Does BTX work at all in bird watching? (1 Viewer)

[hyberboreus]

One of the local dealers said to me that they basically do not sell Swaro BTX module because "it does not work in bird watching". Is that really so? Have you been using BTX e.g. in sea watch or migration counts? I can understand that it would work if you look local perched birds, but does it work it he quick situations and scanning the sea for long periods for migrating birds? Or e.g. in Batumi Raptor Count type of bird watching?

 

[Mono]

Since the BTX came out I have seen only one being used and that was for distant scanning from an observation tower.

 

[hyberboreus]

Yeah, same here in Finland, during last five years I have seen BTX only once, and it was owned by a birder who just started birdwatching. That is why I'm interested if someone is using it for real HC birding.

 

[Richard D]

I've used another birders out at Oare looking at waders and they seemed fine. Nice comfortable view.

 

[BogBean]

Since the BTX came out I have seen only one being used and that was for distant scanning from an observation tower.

They look really limited if you are sitting down, e.g. in a hide/tower, and scanning left and right!
Scan with binoculars and you turn your head left and right, the binoculars move with you.
If it's on a tripod in front of you, you have to walk around the tripod to keep both eyes aligned.
Telescope / 1 eye viewing, you can adapt. 2-eyed viewing, well I don't think we have evolved to have the required extendable neck!

 

[hyberboreus]

They look really limited if you are sitting down, e.g. in a hide/tower, and scanning left and right!
Scan with binoculars and you turn your head left and right, the binoculars move with you.
If it's on a tripod in front of you, you have to walk around the tripod to keep both eyes aligned.
Telescope / 1 eye viewing, you can adapt. 2-eyed viewing, well I don't think we have evolved to have the required extendable neck!

That is exactly the thing the dealer was referring to, the reason why it does not fit for birding. I do not have the BTX experience, that is why I’m asking.

 

[Ignatius]

They are no worse than any scope. In fact being able to use both eyes is better than any scope. I have been using a BTX85 for two years. It has the same drawbacks and advantages of other scopes: excellent magnification, limited FOV, limited movement, great detailed view (better than other scopes because of both eyes being involved - more like a bino), small EP.
It all depends on what one wants to do with them and what one's expectations are. If you sit in a dark forest they are useless. If you have wider, more open spaces, they are excellent. If you want to watch and follow swallows, they are useless. If you want to watch a nest, or raptors, they are excellent.
Horses for courses.

 

[BogBean]

You can use them "one-eyed" I suppose, if you are in a hide and have scanned too far left or right to be able to align with both eyes

 

[grackle314]

I use ATX/BTX 115, always on a tripod and mostly in standing position. BTX is much faster to get on target than ATX and is very comfortable for minutes-long viewing times. ATX is more flexible in orientation relative to the user, particularly if not standing. Qualitatively I prefer the viewed images through the BTX, using both eyes for the image is more pleasing to me. The BTX 115 with delightful 3.1 mm exit pupil and forehead rest has fixed magnification at 35x but also has an extender which I use moderately since the 35x is pretty optimal for lots of Southern California viewing of birds near shore, in lagoons, or in the desert. I don't do much viewing inside forests with the ATX/BTX.

My suspicion about not seeing many BTX units in field use is a combination of cost, weight, and newness. I have the full Swarovski backpack and tripod setup and tend to carry the scope/tripod less than 1 mile before setup.

I also use the STC monocular when walking and I want more reach than NL 10x42 without bringing the ATX/BTX/tripod. The STC gets on target much quicker than the ATC. Noting that monoculars have been around as long as binoculars and people use binoculars all day long and rarely use monoculars does suggest the market prefers the vision using both eyes and the stability of binoculars over monoculars.

 

[Birdister]

The BTX is absolutely the same in terms of how it is used compared to a scope with one eyepiece. Instead of having one eye scrunched up with nothing in front of it, you now have an ocular to look through. There is no ergonomic disadvantage, and in fact a pretty massive ergonomic advantage, in that you now have comfortable binocular vision which is more natural and relaxing.

 

[BogBean]

The BTX is absolutely the same in terms of how it is used compared to a scope with one eyepiece. Instead of having one eye scrunched up with nothing in front of it, you now have an ocular to look through. There is no ergonomic disadvantage, and in fact a pretty massive ergonomic advantage, in that you now have comfortable binocular vision which is more natural and relaxing.

