Equipment recommendation (1 Viewer)

Hello to everyone! First of all, I don't know if this is the right place to ask this, so I am sorry if it is not o .

I would like to buy my first spotting scope (I believe it is called like that in English, anyway, there you have a picture to make sure we are all talking about the same thing https://cdn.audubon.org/cdn/farfutu.../default/files/web_camillacerea_ohio-0062.jpg ). Therefore, I need help to choose one:

Which one is best? Although price is an important factor, let's focus on quality now.

In addition, I would like to take pictures with it (is it called digiscoping?). I guess I would have to buy an adapter piece to join a phone or a camera but... I don't know if that is a possibility for all types of spotting scopes.

Thanks in advance, every opinion is welcomed!

I've moved this thread to the 'Spotting Scopes' forum, which is the best place to get an answer.

Great, willing to hear from you all!

Hi Sergio,

if money is not an issue, the one shown in your image, the Kowa 883/4 and the Swarvski ATX/STX system are proably your best bet and which one is chosen usually depends on whether you like one or the other focuser better or if you want to use a binoviewer.

The Zeiss Harpia might also be an excellent option, especially if your use case involves scanning large areas at low magnification as it trades a super wide field of view at low mag for a bit of light loss at the end of dusk.

Regarding digiscoping there is a lot of different systems out there to take images through a scope with a compact cam, a DSLR or mirrorless system cam or even a smartphone. In my opinion Swaro had the smoothest system with the DCB II adapter (available for ATX/STX systems or ATS/ATM/STS/STM scopes) which allowed you to have compact cam attached to the scope and quickly flipped down for an image. But in their infinite wisdom they decided to discontinue it.

Joachim