If the Nikon reps followed the posts on BF like the Zen-Ray reps do, you might get some benefits from recommending their scope!! I still can't get over how small it was - it looked like a toy scope! I don't mean cheap, I mean the size! My Zen-rays & Promaster bins weigh 27 oz each - this scope weighs next to nothing!! He had it on a Manfrotto monopod (3 tiny legs on the bottom for balance), it retracted to almost nothing; would be sooo easy to stash & go! I am returning my Leupold Cascades, so that $ will go towards the scope of choice.
However, how does this scope do on a true beach situation where you are scanning for birds out to sea or shorebirds that may be farther out? How does it handle birds that are far out on large lakes? What kind of visual do you get then?
And I agree... I am worth a scope... I work hard to support my budding birding habit (and apparently new binocular habit!)...there is a scope in the future.....somewhere....o
Well first thing ! size don't matter :-O it is what you can do with it :-O
And i have not had the chance to use it over great distance yet ?
I cant say enough about this little scope, i think (i know) it is going to be a big hit for Nikon.
It is so light its a joke but still is very powerful and so far it has been fantastic, i have used it on my local marsh and it works very well, also i have done a lot of walking and don't even know i have it, i keep looking behind me to see it is still there :-O
It works really well with the mule, and i can even carry the tripod fully erected and use the scope straight away, not like my Leica which was a beast, and had to be slung over my sholder just to walk a short distance, i
know its not going to be everyones cup of redbull but for me its the best thing i have brought, other than my bins.
Yes looking out to sea will be a bit of a struggle but that will be know prob as my fellow birders all have larger scopes, but if you do lots of walking then there aint a new scope better that i know of.
I do a local guided walk and this scope is going to make it a real pleasure to go.
When you are ready to treat yourself to a new scope you must give this scope a test, it is really that good.
One more thing a good carbon tripod is a must as well.