Hello,
I have been thinking of purchasing a used TSN-3 to use with the Opticron SDLv2 zoom I already own. I have an Opticron MM4 60mm (my first scope) which I like very much, but I've always had the intention of complementing it at some point with a larger scope for low light situations, or for when I need higher magnifications (I find the MM4 good up to about 35x). As this will be my secondary scope, the logical choice to keep the cost down would be to buy a scope compatible with my SDLv2 zoom, hence my interest in the TSN-3.
My question is the following: how would a former top-of-the-range scope like the TSN-3 (assuming it is a good sample) compare optically with a much newer midrange scope like the Opticron ES80 GA ED v3. I have read somewhere that midrange scopes of today are optically on a par with alphas from 10 years ago. A used Opticron would only be about £50 to £100 more, and would have the advantage of being waterproof. It would also not require fiddling about with an o-ring to make the zoom fit. However, the TSN-3, as well as costing less, is 200g lighter, so if it were optically on a par with the more modern scope then the Kowa option would be worth considering, despite the disadvantages of age and lack of waterproofing.
I'd be very grateful for any advice on this, as I am unlikely to get an opportunity to try a TSN-3 before buying.
Thanks.
I have been thinking of purchasing a used TSN-3 to use with the Opticron SDLv2 zoom I already own. I have an Opticron MM4 60mm (my first scope) which I like very much, but I've always had the intention of complementing it at some point with a larger scope for low light situations, or for when I need higher magnifications (I find the MM4 good up to about 35x). As this will be my secondary scope, the logical choice to keep the cost down would be to buy a scope compatible with my SDLv2 zoom, hence my interest in the TSN-3.
My question is the following: how would a former top-of-the-range scope like the TSN-3 (assuming it is a good sample) compare optically with a much newer midrange scope like the Opticron ES80 GA ED v3. I have read somewhere that midrange scopes of today are optically on a par with alphas from 10 years ago. A used Opticron would only be about £50 to £100 more, and would have the advantage of being waterproof. It would also not require fiddling about with an o-ring to make the zoom fit. However, the TSN-3, as well as costing less, is 200g lighter, so if it were optically on a par with the more modern scope then the Kowa option would be worth considering, despite the disadvantages of age and lack of waterproofing.
I'd be very grateful for any advice on this, as I am unlikely to get an opportunity to try a TSN-3 before buying.
Thanks.