I have a Celestron C-90 scope. Mine is at least 7-8 years old, so maybe in the interim there have been changes made, but I find it too bulky, much too clumsy to use, and too heavy for lugging around in the field. It is also hard to focus since you turn the whole barel to focus it, which is too wide for my hand to grasp easily.
However, the view through it is excellent.. clear and detailed with true colors, and bright. Mine is on a tripod and I tend to use it at home, only, and then not very often. I have other scoes I like using much better...
KOWA 824 (82mm) and KOWA 884 (88mm) both straight-body scopes, each with a KOWA 20x-60x Zoom Eyepiece. 824 is polycarbonate body .. and 884 is metal , magnesium alloy body, so 824 is lighter. 884 also has both Coarse AND Fine Focus knobs which is a huge plus (to me). Both are Fluorite.
The best view I have ever seen through ANY spotting scope is when using my KOWA 884, KOWA's newest scope.. NO doubts about that, the view is drop-dead gorgeous, with little light falloff at highest zoom. Detail and clarity and color is superb, with feather details seeming almost 3-D even at 60x full Zoom.
I also have a Swarovski ATS-80 HD spotting scope, with angled body and 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece. I like its larger diameter Eyepiece and the view is maybe slightly better than KOWA 824 the smaller, older KOWA scope. The overall size of the Swarovski is also smaller and more compact.
I also have Swarovski's effort at producing a handheld, collapsible scope, fully armored. IMO this is much too hard to use and focus in the field and is too heavy to handhold effectively. Mine is seldom used.
My first scope was a 15-45x Spacemaster with zoom lens. In its time, it was a fairly good scope, but is certainly dated now.
One of my all time favorites scopes is my Nikon 50mm Fieldscope with Zoom Eyepiece, Nikon's newest effort. This is small enough to be handheld and carried easily in the field in a large pocket or small pack. The view through it is surprisingly bright and clear with good detail & color. the Stokes' gave this scope a good review on their birding website. I use this scope a LOT and enjoy it very much. Also good for quick, handheld peeks out a car window, to use while hiking or on horseback. When out in the field using another of my larger scopes on a tripod, I keep this small Nikon Fieldscope attached to a magnetic VersaMount clamped onto a tripod leg, so I can easily grab the Nikon when needed for a quick peek.
Okay, now I'd like to ask you a question...
I am researching the purchase of a TeleVue 85 Evergreen crossover scope. Cornell Labs 2008 Spotting Scope Review gave rave reviews to this scope and I am considering getting one. Have you had any experience using one of these scopes?
I am slo wondering about TeleVue's Bino Vue attachment for a binocular eyepiece accessory to their TeleVue 85 scope.
Birdwatcher
