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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

ED50, StayOnCase, Alternative (1 Viewer)

NDhunter

NDhunter

Experienced observer
United States
I had looked for what is available for a protective case to use for my ED50,
and since Nikon did not offer one, and it seems the Grippa, may be the only
thing available. I would like to offer what I did for my scope.
I purchased an Op/Tech small pouch for Small spotting scopes, and found it
fits the ED50 very nicely. I did not want to alter the furnished bag that Nikon
provides with the scope but that may work also.
The photo attached, shows that I did cut off both the objective and ocular
ends, and did a snip, and some small sewing to open the area for the focuser.
I was not concerned about waterproof, but just good scuff and cushion protection and this neoprene cover seems to do that quite well.

The model is the Op/Tech, soft pouch, for small spotting scopes. I purchased
mine for $17.95. Free S&H. Adorama. This is an item made in the USA.
Note, I have no connection with the vendor.

Jerry
 

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I put a Bushwacker hinged lens cap (#7) on mine, which adds a rubber armoring around the objective lens cell, then wrap the whole thing, including the bottom of the eyepiece, with McNett gun wrap. For extra protection during transport, the whole thing pops into the same Op/Tech pouch that you have. To me, the Nikon supplied cover is a designer's joke that accidentally made it to the assembly line--not stay on, not padded around the ocular, and requires manipulation of snap, zipper, and draw string to get the scope in and out! Unbelievable.

--AP
 
Alexis:

I like your idea of adding a bushwacker to protect the objective. I tried a filter that I
had on hand to fit, but it did certainly take away from the great view. The seller above,
tries to do a combo, with the case and a filter. Many do not recommend and I see why.

Jerry
 
Jerry, Thanks for posting that picture. Sounds like the Bushwacker would be a good thing as well. I have the McNett gun wrap, but never put it on my ED50 yet. Some people put the white packing wrap on first and then the McNett gun wrap. Looksharp did this. I haven't found any clean white packing wrap. I am not crazy about the smell of the gun wrap.
 
For me the most required add-on for the ED 50 is a sunshield. The front lens is very close behind the rim of the tube. If it starts raining it happens very easily that rain drops fall on the lens. I use a M58 (plus 55->58mm adapter) one made of rubber, which I also use for some other photo lenses. I contains a filter thread by itself so that it is still possible to put on a filter or a ordinary photo lens cap. Additional the sunshield reduce stray light. Unfortunately the ED50 doesn't fit with the sunshield into the supplied neoprene cover. So for transportation I let it in its grippa case and put it in a box with bubble wrap that stays always in the trunk.

Steve
 
Last edited:
Nice work Jerry.

Thought it might be useful to link to Stuart C Smith's post about adapting the provided Nikon case :
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1183416&postcount=9
Don't get the bit about cutting out to access the focusser since there is already access on version of case I have.

For UKers the Cleyspy case is appreciated by some :
http://www.cleyspy.co.uk/cley-spy-ed50-stay-on-case-i1908.html
Useable with straight scope though perhaps the eyepiece cover is bigger than necessary.

And here's the lenshood I've seen recommended (but haven't tried) :
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6004&r=GOOG
 
normjackson said:
Nice work Jerry.

Thought it might be useful to link to Stuart C Smith's post about adapting the provided Nikon case :
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1183416&postcount=9
Don't get the bit about cutting out to access the focusser since there is already access on version of case I have.

For UKers the Cleyspy case is appreciated by some :
http://www.cleyspy.co.uk/cley-spy-ed50-stay-on-case-i1908.html
Useable with straight scope though perhaps the eyepiece cover is bigger than necessary.

And here's the lenshood I've seen recommended (but haven't tried) :
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6004&r=GOOG
Click to expand...

plenty of 55mm rubber lens hoods on ebay £1.99 and up. regards stuart.
 
Jane Turner said:
I just took a pair of scissors and a needle and thread to the case supplied by Nikon!
Click to expand...

I had my brother do that for me. He's got a sewing machine. :)

Worked perfectly. But now I use the grippa case together with a monopod, in this set-up the grip of the grippa is great...
 
normjackson said:
Nice work Jerry.

Thought it might be useful to link to Stuart C Smith's post about adapting the provided Nikon case :
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1183416&postcount=9
Don't get the bit about cutting out to access the focusser since there is already access on version of case I have.

For UKers the Cleyspy case is appreciated by some :
http://www.cleyspy.co.uk/cley-spy-ed50-stay-on-case-i1908.html
Useable with straight scope though perhaps the eyepiece cover is bigger than necessary.

And here's the lenshood I've seen recommended (but haven't tried) :
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6004&r=GOOG
Click to expand...

Norm:

Thanks for that. The lame Nikon case provided does not provide the coverage
that I was looking for, but it can be be adapted.

I guess we all want to protect the objective lens, as it is quite close to the
rim, and the lenshood, and a bushwacker are both good ideas.

It seems every time I take my ED50 out for a watch, I just am so pleased,
that I am wondering how the view through this little one could get much
better. ;)

Jerry
 
I guess a clear filter could be useful to have in place if you know sea spray or sand could be an issue that day : gives protection and less anxiety-inducing cleaning. I even wondered whether a hydrophobic coating might offer improved viewing in certain conditions :
http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/knowhow/mrc_e.htm
In this series the 007 is plain and the easier to find 010 is a UV filter :
http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/neuheiten/schutzfilter_e.htm
Understand fakes can be a bit of an issue but fortunately thanks to the smallish 55mm size, even the fanciest ones with the latest "Nano" MRC coating are not (quite) obscenely expensive (about £30) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/55mm-010M-N...E17E/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1316605368&sr=8-7

I thought Hoya offered something similar but now I can only find reference to easy cleaning coatings not hydrophobic.
 
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