looksharp65
Well-known member
Frankly, I wasn't sure where to post this thread but I reckon that most BF members will find it when posted here.
My collection of optics approaches perfection - maybe not in sheer optical quality but in terms of having the bases covered.
One of the more used items is my Nikon ED50A. It can't really be faulted and is the closest to perfection that such a little scope can come.
So, what could be done to escape boredom after having reached the point where improvements are only incremental?
Look for alternative solutions! What ways are there to buy or construct a decent compact spotting scope? This is what I have tried and/or considered:
1) Buy another new compact scope. Possibly, there are bargains out there but they all seem to be under the radar. Searching one would mean endless trials and errors, and postage costs would eliminate the cost benefit they offer.
This category also includes the Celestron 50 and 65 mm Maks and some Sibir and Yukon models. Not so funny, I guess.
2) Buy an old compact spotter like the Kowa 501 or a Russian 20x50 half-binocular. They indeed have charm, but could there really be any gems left undiscovered after decades and decades? Could they do better than category #1?
3) I am a little fascinated by the draw-tube scopes that become very compact when collapsed, in particular the Optolyth 25x70 XS.
They are, however, no bargain price-wise, and unlike the Fieldscopes their CA isn't quite negligible. Being more expensive than a used EDIIIA body and not water-proof, their charm fades too much. If just someone unaware of their value would throw them in to a pawn shop or a local advertisement site!
4) A doubler! My Bushnell Elite 2.5x makes my Nikon 8x30 E II an extremely compact 20x30 pocket scope with a very decent image quality.
There is some hassle with attaching it but the fit is quite secure.
It is also good with the 10x32 FL.
5) A front converter! I bought an Olympus TCON-17. When held in front of the 10x32 FL, it compares pretty well to the ED50 with 16x Wide DS.
The AFOV remains unchanged too. If the diameter of the back lens is smaller than the binocular's front lens, light loss occurs. This solution does not provide very much magnification and is not very compact.
Furthermore, obtaining a secure fit to the binocular could probably only be done with the Kowa 44 mm series that have a threaded connection in front of the objectives.
6) A telephoto lens with a special ocular like the Lens2Scope or one of its predecessors. Mine is the old Hama, similarly styled as the dicontinued Nikon telephoto converter.
I believe this method could produce some very nice results. My old Tokina 70-210 ED zoom is compact, easy to zoom and to focus and has quite decent image quality with the Hama ocular.
There are quite a lot of photography lenses in the 200 to 300 mm range out there.
A "short telephoto lens" for medium format photography should have enough back focus to enable homemade prism/ocular constructions to work properly.
Some of them are so stubby that I suspect they will need a short spacing tube too.
The optical quality of the better brands, especially with ED glass, should easily be able to challenge normal spotters, provided the eyepiece being used is a good one.
A nice advantage is that some of them also can be used for DSLR photography as is, and most of them with appropriate adapters.
Thoughts, anyone?
My collection of optics approaches perfection - maybe not in sheer optical quality but in terms of having the bases covered.
One of the more used items is my Nikon ED50A. It can't really be faulted and is the closest to perfection that such a little scope can come.
So, what could be done to escape boredom after having reached the point where improvements are only incremental?
Look for alternative solutions! What ways are there to buy or construct a decent compact spotting scope? This is what I have tried and/or considered:
1) Buy another new compact scope. Possibly, there are bargains out there but they all seem to be under the radar. Searching one would mean endless trials and errors, and postage costs would eliminate the cost benefit they offer.
This category also includes the Celestron 50 and 65 mm Maks and some Sibir and Yukon models. Not so funny, I guess.
2) Buy an old compact spotter like the Kowa 501 or a Russian 20x50 half-binocular. They indeed have charm, but could there really be any gems left undiscovered after decades and decades? Could they do better than category #1?
3) I am a little fascinated by the draw-tube scopes that become very compact when collapsed, in particular the Optolyth 25x70 XS.
They are, however, no bargain price-wise, and unlike the Fieldscopes their CA isn't quite negligible. Being more expensive than a used EDIIIA body and not water-proof, their charm fades too much. If just someone unaware of their value would throw them in to a pawn shop or a local advertisement site!
4) A doubler! My Bushnell Elite 2.5x makes my Nikon 8x30 E II an extremely compact 20x30 pocket scope with a very decent image quality.
There is some hassle with attaching it but the fit is quite secure.
It is also good with the 10x32 FL.
5) A front converter! I bought an Olympus TCON-17. When held in front of the 10x32 FL, it compares pretty well to the ED50 with 16x Wide DS.
The AFOV remains unchanged too. If the diameter of the back lens is smaller than the binocular's front lens, light loss occurs. This solution does not provide very much magnification and is not very compact.
Furthermore, obtaining a secure fit to the binocular could probably only be done with the Kowa 44 mm series that have a threaded connection in front of the objectives.
6) A telephoto lens with a special ocular like the Lens2Scope or one of its predecessors. Mine is the old Hama, similarly styled as the dicontinued Nikon telephoto converter.
I believe this method could produce some very nice results. My old Tokina 70-210 ED zoom is compact, easy to zoom and to focus and has quite decent image quality with the Hama ocular.
There are quite a lot of photography lenses in the 200 to 300 mm range out there.
A "short telephoto lens" for medium format photography should have enough back focus to enable homemade prism/ocular constructions to work properly.
Some of them are so stubby that I suspect they will need a short spacing tube too.
The optical quality of the better brands, especially with ED glass, should easily be able to challenge normal spotters, provided the eyepiece being used is a good one.
A nice advantage is that some of them also can be used for DSLR photography as is, and most of them with appropriate adapters.
Thoughts, anyone?
Last edited:
E:1123
