Regal M2 65 vs. 80 ? (1 Viewer)

Hello,
I have seen a good offer on Amazon on the Celestron Regal M2 65 model + zoom eyepiece, in your opinion 65mm can be a good aperture for the usual birding with the 16-48X magnification, or on the contrary, it is worth paying a little more and I go for the top model Regal M2 80mm + 20-60X magnification?
I would greatly appreciate your opinion on this subject.
Has anyone been able to compare these two models hand in hand? or 65 and 80mm in normal situations, no dawn, no dusk, no very cloudy days, usually in wetlands and open terrain.
Very kind for your comments
Wachi

Hi Wachi, I had the previous versions Regal 65 & Regal 80 models, which I believe have the same optics and zoom, but the M2 is lighter, has faster focusing on the twin focus knobs and is a green colour. Trying mine side by side, I found the 80mm to be brighter in all conditions using the zoom eyepiece because of the larger front lens and after about 4 months sold the 65mm because I was no longer using it. I also found a nice improvement in brightness and sharpness when using the Baader Hyperion 68 degree fixed 17mm ( 28x ), 13mm ( 37x )and 10mm ( 48x ) eyepieces. After aquiring these I never really used the zoom.
Hope this is of some use to you.

Les.

Thank you very much for your kind reply.
Wachi.