First an apology.
I am almost certain that this question is not new. I welcome the info where to find the appropriate thread on birdforum.
I “digiscope” with a Nikon combi: Coolpix 4500 and scope 80A (Rai II or Sky & Earth). I have all the Nikon adapters and attachments. It’s fun, but I want a better quality 80-scope.
I did quite some reseach, and have filtered it down to Leica APO 77, Swarovski 80HD and Fieldscope ED 82. I am happy that I made a sort of selection. Other scopes are out.
Bottom (+/-) prices in the Netherlands are (no eyepiece):
Leica = 1280
Swaro= 1800
Nikon= 960
As regards the reviews I have found on the web, including a review in birdforum, I was surprised that most reviewers put the Fieldscope more or less in the same league as the Leica and the Swaro. Between the latter two, Leica wins with a noselength. I have seen no negative user-comments to speak of for the Leica and Swarovski in newsgroups and forums. I have seen a few for the Nikon, but one or two may also have been addressed to the Fieldscope 78.
I use the equipment for wildlife photography, usually in low light conditions, and over a distance. 75 to 150 meters is in my case closeby, but it happens. 1000+ also happens, more than I care.
I wonder how reliable the reviews are for my case. I assume that most of the tests refer to bird photography with a shorter range than 75 meters. One of the users said to believe that the Nikon performs well under 200 meters, but gets soft at a longer range.
That worries me a bit because I like Nikon, and I like the price.
I would accept that the Nikon is almost as good as the others. But it is different when the others are quite a bit better than Nikon.
There is no shop here where I can compare the scopes in circumstances that are typical for my use. So I need your much appreciated views. Please.
Regards
Willem
I am almost certain that this question is not new. I welcome the info where to find the appropriate thread on birdforum.
I “digiscope” with a Nikon combi: Coolpix 4500 and scope 80A (Rai II or Sky & Earth). I have all the Nikon adapters and attachments. It’s fun, but I want a better quality 80-scope.
I did quite some reseach, and have filtered it down to Leica APO 77, Swarovski 80HD and Fieldscope ED 82. I am happy that I made a sort of selection. Other scopes are out.
Bottom (+/-) prices in the Netherlands are (no eyepiece):
Leica = 1280
Swaro= 1800
Nikon= 960
As regards the reviews I have found on the web, including a review in birdforum, I was surprised that most reviewers put the Fieldscope more or less in the same league as the Leica and the Swaro. Between the latter two, Leica wins with a noselength. I have seen no negative user-comments to speak of for the Leica and Swarovski in newsgroups and forums. I have seen a few for the Nikon, but one or two may also have been addressed to the Fieldscope 78.
I use the equipment for wildlife photography, usually in low light conditions, and over a distance. 75 to 150 meters is in my case closeby, but it happens. 1000+ also happens, more than I care.
I wonder how reliable the reviews are for my case. I assume that most of the tests refer to bird photography with a shorter range than 75 meters. One of the users said to believe that the Nikon performs well under 200 meters, but gets soft at a longer range.
That worries me a bit because I like Nikon, and I like the price.
I would accept that the Nikon is almost as good as the others. But it is different when the others are quite a bit better than Nikon.
There is no shop here where I can compare the scopes in circumstances that are typical for my use. So I need your much appreciated views. Please.
Regards
Willem