Which Swarovski Scope? (1 Viewer)

[Lawts]

Within the ATX range, does the jump from 25x60 85mm to 30x70 95mm make a significant improvement when sea-watching, or indeed is the 85mm a better option? For example, I don't know the field of view and it may be the 85 is better.

I don't want the 65mm and I think the 115mm may be a bit big, so I'm thinking it's between the 85 and 95mm.

Thanks.

 

[Winterdune]

I really didn't like the 95 with the zoom for seawatching and switched down to the 85 - much better as you have a wider field (and you can rarely use x70 on a seawatch anyway). But now I use the BTX on the 95 for serious seawatching. As a friend said, it's so relaxing you could almost nod off 😂.

I now use the 85/zoom when I'm walking or cycling around my patch. They are the perfect pair for general birding for me - not too heavy, and they just seem to really gel optically in a way that (for me) the 95 and zoom didn't.

The 115 needs a wheelbarrow...

 

[cafe birder]

I too went for the 95 BTX as its very relaxing to use and I have never used a zoom for seawatching. I have never regretted it. The binocular effect is said to increase the 35x mag to a perceived 40x . I even lugged it to the Cape Verdes a couple of months ago and it paid off well with 4 to 5 Black-capped Petrels. I would definitely have missed some with my old scope. I've also found it much easier to see storm petrels off Cornwall where before I missed many that were called by watchers around me. In fact it was failing to get on a Wilson's that persuaded me to upgrade.

Regards Howard