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Astro Eyepieces on spotting scopes? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter giosblue
- Start date
Is your scope the HD Fluorite version?
Hi, no, it is the earlier one I think, it does not say fluorite on it.
Sorry to hear that, Is your zoom the 20x60 or the 22x60? the Baader and the Opticron were really good on mine, It was the Fluorite though. Maybe that's the difference. As good as the zooms are, I still think the fixed have the edge.
The FOV on the zooms I tried weren't that good either. Apart from that they were fine.
Hi Ron, the zoom is 22x-60x
If yours is the same zoom I had (22x60) it was awful. so I wouldn't write your scope off just yet. Try the Baader or the Opticron SDLv2. It would only cost you return postage to try them.
The latest Optolyth zoom is a 20x60.
Did your zoom come in a green plastic case. with a price sticker on the bottom?
Ron
Thanks Ron, Yep, thats the one, A green case but sticker on the side. I have to admit the 30x fixed EP seems fine with my scope. Will give it some thought, but tempted to upgrade the whole lot.
The reason I'm asking is I just wondered if it was the one I sold. Mine had a price sticker in on the bottom of the green case. £115.
I don't know what the weathers been like where you are, here in the N/W it never stops raining, very poor light quality. Nothings looking brilliant through my scope at the moment.
Same here in germany, the view through any scope is lousy - don't rush to decisions in that light, especially if you don't have a comparison...
Joachim
Good advice, you're in the same position as me, trying to assess the quality of a scope in poor light. Even when you have more light, it's still poor quality for assesing a scope. Having said that, the zoom you have is hopeless, no need to wait for the light to improve for that. Lol
DRodrigues
Well-known member
Ron,
I'm curious on how do you think the SDLv2 compares to the Baader? I never looked through the SDLv2 but the v1 seemed to have lower AFOVs than the Baader.
Hi,
have looked at the opticron pages and done some quick calculations for the different linear true field of view numbers for different bodies (they don't give an afov) - comes out at 41 deg at the long end and 72 deg at the short end (+-2 or so). This looks roughly the same as the measured values for the baader mk III given here (although at the end of the thread sb has another set of measurements which give a higher afov towards the long end):
http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/287534-hyperion-zoom-mark-iii-tested-afov/
Maybe I'll try to measure the afov of the opticron - the thread gives some easy methods
Joachim
have looked at the opticron pages and done some quick calculations for the different linear true field of view numbers for different bodies (they don't give an afov) - comes out at 41 deg at the long end and 72 deg at the short end (+-2 or so). This looks roughly the same as the measured values for the baader mk III given here (although at the end of the thread sb has another set of measurements which give a higher afov towards the long end):
http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/287534-hyperion-zoom-mark-iii-tested-afov/
Maybe I'll try to measure the afov of the opticron - the thread gives some easy methods
Joachim
Been just the same, but a little bit of sun today, though I have other things to be done today. Your right, the 22 - 60 x zoom is very poor, I will be getting shot of it, it did not have a price sticker on the bottom, just the optolyth sticker on the side of the green case, but obviously same older type that you had.
Yes, the Opticron works fine with a couple of O rings.
The difference between the SLDv2 and the 22x60 is unbelievable until to see it with your own eyes. The Optolyth 22x60 would make a very nice paper weight though. I would like to see some pics of the lenses to see how old they are.
-and while you are at it, you might also make a shot of the body so we can guess the age. I would not get rid of this without having tried a modern EP on it.
Joachim
Attachments
Hi,
thanks for the pictures - your Optolyth is indeed an older version with the embossed type - later are printed. There is also an HD version of this which looks the same except for a red line saying HD Fluorite Lens on the tripod adapter ring. See this ebay offer for pictures (also with the 22-60 zoom).
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Optolyth-TBS-80-HD-F-22-60x-OVP-Mit-Tasche-Spektiv-Fernrohr/221867157830
I could not id the opticron ED - and it looks like opticron. If it was not expensive you might try if you can remove the funnel like plastic thingy below the thread. Check if the moving front element (you can see it mooving back and forth when zooming) does not loose its seating when doing so.
Or order an SDLv2 from amazon in spring when the weather is ok, try it and if it's not good - send back.
Should I get sent to London on business this year (it has happened before) I'll give you a shout and bring mine if you still have the Optolyth.
Joachim
thanks for the pictures - your Optolyth is indeed an older version with the embossed type - later are printed. There is also an HD version of this which looks the same except for a red line saying HD Fluorite Lens on the tripod adapter ring. See this ebay offer for pictures (also with the 22-60 zoom).
