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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Reviews by rb_stern

rb_stern
For SP AF 200-500MM F/5-6.3 Di LD in SLR & MFT (micro four thirds) Lenses
Recommended
Yes
Price
0$
Pros
  • High quality image, sharp, relatively light-weight and well balanced, easy to hand-hold.
Cons
  • No IS/ VR (but I have found that is no disadvantage 90% of the time), too long for some camera bags
It has now become my prime dSLR birding lens, used with my Nikon D70s, having relegated the Nikon 80-400VR to 2nd place. The main reason is that it is lighter and easier to carry and hold. It is very well balanced for hand-holding. I also think it is a little brighter and sharper, and the extra 100mm. helps too. Auto-focus is adequately fast, although, as expected, difficult with, e.g. small birds in dense cover.

The lack of VR/IS does not seem to matter most of the time if I hold it correctly, although it might occasionally mean the difference between no shot and an acceptable shot in poor light. The main disadvantage I have found is that even at 200mm., it is physically quite long, and I haver had to change my standard camera bag for a longer one.

Richard Stern
rb_stern
For Fieldscope III/IIIA/IIIED/IIIEDA 60 mm in Compact Spotting Scopes
Recommended
Yes
Price
0$
Pros
  • High quality image, light weight, big focussing ring for Canadian winter gloves
Cons
  • 60mm. objective, so perhaps slight loss of brightness compared to bigger scopes
I have had my Fieldscope now for about 3 years. I have the angled eyepiece model with --ED glass, and the 20X, and the 30XWA eyepieces. It\'s light and easy to carry on a medium Bogen tripod, and I like the big focus ring around the center of the scope body - easy to use with heavy gloves in winter. For the last 2 years I have used it for all my digiscoping as well as birding, and have no problems. I notice that some of the pics posted with bigger scopes (Swaro 80 etc.) appear a bit brighter and sharper, but that may be technique or camera work rather than the scope. I have looked through other birders\' Swaro and Leica scopes costing more, and I think my Fieldscope holds up with the best - at least at 20 and 30X. I\'m not so sure about higher powers, but I hardly ever find them any good, as they magnify haze and shake more than the bird. So far it has proved robust and has held up well to lying in the back of my car on bumpy dirt roads, airline checked and carry-on baggage, and being carted around in rain, snow and heat. I would have no problem in recommending it.
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