The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
First what I have: Swarovsky 65mm angled scope, Viper Vortex HD 8x42 bins. Manfrotto CX190V3 Carbon fiber tripod with 700RC2 Head. I have a Nikon V-1 camera with both the 30-110 and the 10-30 kit lenses and a SRB-GRITURN LTD adapter to use the camera for digiscoping. The jury is still out on the digiscoping outfit. I haven't used it enough to judge it yet. The scope and bins are great. Are they perfect? No optics are perfect. Everything is a compromise. Every time you gain something you loose something else.
With the scope I was going for light weight. The whole rig weighs just 6.5 lbs/ 2.95 kilo. The scope isn't HD so there is a compromise. I bought I used for a $1,000 less than new and the non HD (no longer made) is 95% as good. I figure I could give up 5% for a grand savings. The small scope is very limited for taking pictures because of the size of the objective lens. (The bigger the better for pictures.) but digiscoping isn't my primary use. Otherwise it's a lifetime purchase. I love it.
The only compromise I can think of with the Vortex Viper bins is that the field of view is just average which is a feature of most roof prism bins. They have one called the Talon with a wider field of view but they are larger and heavier and I'm small with small hands so that was a trade off. (If you are new. The wider the field of view the easier it is to find the bird you are looking at.) I use 8 power because my hands aren't steady so there isn't as much shake as 10 power and the field of view is wider on 8s that 10s. Many birders prefer 8s. You don't want anything bigger than 10. Anything that is fixed focus or zoom lens is junk. Anything that isn't guaranteed 100% water proof, warranted not to fog is junk. Pretty much bins less than a couple of hundred are junk except maybe as a spare pair to carry in your car. Vipers are currently $589 US. Talons are a hundred less and they have a starter series for around $220 which aren't bad.
A carbon fiber tripod is half the weight of an aluminum one and it is more rigid which means it doesn't transfer vibration so much. The trade off is cost. They are at least twice as expensive. Whatever you decide, get a good tripod that is rated for the weight of your scope. An expensive scope on a cheap tripod is just a cheap scope that cost a lot of money. Don't scrimp.
An angled eyepiece scope allows you to use a shorter and therefore more sturdy tripod that is also cheaper. An angled scope makes it easier to look at birds in the tops of trees and also to share the scope with others. With a straight through scope pretty much have to adjust the scope height to each and every user. The only downside to that I've found is that you can't use an angle scope on a car window mount which comes in handy at times. Some find it easier to find the birds with a straight scope. Buy which ever feels right to you. It's your toy. Again it's just a personal preference thing.
Remember that when you are shopping for a tripod that you can and probably should buy the legs and head separately. Sometimes you can get the kit for less but only buy that way if you aren't compromising on one part of the other. Its a weakest link thing. I bought the RC700 head because of the weight and because it has good reviews for scopes. However it has limited use with a camera if you want to switch back and forth because it has no easy way to switch from horizontal to vertical format with the camera which isn't an issue with the scope or taking pictures thought the scope for that matter. But if you are going to switch back and forth you would want to know that. You would also need the fluid pan head if you plan to use it for movies. If all you want is to look at birds and not carry extra weight it's perfect for a little scope.
Good: Any alpha brand scope are all great, Nikon, Kowa, Pentax, Zeiss, Swaro, Leica, Meopta and Vortex Razor. I'm probably leaving out some but if it costs less than $1,000 new it's junk for birding. There are no good, cheap, birding spotting scopes. None are perfect but one will be perfect for your needs. Once you decide you may be able to find a used one like I did. If taken care of they last forever and a good top line scope that is 10 or even more years old will still be leagues above a cheap new scope.
Bins: Same brands and some of the high end Bushnell, Leupold, Steiner. Read reviews. See what feels good in your hands. Check them with and without your glasses on. I can't tell as much difference between the medium and high end bins as scopes. I can't tell any difference at all between my bins and the $2,000 Swaro equivilant. However it is a status thing. I'm always impressed when I run into someone on the trail with $2,000 bins. I shouldn't be but I am. So if that's your thing you will get extra respect. That is until you open your mouth and say something stupid. If you are carrying expensive glass people will assume you know everthing but then nobody knows everything. There are lots of affordable bins. If you buy at the lower end and move up you can always leave the old ones as a spare pair in your car. Birds happen. They don't just show up on planned trips. Don't leave home without glass. Be sure they are locked in the truck. I've lost two inexpensive pair already. :C
Tripods: Manfrotto, Gitzo although Gitzo are out of my ballpark. There are some tripods sold under the optics brand names like Swaro or Vortex. They are all made by other manufacturers like Manfrotto an Gitzo. Don't pay extra for a Nikon or Pentax or some other optics brand tripod. The only thing that is different is the name tag.
Optics are expensive. Get a good return policy. Get a good warranty. Shop, shop, shop. Field test. Using them in the store is worthless. Taking them in the parking lot is OK but not a field test. Birds are the most difficult test there is for optics. Look through other peoples scopes and bins and see what fits you. The alpha brands are all great but they look, feel and work differently. Try before you buy and reserve the right to return afterwards. There is a lot of brand loyalty involved so your friends and others will no doubt sell you on the good points of the ones they like. At that level it's pretty much a personal and financial choice. The bottom line. Buy the best you can and get out and look at birds. The other bottom line. If you buy a top of the line scope or bins they will be the last you have to buy and you won't waste money trading up.
I have no interest in any sites or brands but my favorite sites are Eagle Optics and B&H Photo. Both sites have a wealth of detailed information and customer reviews which is very important. My experience with the customer service has been perfect. Eagle Optics is the home for Vortex but they sell all the top brands and won't try to steer you to just Vortex.
Finally, Vortex is the only brand that has an unlimited warranty. There is no time limit and it is transferable. You don't have to have the sales slip. If it malfunctions or if you drop it and break it. If you run over it with a car. If you will it to your grand kid and he/she does the same. They will repair or replace it. Now of course in reality companies come and go. The warranty is only good as long as they stay in business. However its a consideration if you are comparing two products that are essentially the same.
I have a stack of books. You can't have too many books. I carry the regional Sibley's in the field.
Long post. You get what you pay for. Mileage may vary. Buyer beware. It really isn't about the equipment. It's about the birds. o
Happy Birding-:flyaway:
