[kingkong]

Hello,

I am Erik from the Netherlands and this is my first thread although I've studied this forum intensively long before because I had to make the difficult choice for my first birding scope for digiscoping. Candidates were the Zeiss 82 mm, the ATS-80-HD or the Kowa 823M. But just today I decided to buy a AT-80-HD of only half a year old together with the new ATS 20 x 60 zoom, the new ATS 30mm widefield and a ready to use Swarovski carry & coverbag. This all for the price of 1000 Euro. I think it's a good deal. What do you reckon? Thanks for your professional comments!

[IanF]

Hi Erik,

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

I too am interested in digiscoping and recently bought the Swarovski ATS 80 HD with 20-60x zoom. It's an excellent scope for birdwatching and can produce some very good digiscoped shots.

I'd reckon you got a very good deal on yours as people seem to reckon the ATS isn't much of an advance over the AT apart from compactness. I wouldn't mind having the 30x though.

Please feel free to post some of your photos in the Gallery. Each member has a generous 40 mb of web space to use free of charge.

See you around.

[kingkong]

Hi, you won't believe this. I was so happy with this deal and even sold my Swift Audubon 8.5 x 44 last week to be able to buy this scope. The plan was to get it this weekend but then I got this unbelievable e-mail of this guy telling me that he had decided to keep the scope for himself and not quit with his hobby. One week ago he was determant to sell it... he must have sold it to another person for a better price. I'm totally frustrated! Scope gone, binoculars gone!

[alan_rymer]

Originally Posted by kingkong

Hi, you won't believe this. I was so happy with this deal and even sold my Swift Audubon 8.5 x 44 last week to be able to buy this scope. The plan was to get it this weekend but then I got this unbelievable e-mail of this guy telling me that he had decided to keep the scope for himself and not quit with his hobby. One week ago he was determant to sell it... he must have sold it to another person for a better price. I'm totally frustrated! Scope gone, binoculars gone!

So sorry you have lost out!. It sounds like it would have been a great deal.
Don't lose heart, keep looking!.

[scampo]

Bad luck - but, I don't know if you can import easily, but there is a new scope on offer from www.warehouseexpress.com for the same kind of price. It's a discontinued model but would give you a superb birding scope for the money - the Nikon ED78A with 38xW fixed eyepiece.

They also have a bargain offer on the Kowa 613 with 20-60x zoom - and you could also buy the Nikon Sporter binoculars which are now half price and a genuine bargain.

This store is highly respected and these really are genuine offers of top quality equipment that are end-of-range or recently discontinued.

[kingkong]

Thank you guys for all your concern. Again, you won't believe this....right this weekend a real miracle happend. This guy contacted me again and told me he did want to sell his Swarovski AT-80-HD + ATS 20 x 60s and ATS 30 ws + Swarovski stay-on bag now to me because otherwise his girlfriend would leave him (I guess he loved the flying birds more than his own bird!). And guess what, I got a one month old Gitzo Classic Inter Pro Studex 1340 + G2380 fluid video head for free because of all of the trouble he had caused, he told me.
All this for just 1000 Euro, am I awake or am I dreaming???
But I got my stuff today and paid the 1000 Euro.

I feel happy and drunk a few pints!

By the way, this Swarovski 30 ws eyepiece looks marvellous and really better than the magnificent 20 x 60s, at least through a AT-80-HD.

Thanks!!

[IanF]

Congratulations Erik - you certainly fell on your feet with that deal