Made a fatal mistake (1 Viewer)

canonman

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2016

• #1

Made the huge mistake today of going into the infocus shop at Rutland water and having a look through the opticron mm3 with the hdf eyepiece.All I can say is wow what a piece of kit.I'm a bird and wildlife photographer but got myself a mm2 non ed a while ago and have really enjoyed using it in the hides with a hide clamp to scan about while waiting for stuff to photograph to come in range and shoot.I can't believe how sharp and bright it was and now im in love,i thought my mm2 was good till I tried the mm3 now I gotta terrible feeling I've got scope envy lol I can see this being expensive as im finding I enjoy the watching nearly as much as the photography.I have looked through big scopes but didn't want the size and weight and must say this compares admirably to the images from them.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Apr 30, 2016

• #2

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FrankD

Well-known member

• May 1, 2016

• #3

canonman said:

I have looked through big scopes but didn't want the size and weight and must say this compares admirably to the images from them.

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I have been saying that for the last two years.

Today's Phonescoped pic through the MM3 and HDF zoom.

 

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Last edited: May 1, 2016

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breydon

Well-known member

• May 7, 2016

• #4

Buy one my friend. Superb little scope With a travel tripod you can get the whole thing in a back pack. Had mine about a year and love it

 

John Fleet

Finally reached 300!

• May 8, 2016

• #5

breydon said:

Buy one my friend. Superb little scope With a travel tripod you can get the whole thing in a back pack. Had mine about a year and love it

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Just out of interest - what travel tripod do you have which can fit in a back pack? - I have an ED50 which is comparable size wise to the MM3 and am on the look out for a suitable travel tripod to go with it..

thanks

John

 

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breydon

Well-known member

• May 8, 2016

• #6

John Fleet said:

Just out of interest - what travel tripod do you have which can fit in a back pack? - I have an ED50 which is comparable size wise to the MM3 and am on the look out for a suitable travel tripod to go with it..

thanks

John

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Hi John. A Velbon multi L. Not to sturdy but half way up its fine. Folds down very small and its light weight to

 

yarrellii

Well-known member

Supporter

• May 12, 2016

• #7

John, I just got an MM3 and after cheking other possibilities I got a Vanguard VEO 235AP. 5 sections, pan head (not the best) and folds down to 14,8 inches (37,5 cm). Weight is 3,6 lbs (1,5 kg). I've attached a couple of pictures so you can have an idea.



This is the bike pannier-cum-backpack I use most of the times when I go birding, it's only 25 liters (Vaude Cycle 25). Inside you can see the tripod, MM3 60 inside its case, water bottle, 2 bird guides, binoculars and plenty of space



EDIT: I got a MM3 60 with SDL v2, so I thought that the 1,5 kg would be ok, since the scope in this setup is already around the 1000 g mark.

 

Last edited: May 12, 2016

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mathare

Well-known member

• May 12, 2016

• #8

I have a Sirui T-005X with ballhead that weighs about 1kg total and packs down to around 30cm

 

yarrellii

Well-known member

Supporter

• May 12, 2016

• #9

mathare, I considered that tripod, due to the incredibly low weight. How stable is it? Since I got the MM3 60 with the heaviest eyepiece I was concerned about stability.
(BTW, I see you got some new Vortex Viper, I'll be following your opinions in the other thread :t: )

 

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mathare

Well-known member

• May 12, 2016

• #10

yarrellii said:

mathare, I considered that tripod, due to the incredibly low weight. How stable is it? Since I got the MM3 60 with the heaviest eyepiece I was concerned about stability.

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I have an Opticron 60mm scope (not the MM3 unfortunately) and the tripod itself copes admirably. I don't have a lot of experience with ballheads and I'd say the one with the Sirui tripod is OK but not sure I'd go anywhere near the 4kg they say it supports. The ballhead tension needs to be maintained to prevent drooping but I have used the tripod & ballhead with my very heavy Celestron 80mm scope successfully. You just need to keep the ball pretty tight. The ability to pan separately from the main ball is handy I must admit.

The MM3 will be much lighter than my Celestron 80mm even with the heavier Opticron eyepieces.

 

yarrellii

Well-known member

Supporter

• May 12, 2016

• #11

Wow, sounds impressive Thanks!