Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
Maybe I'm just feeling contrary, but I can't understand the interest in this scope (other than just to note that Zeiss has a new product) for any reason, much less birding, travel, or for its price ($1300). To me, it seems bulky and expensive, especially for a nonED scope, and not optimal for birding with its listed close focus of 10 m.
For my money, I'd go with the Nikon 60mm Fieldscope III ED, which with the 20-60 zoom costs $1000, weighs about the same, is substantially more compact, is very robust, close focuses under 5 m, and has all the optical performance one would hope for from an ED scope. If the black color of the Zeiss is the attraction, there was a black version of the Fieldscope III ED (the TF3) that you might find used, or else the current model could be wrapped in gun tape.
--AP
For my money, I'd go with the Nikon 60mm Fieldscope III ED, which with the 20-60 zoom costs $1000, weighs about the same, is substantially more compact, is very robust, close focuses under 5 m, and has all the optical performance one would hope for from an ED scope. If the black color of the Zeiss is the attraction, there was a black version of the Fieldscope III ED (the TF3) that you might find used, or else the current model could be wrapped in gun tape.
--AP