[Alan G]

I'm considering upgrading my scope from the HR66 GA to either the HR80 GA ED or ES 80 GA ED.

Can anyone advise whether I'll get noticeably better results from these scopes and whether the HR version noticeably better than the ES (ie: is the extra £200 for the HR worth it?).

Also - are there any other makes of scope I should consider within the £500 - £700 price bracket - Kowa, for example?

I'm keen on getting into digi-scoping and my current scope & camera combo is okay but I want better results - I'm hoping this will help.

Thanks

Alan

[scampo]

You need to get an ED / fluorite scope, Alan, or you'll not notice sufficient difference. Your current scope is very good, after all.

If you want to digiscope seriously, I should think you ought to be looking at Zeiss 85FL / Kowa Prominar / Leica 77Apo / Swaro 80HD. I like the Zeiss for its lovely wide zoom, but I know many swear by the others.

[bill lord]

Originally Posted by Alan G

I'm considering upgrading my scope from the HR66 GA to either the HR80 GA ED or ES 80 GA ED.

Can anyone advise whether I'll get noticeably better results from these scopes and whether the HR version noticeably better than the ES (ie: is the extra £200 for the HR worth it?).

Also - are there any other makes of scope I should consider within the £500 - £700 price bracket - Kowa, for example?

I'm keen on getting into digi-scoping and my current scope & camera combo is okay but I want better results - I'm hoping this will help.

Thanks

Alan

WArehouse Express have the Nikon Ed 78 complete with 38X eyepeiece for sale at £549. If you want the full choice of eyepieces the you can buy the body separately and take your pick of the eyepieces but this costs a little more but will still be within your budget. I looked at both the HR and the ES in Feb and decided that they didn't compare with the Nikon ED 82 that I could view, and bought the ED 78 because I was told it was basically the same. Having got one I can not see a difference between the New Nikon 82 and the old Nikon 78.

[Geoff Brown]

I can only speak about the ES80 GA ED as I have one. For the price it holds up remarkably well with the top of the range scopes we have been using on the "Full Monty - aren't birds brilliant" site. The only slight downside is that the focus seems to need more adjusting as birds fly into/out of the depth of field of the lens. In dull light it is still exceptionally bright and sharp. My eyepiece is a 32Xww HDF which seems about right for me. I tried the Opticron new HDF zoom at the Birdfair on Friday on an ES 80 and would certainly like one of those on my scope sometime in the future. Hope this helps.