bearclawthedonut
Well-known member
Chin up Crumbucket, it's not as bad as all that - it's worse.
Wait, just you wait. You have still to experience "quality control" (boy is that an oxymoron in regard to low to mid cost spotting scopes) issues.
However, for people who wear eyeglasses ER (eyerelief) is the critical, number one optical criteria - at least it is for me. If an optical instrument (spotting scope, binoculars, telescope, riflescope, etc...) does not have acceptable eyerelief, then it becomes far less comfortable, far more difficult and far less rewarding to use - for me.
I find 20mm is ideal for me using spotting scopes (19mm for binoculars). Too much ER can also be a bit of a pain in the lower posterior, particularly with binoculars that you would like to position quickly.
As Kevin Purcell pointed out, eyepiece (EP) flexibility is one of the best features of the Pentax PF-65ED. Because it accepts most 1.25" telescopic EPs and because there are many 1.25" telescopic EPs with 20mm of ER - that gives you a large selection of available EP's for use with eyeglasses. On the other hand; Kowa, Zeiss, Swarovski, Lecia and Nikon (or Alpen) - each have very, very few interchangable EPs with 20mm of ER.
Unfortunately, new 20mm ER EP's tend to be a bit pricey. Also they tend to mainly (Vixen NLV is an exception) come with very wide apparent field of view (AFOV). Baader Hyperion ($120) and Orion Stratus ($135) both have very good reputations for their "value" (high quality/moderate cost). Televue Radian ($210-$250), Vixen WLV ($160-$290) and Pentax WX ($350-$400) offer higher quality, but cost more. Each series offers five to eight EP's -all with 20mm of ER. So you can see there are a lot of possible EP combinations for the Pentax PF-65ED. Most zooms loose ER and drop below 20mm ER by 30x, there are a few exceptions - Celestron Explorer II Zoom ($70+/-) is a bit better, but it's not the highest quality (resolution) zoom out there.
In regard to the spotting scope body, unfortunately, I find an angled body to be easier to approach with my eyeglasses then a straight body. Unfortunate, because angled bodies are more expensive then straight bodies. Remember, eyeglasses = more $$$ and more frustration when combined with spotting scopes!
Anyway good luck. Looking through the spotting scope before you purchase is the best way to avoid disappointment. Obviously, this is critical if you are looking to purchase a used scope. If you decide to purchase new, return it, if it disappoints - in any way.
Wait, just you wait. You have still to experience "quality control" (boy is that an oxymoron in regard to low to mid cost spotting scopes) issues.
However, for people who wear eyeglasses ER (eyerelief) is the critical, number one optical criteria - at least it is for me. If an optical instrument (spotting scope, binoculars, telescope, riflescope, etc...) does not have acceptable eyerelief, then it becomes far less comfortable, far more difficult and far less rewarding to use - for me.
I find 20mm is ideal for me using spotting scopes (19mm for binoculars). Too much ER can also be a bit of a pain in the lower posterior, particularly with binoculars that you would like to position quickly.
As Kevin Purcell pointed out, eyepiece (EP) flexibility is one of the best features of the Pentax PF-65ED. Because it accepts most 1.25" telescopic EPs and because there are many 1.25" telescopic EPs with 20mm of ER - that gives you a large selection of available EP's for use with eyeglasses. On the other hand; Kowa, Zeiss, Swarovski, Lecia and Nikon (or Alpen) - each have very, very few interchangable EPs with 20mm of ER.
Unfortunately, new 20mm ER EP's tend to be a bit pricey. Also they tend to mainly (Vixen NLV is an exception) come with very wide apparent field of view (AFOV). Baader Hyperion ($120) and Orion Stratus ($135) both have very good reputations for their "value" (high quality/moderate cost). Televue Radian ($210-$250), Vixen WLV ($160-$290) and Pentax WX ($350-$400) offer higher quality, but cost more. Each series offers five to eight EP's -all with 20mm of ER. So you can see there are a lot of possible EP combinations for the Pentax PF-65ED. Most zooms loose ER and drop below 20mm ER by 30x, there are a few exceptions - Celestron Explorer II Zoom ($70+/-) is a bit better, but it's not the highest quality (resolution) zoom out there.
In regard to the spotting scope body, unfortunately, I find an angled body to be easier to approach with my eyeglasses then a straight body. Unfortunate, because angled bodies are more expensive then straight bodies. Remember, eyeglasses = more $$$ and more frustration when combined with spotting scopes!
Anyway good luck. Looking through the spotting scope before you purchase is the best way to avoid disappointment. Obviously, this is critical if you are looking to purchase a used scope. If you decide to purchase new, return it, if it disappoints - in any way.