

For the top end of your budget you could get a IS60 scope with an HDF eyepeice (I prefer the zoom), I doubt you could buy a better new scope for that money. It's alwasy worth looking around dealer for a good secondhand scope, sometimes bargain do come up.

[BrianInnes]

The IS60 does indeed look a nice scope. Would it be worth the extra shelling out for a zoom eyepiece rather than a fixed?

Going to pop into Edinburgh tomorow and have a look at some optics shops and see what I can see.

[pjohnson]

I've got an IS60 and have just bought the SDL eye-piece for it. The fixed 25x is good, maybe a fixed 32x HDF? Remember that the zoom lenses are heavier and a bit more bulky than the fixed. The IS60 is a reasonably compact unit and I think comes with a stay-on case as standard -- Its smaller brother, the IS50, doesn't apparently. Getting the zoom eye-pieces around the stay-on case is a ... pain!

[postcardcv]

Originally Posted by BrianInnes

The IS60 does indeed look a nice scope. Would it be worth the extra shelling out for a zoom eyepiece rather than a fixed?

Personally I prefer zooms so would want one, but the fixed eyepeices are also very good, it really comes down to personal preference. Opticron make a range of eyepeices for the IS scopes which are fine, however the view is dramatically improved if you use one of the HDF eyepices (top of Opticrons range).

[Chris Galvin]

Originally Posted by postcardcv

Personally I prefer zooms so would want one, but the fixed eyepeices are also very good, it really comes down to personal preference. Opticron make a range of eyepeices for the IS scopes which are fine, however the view is dramatically improved if you use one of the HDF eyepices (top of Opticrons range).

The HDF are indeed fine lenses, however top of the Opticron range is the SDL zoom eyepiece

[postcardcv]

Originally Posted by Chris Galvin

The HDF are indeed fine lenses, however top of the Opticron range is the SDL zoom eyepiece

true, Opticron do rate the SDL zoom as the top one, personally I find the HDF easier to use... I guess the SDL would push the whol package beyond the budget.

[NoSpringChicken]

According to Opticron's site "the SDL has been designed to maximise the performance gains inherent in Opticron ED objective lens fieldscopes at higher magnifications." From that point of view it is not really of any benefit to the IS scopes unless you are considering upgrading in the future.

Ron

[pjohnson]

I can't argue that one as I haven't had the SDL eye-piece long enough to draw a comparison. My initial reaction was that its a much brighter image than the HDF zoom.

[BrianInnes]

A somewhat productive (and expensive) day!
Had a look at an Opticron IS70 with SDL 16-48x lens. Quite a bit of CA when I looked at the Edinburgh roofline from the shop. Nice enough scope though.

Wandered along to the RSPB shop at Rose Street, asked about an Opticron IS60, didn't have one, thing they had similarly priced was a viking spotting scope, or, for the grand sum of £239 a previously enjoyed Kowa TS611 with 20x eyepiece + Velbon CX640 tripod.

After trying the scope out in the shop I went out to think about it. 10 minutes later I was back and bought it!

So it probably won't be as easy to get a different eyepiece compared to an Opticron, but I do believe I have got a mighty fine scope for the money!

Regards

--
Brian

Quickly tried the scope out at Vane Farm, and it certainly is a very sharp scope, not much CA visible if any, mind you it was quite poor weather conditions at Loch Leven today, a good test fo the scope as it's got quite a nice bright image.

[NoSpringChicken]

Sounds a good buy. Nice one.

[BrianInnes]

Pic of the scope: