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Looking for a good scope. (1 Viewer)

wachipilotes

Well-known member
Hello,
I am looking for information about a good 70-85 mm spotting scope for visual (no digiscoping) birding.
I thought about several options: for example ..
- An authentic spotting scope such as a Zen 82ED Ray or HD Vortex
- A good scope astronomical such as an Astro tech, Celestron or William Opctics, all with a prism 45.
- Or a "hybrid" spotting scope (if you can call it that) as the Celestron Regal for instance ...., with the possibility of using other 1.25 "eyepieces star.

I do not usually make Birding in bad weather, rain and cloudy .. but I would like, that was robust and give a good image with good contrast and sharpness ..
I too have made astronomical observations, from time to time ... (with my binoculars).
I would like to give me their opinions and advice, my budget is no more than 600-800 euros.

I thank you in advance for your opinions.
Many thanks
Wachi.
 
Hola!

Definitly your choice is the regal, 65 or 80 depend your needs. I do belive, althoug the zen and the vortex were better (i doubt it) as i always say in visual those distance become closer than when digiscoping, and equal if you put a good fixed eyepiece on the regal. But i think the regal is already in the same level and then better with a fixed ep. Check if maybe there is an astro adapter for the zen or the vortex. A regal m2 100 used probably are over 800 but you need to search and find and maybe there are no one out there now.
 
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Hi,

if you can use an astro scope depends on your use. I have an 80mm ED doublet refractor pointed permanently from my bedroom window on some favorite dead tree across the river which always has birds on it. This offers great views either visually or with a motion detection cam.
It only gets moved for clear skies nights...

But I also have an old 77mm scope for mobile use - the ED APO is 2.5kg plus diagonal/amici and eyepiece - and some of the nice astro EPs weight up to one kg... the old Kowa is 1.6 kg including EP.

A spotting scope which can take astro EPs (either directly or via an adapter) would be a nice intermediate option - just keep in mind that they usually only take 1.25" EPs (so wide field is kinda limited), might have a limited prism size (so you might not even be able to use a full 1.25" field stop) and might not come into focus with all EPs. So try before you buy or make sure you get them from a store with a good return policy.

Joachim
 
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