[Dean Peach]

Can anyone tell me the best possible Swarovski scope set up I could get for my 40th Birthday please? Cheers

[Mono]

Does it have to be Swarovski? The consensus seesm to be that there ain't much difference between the alpha scopes and if you are splitting hairs then the Kowa and Nikon are a tad better. It is also not just the glass that counts ergonomics can make or break the most optically wonderful things.

[TWM]

If you want the best then it will be the Straight or Angled TM 80HD with 25-50X zoom eyepiece. That lot (with case) will cost about £2,500.

[gulf1263]

The 80 HD is wonderful, slightly bulky but a bit lighter than the other alpha's and easier to focus (my personal opinion) which becomes important as you age.
IMHO Swaro qc is better than most other brands, they are sharp, clear, good color fidelity, 20x50 eyepiece works well with glasses and they feel luxurious.
The new Nikon EDG is much heavier and more costly, the older model has a eyepiece that most people who wear eyeglass 's have trouble with.
The Leica and Zeiss are very different than the Swaro, try them if you must.
Swaro has (knock on wood) the best customer service.
I say treat yourself..you won't regret it and the scope will give you many years of enjoyment.
Art

[Sancho]

1. Happy Birthday!
2. I love my Swaro ATS80HD with 25-50 zoom. I don't need any other eyepiece.

(BTW, for my 40th, ten years ago, I got the ATS65HD with 30x and 20-60 zoom. They I sold it and went on a scope buying-and-selling odyssey, first Nikon ED82A with various ep's, then Zeiss Diascope with Baader zoom, and finally two years ago arrived back at the above Swaro set-up. I just prefer the Swaro view, helical focusser, and now the new wide-angle zoom covers all the bases for me).

[Parker]

I agree with Sancho & TWM & would Keep my eyes peeled on the classified section on here & other second hand options. IME most birders look after their kit so good second hand deals do come around & you save yourself hundreds to a thousand pounds. Good luck & happy 40th.

[DMKSlater]

I wouldn't trade my STS 80 HD with the 25x50 eyepiece for any other 'scope on the market. The scope and bins are a pleasure to use and well worth the price.

Dave

[apbarr]

I'm a Swarovski fan but I had a chance last year to compare my ATS65 HD with a Leica 82 model. Both were fitted with 25-50 zooms and at 50x the Leica had better definition. This was a real life comparison looking at a distant Short-toed Eagle on a sunny day and the Leica clearly showed better detail. I'm not enough of an expert to know if this was because of the larger objective lens or just better optics.

[Mike Penfold]

We've used an angled 65mm Zeiss, with the 15-45x zoom for several years, mounted on a Manfrotto 700RC2 head and Benro C-157 M8 carbon fibre tripod. This is useful when you want to travel light; however, while the Manfotto head is relatively light, and pans well, our sample is sticky in tilting movements. The angled scopes allow you to set up the tripod lower for more stability in wind, and scanning with your binocs over the scope, and are relatively easy to use with an improvised pointing device described in another thread, while the Benros have interchangeable leg spikes for added stability.

We swap our eyepiece with a straight 85mm Zeiss, giving us 20-60x, mounted on a Manfrotto 128RC head and Benro C-257 M8 carbon fibre tripod. The straight scopes are easier to use over a wall; for example, watching gulls at Niagara Falls. Another thread describes current issues with tripod heads; however, it's rare to see a birder in Ontario using a tripod head other than the 128RC with a larger scope, and it works fine for us.

The newer Zeiss eyepieces give 15-56x on the 65mm, and 20-75x on the 85mm. You may want to compare the helical focus on the Swarovski with the Zeiss and Kowa; some birders find the Swarovskis a little finicky to focus at their highest magnification, when the depth of field is more shallow.

Having said that, one of our birding colleagues uses a Swarovski ATM65 HD with the 20-60 zoom, and the view through his sample is spectacular.

Mike

[bcskr]

I have both 65 and 80 HDs and both zoom EPs. I think "best" is determined by how you'll use the scope most of the time. When it's cold and I'm doing more driving than walking I prefer the 80 with 20-60 EP. When not contending with heat distortion, sometimes I'll zoom out to 55-60. But when I'm spending more time in the field walking and carrying my scope I prefer the 65 with the 25-50 EP. Most of the time in the summer with good light the 65 is adequate, plus I generally don't run the zoom up very high because of too much distortion from heat waves.

[Dean Peach]

Cheers Guys, I'm not 40 until September but my Wife is looking out to get one for me already. I think it's going to be a ATM 80 HD with 25-50 eyepiece. I've wanted a Swarovski for years.

[Dean Peach]

Where's the best place to purchase a new one from?

[Sancho]

I've had excellent service buying over the phone from Infocus Optics at Barnes in London.

[yves0071]

Originally Posted by apbarr

I'm a Swarovski fan but I had a chance last year to compare my ATS65 HD with a Leica 82 model. Both were fitted with 25-50 zooms and at 50x the Leica had better definition. This was a real life comparison looking at a distant Short-toed Eagle on a sunny day and the Leica clearly showed better detail. I'm not enough of an expert to know if this was because of the larger objective lens or just better optics.

Hi,
This seems logical as far the leica has a bigger diameter (and so more light!)
Regards
Yves

[apbarr]

Originally Posted by Flying Peach

Where's the best place to purchase a new one from?

I've dealt with South West Optics a few times and they are always very helpful and their pricing is competitive, delivery is usually next day.

[DMKSlater]

I bought my kit from warehouse express.

[dipped]

Originally Posted by Flying Peach

Cheers Guys, I'm not 40 until September but my Wife is looking out to get one for me already. I think it's going to be a ATM 80 HD with 25-50 eyepiece. I've wanted a Swarovski for years.

You might want to wait till after the Birdfair in August in case any new model(s) are launched.

[johnf3f]

Originally Posted by Flying Peach

Cheers Guys, I'm not 40 until September but my Wife is looking out to get one for me already. I think it's going to be a ATM 80 HD with 25-50 eyepiece. I've wanted a Swarovski for years.

Like you I have lusted after Swarovski optics for years, and after a lot of reserch I bought a pair of 8.5 EL Binos - I could not be more pleased.
However I have been doing some research and hands on viewing with a friend who wants to blow a lot of money on a spotting scope. We have looked at/through the best that Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss have to offer. He is a Zeiss fan, but I convinced him to have a go at the Kowa 883. He now has no interest in any other scope (neither do I!). Try one you will be pleasantly surprised. Sorry Swarovski you may make the best Bins - but not scopes.
We could simply see more through the Kowa than any of the others, especially in poor light.