I am about to buy my very first scope, so have read many views on here as well as reviews elsewhere. I found a recent thread on here regarding these two scopes, so went to test them out for myself.
Initially I had the SDL ZOOM on both scopes. I found the GS to have the brighter image. I then put the HDF eyepiece into the GS and found the colours had more 'punch'. I was surprised at this, because Opticron say the SDL is specially designed for the new HR66! I had an HDF zoom eyepiece fitted to the HR66 so I could directly compare the two models.
A Goldfinch settled on a feeder for several minutes, so I looked through each scope many times. I found the GS showed more detail in the darker colours on the Goldfinches head. The HR showed the darker reds on the goldfinch head as almost black, where the GS still showed a hint of red with more detail. The goldfinch departed and its place taken by a Great Tit. On the head, The GS showed greater detail in the black feathers than the HR.
Control wise I found the GS superior too, as it has two focus knobs. One is a standard focus control, but the other is a fine contol. I found I could 'squeeze' more detail from the view more quickly on the GS - maybe this fine control was the reason I was seeing more detail, because it was better focussed more of the time? I continued by looking at the tops of trees with bright blue sky behind, looking for CA. I found both scopes showed very little CA, yet I still felt I was getting more resolution from the GS.
On other days and different locations, I have also tested scopes from Nikon and Viking, but found the GS665 ED to have the brightest view, highest resolution, better controls and better colour definition.
Initially I had the SDL ZOOM on both scopes. I found the GS to have the brighter image. I then put the HDF eyepiece into the GS and found the colours had more 'punch'. I was surprised at this, because Opticron say the SDL is specially designed for the new HR66! I had an HDF zoom eyepiece fitted to the HR66 so I could directly compare the two models.
A Goldfinch settled on a feeder for several minutes, so I looked through each scope many times. I found the GS showed more detail in the darker colours on the Goldfinches head. The HR showed the darker reds on the goldfinch head as almost black, where the GS still showed a hint of red with more detail. The goldfinch departed and its place taken by a Great Tit. On the head, The GS showed greater detail in the black feathers than the HR.
Control wise I found the GS superior too, as it has two focus knobs. One is a standard focus control, but the other is a fine contol. I found I could 'squeeze' more detail from the view more quickly on the GS - maybe this fine control was the reason I was seeing more detail, because it was better focussed more of the time? I continued by looking at the tops of trees with bright blue sky behind, looking for CA. I found both scopes showed very little CA, yet I still felt I was getting more resolution from the GS.
On other days and different locations, I have also tested scopes from Nikon and Viking, but found the GS665 ED to have the brightest view, highest resolution, better controls and better colour definition.