Well there's always one, with an extending neck, and "tilt and pan" rotational face. Well done you

 

[wllmspd]

Having wide two eyed views with spotting scope powers is a rare, but impressive thing. I sometimes haul a 4.5kg 70mm Astro binoscope for long distance (mostly fixed location) observing, I have the same 35x magnification (I can change with other eyepieces) but I have a noticeably wider apparent field of view. For an immersive view you can’t beat it.
I wouldn’t want to constantly change what I am looking at (refocusing/fast moving birds), but for observing wide vistas it works very nicely, walking long distances with it wouldn’t be hugely fun either. I’ve only ever seen one BTX, but not at a time I could compare the views. If anyone with one is near London….

Peter

 

[William Lewis]

I've used the btx module before, I think it was attached to a 95 module if memory serves, i had my Nikon monarch 82 set up next to it.

I don't think there's any fundamental reason not to use it for birdwatching, I've seen a few around the more glitzy rspb reserves.

The obvious downside is the size. Also it's compounded by the objectives light gathering power being split between the 2 eye pieces so you really do want the larger objective modules if your going to be using them in low light conditions which obviously adds even more size!

Not bad, just different and with it's own unique set of compromises.

 

[Patudo]

From what I've seen it is really a scope that allows two-eyed viewing, and works best for scope-type applications - ie. getting a closer view of static or slow-moving targets.

For seawatching, because of the high magnification (30 or 35x) you would need an extremely solid tripod, especially in windy coastal conditions. You would probably want to work with another observer who would find the birds with a lower magnification device and then put the BTX user on targets of more interest. The very restricted field of view would be a disadvantage for both seawatching and raptor counting (as opposed to identification, where the magnification could be an advantage).

 

[DRodrigues]

...

My suspicion about not seeing many BTX units in field use is a combination of cost, weight, and newness. ...

And that it doesn't zooms...
In my case, I don't have a BTX because it's angled - I prefer straight view for my cr-birding. If there was a straight version, I probably already had a way of zooming it...
Meanwhile, I use a custom developed solution, with a bino-viewer and an astro-telescope CR BinoBirding
However, I wish that Swarovski would produce a new BTX version with similar specifications to my combo, but shorter and less heavy, with Swaro factory image quality...

 

[Birdister]

I think the other thing that contributes to the seeming rarity of the BTX unit is that there was a big delay between the new-style telescopes being released (2012), and the BTX unit being available (2017). There will be a lot of people who bought the new-style telescopes in those first five years, and who necessarily had to buy an ATX unit, who may then be reluctant to swop it out for a BTX unit.

The only thing I can suggest to people who are wondering about what the BTX unit might be like, is to go out and try it. I remember randomly looking through a BTX unit at an optics event at RSPB Titchwell that must have been shortly after the BTX unit was released, and having that epiphany moment - yes, this is what I have been looking for. I think the best way to explain it is that the BTX allows you to view without discomfort. You find yourself not looking through the scope for ten seconds at a time, thirty seconds at a time, but continuously and comfortably.

There are downsides - the weight, the bulk, the need for a large objective lens. It won't be for everyone. But for a lot of people it is going to really transform the viewing experience and be well worth the purchase.

 

[Birdister]

One of the local dealers said to me that they basically do not sell Swaro BTX module because "it does not work in bird watching". Is that really so? Have you been using BTX e.g. in sea watch or migration counts? I can understand that it would work if you look local perched birds, but does it work it he quick situations and scanning the sea for long periods for migrating birds? Or e.g. in Batumi Raptor Count type of bird watching?

The other thing to say is that if the dealer is telling customers that the BTX does not work for birdwatching, that might have an effect on sales...

 

[twitcherf]

Elsewhere on this site (somewhere! cant find it at the moment), the BTX was extolled as a super seawatching option

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

I have used the BTX since 2018 and my preferred choice for birding with clients in different type of habitats. Nothing beats it when you do the counts for hours...

And ease of usage are similar with my STX/ATX scopes and two eyes are better than one

 

[hyberboreus]

The other thing to say is that if the dealer is telling customers that the BTX does not work for birdwatching, that might have an effect on sales...

Yes, that it will do, but the dealer is a birder himself and he has a large customer base, people trust him on these things. He want's to sell people items that he would use himself, I appreciate that.