Which entry-level scope. (1 Viewer)

I want to buy an entry-level (<£100) spotting scope for general purpose use - a bit of birding, helping with my target shooting, basic digiscoping and generally watching the world go by. I already have a very nice Manfrotto carbon-fibre tripod and a Novoflex table-top tripod with Manfrotto head so I'm not worried if what I buy comes with a stand or not. I've been considering the following four scopes:

Piccolo Compact 15-45x60
Summit 15-45x60
Oregon 12-36x50
Celestron Mini 12-36x50

I'd appreciate any pros and cons of the above four or suggestions of other models I should look at. I'm leaning towards the Summit as it seems to be the only one with multi-coated lenses. I know I should try them before buying but finding a real showroom within reach is difficult.

Jonathan

If you were able to stretch your budget a little then you should definately try this...

http://www.focusonprice.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=6664&substring=

An excellent scope for the price and works well with a CP4500 or similar for digiscoping

Try to find your local hunting shop and see if they stock them to try on out

Snapshot said:

I want to buy an entry-level (<£100) spotting scope for general purpose use - a bit of birding, helping with my target shooting, basic digiscoping and generally watching the world go by. I already have a very nice Manfrotto carbon-fibre tripod and a Novoflex table-top tripod with Manfrotto head so I'm not worried if what I buy comes with a stand or not. I've been considering the following four scopes:

Piccolo Compact 15-45x60
Summit 15-45x60
Oregon 12-36x50
Celestron Mini 12-36x50

I'd appreciate any pros and cons of the above four or suggestions of other models I should look at. I'm leaning towards the Summit as it seems to be the only one with multi-coated lenses. I know I should try them before buying but finding a real showroom within reach is difficult.

Jonathan

Click to expand...

probably a worthwhile recommendation, but at double the op's stated budget,
can anyone expand further on the original choices, as to their optical performance, and or shortcomings.
thanks

A tough call to get all you want for that price (digiscoping needs ed glass ideally).

If I was you I'd look at 2nd hand. Check Cley Spy etc and what about this Opticron http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=117298 ?

Nev

dipped said:

A tough call to get all you want for that price (digiscoping needs ed glass ideally).

If I was you I'd look at 2nd hand. Check Cley Spy etc and what about this Opticron http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=117298 ?

Nev

Click to expand...

I have the IS60 version of this and it is a great scope for the money.

entry scope

hi - just saw this link..http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=109694&highlight=Piccolo -- it may help you a little.

Why is that when a newbie like this (or me) asks for advice we are always encouraged to spend a little more (at least twice or more) for something we know we cannot afford - believe or not some of us still live in the real world with families to feed and mortgages and bills to pay.

I am also well aware that ED and HD etc lenses will cut out CA but once again give us credit for trying to enjoy a little fun whilst experimenting and learning.

For what it's worth I recently bought a secondhand Bausch and Lomb Discoverer 15x60-60, I have played at handheld digiscoping with a Nikon 990 (now sold) and Canon A570 - won't set the world on fire - but a bit of fun. Must get better when I work out a suitable adapter.

Once again, please consider the foregoing before offering expensive and therefore useless advice - you see most of us will already have done a lot of research - we just lack your financial status.

I have the Opticron Piccolo and it is a very nice scope for the money (£35 in my case). Ture, there is a bit of CA and above 25x it is fairly fuzzy but you get what you pay for. Make sure you get a good one though-mine seems to have all grit on the prism which p*sses me off at 15x where I can see it.

The Bresser Safari 15-45x60 is meant to be alright for the money as well (RRP of £125 but I have hardly ever seen it offered for more than £100). I was originally going to go for that one as my stopgap scope (before I eventually save up for an 85mm Zeiss Diascope-if I ever get round to it) but in the end I went for the Piccolo simply because losing £35's worth of kit if I get mugged or come off my bike is a lot less bad than £100.

Also, have a look on eBay for deals-lower-end scopes from reputable companies are quite a worthwhile option.

Also get a good tripod again from a reputable company that has been reviewed on here or elsewhere-I went for a Velbon Sherpa 450 (the only one that was cheap but tall enough-I am 6 foot 6).

So now I have the weird situation of having a £35 scope and a £70 tripod!

You could check out one of these. I know a bloke who uses one of these 70mm scopes and it works fine for a cheap scope.

http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/c-kenko-spotting-scopes.htm