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Optolyth-TBS-80-HD-F-22-60x-OVP-Mit-Tasche-Spektiv-Fernrohr/221867157830
I could not id the opticron ED - and it looks like opticron. If it was not expensive you might try if you can remove the funnel like plastic thingy below the thread. Check if the moving front element (you can see it mooving back and forth when zooming) does not loose its seating when doing so.
Or order an SDLv2 from amazon in spring when the weather is ok, try it and if it's not good - send back.
Should I get sent to London on business this year (it has happened before) I'll give you a shout and bring mine if you still have the Optolyth.
Joachim
Thanks for the pics, first off, just to be clear, there is no Astro adapter for the Optlyth scope. The simple fact is the eyepiece aperture is not wide enough. The one exception to this that I know of, is the Baader zoom, that's because it's modular. The Baader fits well and works well, it's like having a new scope. The Opticron also works well, I would say better than the Baader, but the FoV is not quite as wide. Both are a massive improvement on the 22x60 Optolyth. At the time, I had the Kowa 883 and the Opto side by side, the main difference to my eyes was the FoV and the Kowa was brighter, less grainy, (which you would expect given it's 88mm lens.).
It might have had had a slight edge in resolution and contrast. To be honest I wish I had kept the Opto until I had done more evaluating. You have to ask yourself when you have something as that's 20 or 30 years old, is it worth spending money on, or, do you put the money to a new or s/h scope?
If you're on a tight budget, with a couple of hundred quid to spend, then I would say yes. There is no doubt in my mind that top quality, older scopes can get a new lease of life with the latest EPs. Having said that, I sold mine and the EPs for £330. I bought a S/H Opticron HR80ED, with SDLv2 zoom, in mint condition, the latest model for £500. So if you take the Baader out of the equation, it's only cost me £200 to upgrade to a scope that is only two years old. AS they say, you pays your money and makes your choice.
It might have had had a slight edge in resolution and contrast. To be honest I wish I had kept the Opto until I had done more evaluating. You have to ask yourself when you have something as that's 20 or 30 years old, is it worth spending money on, or, do you put the money to a new or s/h scope?
If you're on a tight budget, with a couple of hundred quid to spend, then I would say yes. There is no doubt in my mind that top quality, older scopes can get a new lease of life with the latest EPs. Having said that, I sold mine and the EPs for £330. I bought a S/H Opticron HR80ED, with SDLv2 zoom, in mint condition, the latest model for £500. So if you take the Baader out of the equation, it's only cost me £200 to upgrade to a scope that is only two years old. AS they say, you pays your money and makes your choice.
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Hi giosblue,
yes I'd have loved to read more comparison between the Opto TBG-80 HD and a current upper midrange scope like the HR80ED both with SDLv2. A much fairer competition than vs the Kowa 883 with the 25-60x, arguably the best birding scope and eyepiece money can buy atm...
My bet would have been that they're near indistinguishable in good light with the Opticron slowly getting the upper hand as the light gets worse.
At least that's what I have seen with my Kowa con SDLv2 vs. scopes of fellow birders or in a store (so far Leica 82 in store - didn't make me want to buy it, older Zeiss Diascope 85 nice in principle but soft edges due to no flattener and quite yellow, Swaro ATM/S 65 and 85 liked those, better than mine especially the ATM85 in lousy light - but not 1k€ better). Still missing Swaro ATX and Kowa though...
Same for my old TSN-3 with SDLv2... Unfortunately Opticron is kinda uncommon over here, especially with scopes - have not seen one live. So if you ever get near Frankfurt, Germany give me shout and we'll do a shootout ;-)
Joachim
yes I'd have loved to read more comparison between the Opto TBG-80 HD and a current upper midrange scope like the HR80ED both with SDLv2. A much fairer competition than vs the Kowa 883 with the 25-60x, arguably the best birding scope and eyepiece money can buy atm...
My bet would have been that they're near indistinguishable in good light with the Opticron slowly getting the upper hand as the light gets worse.
At least that's what I have seen with my Kowa con SDLv2 vs. scopes of fellow birders or in a store (so far Leica 82 in store - didn't make me want to buy it, older Zeiss Diascope 85 nice in principle but soft edges due to no flattener and quite yellow, Swaro ATM/S 65 and 85 liked those, better than mine especially the ATM85 in lousy light - but not 1k€ better). Still missing Swaro ATX and Kowa though...
Same for my old TSN-3 with SDLv2... Unfortunately Opticron is kinda uncommon over here, especially with scopes - have not seen one live. So if you ever get near Frankfurt, Germany give me shout and we'll do a shootout ;-)
Joachim
