choice between two scopes - advice? (1 Viewer)

A

ABCY 1

Well-known member

• May 14, 2013

• #1

Hi

I'm looking to upgrade from my 30 year old Bushnell Spacemaster II which I use with a 22x eyepiece. I need something with decent image quality, lightweight/portable and on a budget of 4-500 $Australian. Given options and prices here, that means importing for me. I'm considering two ED scopes with zoom eyepieces that have had a bit of comment on this forum: the Helios Fieldmaster ED 60 (the Theron Saker clone) and the Delta Optocs Titanium 65ED (Promaster clone, or close to it). If anyone has any thoughts on these, or alternative suggestions, I'd be grateful.

I'd be using the scope for birding, primarily in wetlands.

thanks!

 

W

woodhornbirder

Well-known member

• May 14, 2013

• #2

the delta optics scope is good option imo

You can get an upgrade ep for ur spacemaster.....

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2725479#post2725479
also opticron/acuter will fit.

 

FrankD

Well-known member

• May 14, 2013

• #3

Either one is a good choice. I have owned the Saker and do own the Promaster. I like the Promaster more because of....

a) smaller and more compact

b) Wide angle zoom plus the option of using any 1.25 inch eyepiece with it

The Saker (Fieldmaster) is a great scope for the price and has good image quality but I tend to prefer the Promater (Delta).

 

A

ABCY 1

Well-known member

• May 14, 2013

• #4

Thanks for the advice, good to know it's based on experience!

 

G

grbrown

Active member

• May 15, 2013

• #5

I've just advised another member against buying a zoom, so feel compelled to say that again! Almost without exception zoom lenses are seriously compromised on quality, compared with a single focal length lens. As you have long experience using one I suggest you continue to do so. A modern ED scope with similar magnification to your current scope should give you improved viewing performance, all being well with increased field of view.

 

A

ABCY 1

Well-known member

• May 16, 2013

• #6

issues with zoom eyepieces

thanks grbrown. I do have concerns about zooms, and if I could find a decent ED 60 or 65mm scope with 27 or 30x eyepiece in my price range I'd buy it. Some secondhand options out there but that's a lottery if you have to freight it halfway around the world. So I have have looked out the most promising zooms I can afford, and I'm hoping that there may be fixed eyepieces to fit these models in due course.

Any recommendations welcome of course!

 

E

eitanaltman

Well-known member

• May 16, 2013

• #7

grbrown said:

I've just advised another member against buying a zoom, so feel compelled to say that again! Almost without exception zoom lenses are seriously compromised on quality, compared with a single focal length lens.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that only in reference to cheap scopes? Because it's not really true anymore with nicer zoom EP's. The Zoom EP's on modern alpha scopes are essentially as good as fixed EP's in most respects, and there are several high quality zooms available at lower prices (e.g. the much acclaimed Baader Hyperion Zoom and the various Swaro 20-60x zoom clones like those on the Zen ED / Vortex Razor HD scope).