choosing my first spotting scope budget around 1000€ (2 Viewers)

[kurt_de]

Hello,

I am quite new to the world of spotting scopes. I am looking for a spotting scope to complement my binoculars (GPO Passion 10x42 HD). I´m not affraid to buy already used ones from f.e. ebay. Currenty a few spotting scopes caught by attention on ebay :

Kyte sp82 25-50 (not the ED one) ~750€
GoSky PeakRange 20-60x85 HD ~300€
Vortex Diamondback 20-60x85 HD ~450€
Minox MD 20-60x88 HD ~ 1200€
Meopta MeoPro 20-60x80 HD ~ 1300€

Does anyone got experience with these spotting scopes or give me any recommendations around this budgedt? I would really appreciate them!
Thanks in advance!

 

[wllmspd]

You’ll need a tripod and video head too. I am using a 60mm mm4 Opticron scope, bought secondhand and compact, light and works well. Few other people I observe with also have them. If you are considering a larger scope, you’ll need a heavier tripod, how much weight do you mind carrying around the place?

 

[kurt_de]

Thanks for the answer! I already have a tripod that can hold about 1.5-2kg of weight, but I don't know the exact model. All the offers I listed also come with a suitable head. Carrying the weight is usually not a problem, but for potential future air travel it might be wiser to buy a relatively light and compact spotting scope. In general, I should mention that the spotting scope would primarily be used for birdwatching and would be used on both large and small bodies of water, open landscapes and in mountainous regions. That's why I initially limited myself to a fairly wide magnification range (20-60x). However, I also have no experience as to whether, for example, a 15-45 instead of a 20-60x magnification is usually sufficient or whether the 45-60 range really makes a big difference. I am primarily looking for a spotting scope which I would not want to replace so quickly and which might perform similarly to my binoculars (which I can recommend in its price range). The reviews of the 60mm mm4 Opticron scope that I have skimmed so far are also very positive. How would the 60mm mm4 Opticron scope compare with the spotting scopes listed?

 

[nlundin]

With a similar budget I ended up choosing the Nikon Monarch 82A and I am very pleased with the scope, there is a large thread in the Nikon sub forum. I did not like any of the Vortex scopes I tried (Diamondback was almost unusable and the Viper was disappointing). You could go ultra budget and buy a used Nikon Fieldscope ED II/III if you really wanted to save money and could find some of the older eye pieces.

 

[Jinac]

I think that if I would an under 1000€ scope, I'll choose a Nikon ed82 from Japan on ebay.
I'll probably look for an offer with two fixed eyepiece.
Straight model or, if i am very lucky a angled, but very rare.
Like that : ã BOXED Near MINT+++ ã Nikon Fieldscope ED82 + 30x & 38x Eyepiece from JAPAN | eBay

If I accept to go further than 1000€, i'll economize and probably will take the new monarch 82ed-A with 30-60 eyepiece. Currently on LPO website monarch 82ed-a + eyepiece 30-60 + cover + Manfrotto 290XTA3 + head 128 RC is 1968€.

Or a good second hand swaro...

But I kept my money and took a Svbony 406P with second hand mint manfrotto 055-128rc and I'm very happy ! ^^

Edit : wow, during redaction, same advice...cool !

 

[kurt_de]

Thanks for all the awnsers! The reviews of the Nikon Monarch 82ed/A seem to fulfil my requirements, but there is currently no suitable offer near me. I would love to get a good second hand swaro for that budget, however offers of them exceed commenly the 1500+€ mark, which would be over my budget that i´m willing to pay.