[goldfinch]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and just want to say that it's great!

Lots of good information!

I'm just getting into using a Coolpix 4500 and looking for a scope or
teleconvertor for long range close-up shots.

Does anyone has knowledge or experience with the Nikon TelescoMicro
ED6x18D ? (available on the Nikon Mall for US$329.00)

www.nikonmall.com

It's supposed to "function as a telescope for distant objects AND as a
magnifying glass for close range). No adaptors necessary for 4500;
nikon adaptors available for other coolpix models.

It sounds like it might be great for both macro and telephoto uses and
offers Nikon quality ED glass...

It looks like the "6x" would increase the 4500's optical zoom range to 930mm telephoto.

How would this compare to a basic ed coated $400-$500 scope.... if there
is such a scope...

It appears to me to be a fairly good "entry-level" item.... but I'm not sure
it has the long range telephoto capacity that I might need that the 20x
scopes have.

Right now most of my photography will be at 300' or less.

[IanF]

Hi Goldfinch,

On behalf of Admin and the Moderators, welcome to Bird Forum

I'm not familiar with this Nikon item so I can't really pass comment, though it does sound interesting. Hopefully someone will be along real soon who can help out.

See you around.

[Andy Bright]

Hi Goldfinch,

The device you mention has been around for a long long time as a photo on the web, and I was under the impression that it was only available (if it's available at all) in Japan.
The ED part sounds good but the objective lens sounds mighty small. It would be interesting ot see the results of one, especially vs something like the Eagleeye 5x.
If you do get one, make sure you let us see the results.Regards,
Andy

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Hi Goldfinch, and welcome to the Forum - glad you like it! Hope to see some of your photos soon.

[Jay Turberville]

I think this item became available in the US via Nikon Mall some time in 2003.

There is a pretty good overview of it here:
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam...escoMicro.html
or use this:
http://tinyurl.com/38m83

Dr. Ching-Kuang Shene seems to have taken it on himself to test just about every monocular out there. The upshot is that the TelescoMicro is very uniiform in quality across its field compared to other scopes of similar power. It is also exhibits very little chromatic aberrations. And its "micro" capabilities are apparently quite impressive. But similar power scopes costing as little as 1/3 as much are actually sharper in the center.

The aperture is a little on the small size, but the scope should operate at an effecive f4 at 16mm and f8 at 32mm on a CP4500. I'd suspect (based on the 16.6mm of eye relief and 45 degree AFOV) that you would have vignette free view from 16mm to 32mm. But Shene does not mention one way or the other. So this is only guess.