[Mike Johnston]

I see that Opticron now have the ED version of the MM2 on their website, with it being available in June. The body is £225 and they recommend the use of HDF lenses, so it will work out a little cheaper than the Nikon ED50. I wonder how it will compare optically?

Michael

[HokkaidoStu]

Originally Posted by MEJ

I see that Opticron now have the ED version of the MM2 on their website, with it being available in June. The body is £225 and they recommend the use of HDF lenses, so it will work out a little cheaper than the Nikon ED50. I wonder how it will compare optically?

Michael

It's been available in Japan for the last couple of years (under the Vixen brand) but only in a straight version.................you can get it with a 30X eyepiece for about 150 quid. Actually it came out just a month or so after I'd got the non-ED version..........................I wasn't too happy.

Judging by the recent mark downs in Japan on this product I'd suggest it isn't as highly thought of as the Nikon...........

[PYRTLE]

Originally Posted by MEJ

I see that Opticron now have the ED version of the MM2 on their website, with it being available in June. The body is £225 and they recommend the use of HDF lenses, so it will work out a little cheaper than the Nikon ED50. I wonder how it will compare optically?

Michael

No bull****, the Nikon ED50 will easily out perform the newer version of the MM2 with the better glass, and you might save a few pounds but you won't get the performance, false economy i.m.h.o.

Have never been that impressed with the overall optical performance of the Mighty Midgets; the IS 50 or 60'S are much better and cheaper pro-rata.

If you want a good standard 50mm lightweight spotting scope and fixed mag. lens for under £150 then an IS50 with x20/25 is good value.

Out of all the 50mm EDs (including the KOWA 500 series) I feel the Nikon comes out on top, try one if you can.

[pduxon]

given none of us have looked through one.....

I'd imagine that on the web the price will be discounted. You can pick up an ED50 for £239 which compares very favourably with the mm2ed so given that the ED50 is waterproof etc they would have to discount it. I presume that's why the price has come down in Japan.

The thing against the midget for the travelling birder is the draw-tube. Bit of a drawback in very humid climates.

Not sure why the IS50 hasn't sold as well. Feels better built and not much in it optics wise.. You see a lot more MM2's about. I dislike the standard lenses for the MM2 but the image is respectable definitely better than no scope!

[level seven]

Originally Posted by pduxon

Not sure why the IS50 hasn't sold as well. Feels better built and not much in it optics wise.. You see a lot more MM2's about. I dislike the standard lenses for the MM2 but the image is respectable definitely better than no scope!

I'm thinking of buying an IS50. A friend uses the Nikon ED50 on a monopod and I've been very impressed by how easy it is to use. Locating birds at x20 is simpler than I'd imagined. I know the Opticron wouldn't give quite the same quality, but I already have a couple of HDF eyepieces for my ES80 scope.

I did consider an MM2 but another friend had trouble with the draw-tube jamming and that's put me off. I haven't been too impressed with his scope using an MM2 zoom.

The HDF 40809 (x32 on my main scope) would give x20 with the IS50 and I reckon it would be a great lightweight alternative if used with a monopod to lugging around the ES80 plus tripod, useful though that will still be in the right circumstances. And not too much money.

Any thoughts?