[Shell]

Wondering if someone can advise me on the best scope , or rather, a range of scopes best fit for the best quality images with the cp4500?? Very new to this, but am at a loss with all so much research I've done. All of the info is getting confusing to me. Of course, the better (cheaper) the price, would be great , but honestly, I have to worry more with quality , not the price.

[Doug Greenberg]

Originally Posted by Shell

Wondering if someone can advise me on the best scope , or rather, a range of scopes best fit for the best quality images with the cp4500?? Very new to this, but am at a loss with all so much research I've done. All of the info is getting confusing to me. Of course, the better (cheaper) the price, would be great , but honestly, I have to worry more with quality , not the price.

The good news regarding the CP4500 is that it's pretty much the standard digicam for digiscoping, so you can fit it to just about any spotting scope you might purchase. Ultimately, money imight be a factor in choosing a scope. If you have a generous budget, the Swarovski top of the line models such as the AT80HD seem to have become the scopes "of choice." Swarovski has made its own adapters for its eyepieces, as well.

At the economy end of the spectrum, some of us use the Pentax PF80-ED, which is an incredible bargain and is still quite good for digiscoping. Most people who buy this scope use a third party eyepiece such as the William Optics DCL-28, which mounts directly into the screw threads on the front of the Coolpix lens. You can use Pentax's own eyepieces, however (the fixed focal length ones, at least), with an adapter sold by Eagleeyeuk.com.

A new scope that seems very promising and which isn't too expensive is the Nikon Fieldscope 82 ED, which offers excellent performance and a Nikon-made set of digiscoping adapters for its eyepieces.

I'm sure other people will recommend yet other scopes and eyepieces. There's no one "right" way to go here.

[Shell]

Hey Doug, thanks so much for the reply and info ! I'll take a look, do a search, for these scopes you suggested, etc. I sure do appreciate your help !!

[Geoff Brown]

Shell
Not sure whether you can get Opticron in the States but they have value for money optics here in the UK and they also sell a digiscoping eyepiece for their scopes which is very good. As the others say the Nikon 4500 is pretty much THE CHOICE for digiscoping.

[Shell]

Hello Geoff , I'm not sure either, but I'm just now going to check on it to see !!!!!!! Thanks so much for the tip ! I appreciate it !

[Jay Turberville]

Originally Posted by Shell

Wondering if someone can advise me on the best scope , or rather, a range of scopes best fit for the best quality images with the cp4500?? Very new to this, but am at a loss with all so much research I've done. All of the info is getting confusing to me. Of course, the better (cheaper) the price, would be great , but honestly, I have to worry more with quality , not the price.

You want a scope that uses the better glass in its objective lens. This will differ by manufacturer. Some refer to their variation on the theme as HD, ED, or fluorite. Others don't refer to the glass type, but instead to the design, so you may see an APO designation as well. All of these things indicate better correction of chromatic aberrations. This is something you will want and something that will cost extra in any given line of scopes. (Note that the names of the three scopes that Doug mentioned had either "ED" or "HD" in their model names.)

You will want an eyepiece with a relatively long eye relief (about 20mm is best, but as low as 17mm may still be OK). This is where looking for what has worked well for others makes a big difference.

Are you going to use the scope visually as well as for digiscoping. If so, you might consider factoring that use into your decision as well.

[KCFoggin]

Lil sis!!!!! Don't tell me you are taking the plunge???

[cspratt]

Read the reviews here on Birdforum. I use the Kowa with the Kowa digiscoping adapter. Works very well. I've posted a Kowa review on the review page.

[cspratt]

Forgot to add Kowa model I use, which is the angled 823M.

[stevo]

Hi Shell

Take a look on Andy Bright`s site www.digiscoped.com here Andy lists some of the most popular scopes used for digiscoping.

Regards Steve.

[Skean]

I luv my Zeiss 85mm angled with the 20-60 zoom. I use it with the coolpix 4300 handheld.
Skean

[scampo]

Zeiss 85T*+zoom: great for digiscoping and unsurpassed for birding. A top notch world-class optics manufacturer, too.