[colonelboris]

I had one of these for a while till it met with Queasyjet (see the other thread for more details) and it's definitely better than a kick in the nuts. OK, so Swarovski have nothing to worry about from this, but it's far better than nothing.
Not really much good for digiscoping, though...

[dantheman]

Well, apparently I have one waiting for me back home when I get back .....

I did look in Aldi here in France, didn't see any (possibly if they'd had a devise for loading cartridges they would have)..... so had to procure one by other means.

Looking forward to it in a couple of weeks, and whether it will be a good 'un or not. Interested in it as a second scope, probably won't compare to the ED50 (It shouldn't anyway...), but having a zoom to play with should also be fun...

[Ben M]

Originally Posted by Claymore

ps has anyone tried digiscoping with the Aldi/Lidl scopes?

This is the only scope I've owned so I don't have much for comparison, but I've had it for about a year and attempted to digiscope. I mainly use my mobile phone camera (convenient), sometimes our cheapy compact, and once attempted to use my DSLR for a shot of the moon. Here are some results, if it will help anyone.

Wren was done on mobile
Kestrel was done on compact
Moon was done on DSLR

[Carless]

My local Aldi still has loads of them.

[dantheman]

Originally Posted by Carless

My local Aldi still has loads of them.

Given the situation in Malta or other places where birding could be given a higher profile/ introduced in schools or to non-birders, surely it would be a good idea for suitable charities to get hold of a load of these and ship them out....?? Even commission some- maybe they could get them even cheaper?!

[Carless]

Originally Posted by Ben M

This is the only scope I've owned so I don't have much for comparison, but I've had it for about a year and attempted to digiscope. I mainly use my mobile phone camera (convenient), sometimes our cheapy compact, and once attempted to use my DSLR for a shot of the moon. Here are some results, if it will help anyone.

Were these done with the Aldi or the Lidl scope?

[Ben M]

Originally Posted by Carless

Were these done with the Aldi or the Lidl scope?

The Aldi one.

[IDIC]

Hi

I picked one up in Aldi Evesham yesterday. They were just putting a new batch on display and had about 20 left when I bought mine.

OK, it's not going to worry the big players and some Birders might look down their noses at it but IT WORKS!

I've tried mine out on LBJs sat in bushes on the other side of a field next to my house and I can identify them easily. The image does get darker as you use the zoom but both 20 & 40 are usable with 60 being just a tad too dark for easy use.

You will need a new tripod as the little effort that comes with the scope is not a lot of use unless the hide you are in has a very wide shelf under the windows!

If you cant justify spending £500+ on a scope just at this time, which I cant, then get one.

IDIC

[jayuk22]

Hello all, it depends on what u want to use this scope for really, i got one from aldi a few weeks back and wanted it for use on the mud flats of my local estuary. its ok for viewing birds at a closer range but for use on birds out on the mud flats the object becomes blurry and the colour is a sort of brownish at 20x. anything over 20X becomes dark. it also depends on the light too

[Carless]

Originally Posted by jayuk22

Hello all, it depends on what u want to use this scope for really, i got one from aldi a few weeks back and wanted it for use on the mud flats of my local estuary. its ok for viewing birds at a closer range but for use on birds out on the mud flats the object becomes blurry and the colour is a sort of brownish at 20x. anything over 20X becomes dark. it also depends on the light too

I'm not experienced with scopes, but I had similar experiences with the aldiscope at Rutland water. On 20x it gives a good image. But, I found if something was too distant, increasing the magnification just gave a bigger image where it was no easier to make out details. But for things closer in, even the full 60x was useful. I was looking at a gadwell near to the hide, and the 60x magnification made it look massive, and I could see more details of its patterning. The scope might be very useful for getting a close look at garden birds on sunny days. But I'm not convinced about how useful it is for distant subjects.

The sun was quite bright last weekend, and even on 60x, most images were nicely bright. We didn't take it out yesterday when the light was dimmer, but in cloudy Britain I'm sure I'll get my chance to try it in dimmish light.

I asked some experienced birders with fancy equipment to look through it. They seemed more impressed than I was, saying it was very, very, good for the money. And they were discussing among themselves as to who lives near an Aldi.

[Marmot]

I know it is bringing back an old thread but if anyone is interested in the Cleveland [NE England area] there are still 5 left at the one at Norton and they are now reduced to £23.

[sammyboy]

And there's still about 13 at the Kingsway, Derby Aldi store - and they're reduced to £19.99!

Picked one up today from there, not tack sharp but sharp enough, though I find the image gets very soft the more you increase the magnification, just about passable at 40x but almost unuseable after that.

Still, for £20 I'm certainly not complaining, and gives me a good compliment to my binoculars with some extra magnification!

[BarneyL]

There were a few left in the Buxton branch too, still at £26 earlier this week.

[Chalky]

Atherstone Aldi also had a few left reduced to £19.99.

[reuben.gates]

Hi Marmot,

do you know if it is possible to get a case for the Aldi Adventuridge scope you mentioned in your message? My brother has one of these scopes and has asked for a case for it for his birthday?

Really grateful if you could point me in the right direction. I tried Jessops and amazon online but got absolutely no-where.

Thanks

Reuben

[Marmot]

The cover was actually with this when it was purchased, if you want a case that can be placed over and does not need removing you may end up spending more than the scope was in the first place.

Optech have them and they are in different sizes and for straight and angled from £18.99 to £20.99 and they are a good company.
http://www.optech-online.co.uk/optec...cope-cover.htm

[Fozzybear]

I took my 'oh so expensive' Aldi scope to Hanningfield Reservoir for a first proper outing a couple of weeks ago and it worked brilliantly. Although I'm sure 'proper' scopes would yield far better and brighter views it was amazingly good. Zoomed right in it wasn't that hot but still 'just about' usable but at the lower half of the zoom range I was surprised how clean and detailed the image was. How they can make reasonable optics like that for £20 I really don't know!