First time scope user! (1 Viewer)

[dougan]

Finally used my first ever scope yesterday, it is a Hawke Endurance ED 25-75 x 85, I decided on a mid range scope.
I used it on my local estuary, mainly for long range waders etc. It was great to see such details at such a long range, I could even see the glint in a Shelduck's eye!
I did struggle on getting the correct eye relief, the manual said for non glasses wearers, the eyepiece should be twisted fully out, but this only allowed for a small centre portion of the image to be seen, fully in and the image filled the whole eyepiece, is this correct? Also do you have your eye pressed against the eyepiece or just off? As I found I was moving the scope slightly with my eye pressed against it.

Also, any other tips on using a scope would be appreciated, sorry for the novice questions, but we all got to start somewhere 😁

 

[Ratal]

Cable Tie sight. Seriously.

Search for it here on birdforum. Once you use one? You will never, ever be able to go back to a bare scope ever again. Totally transforms the entire scope experience for the better.

 

[Ivydwg]

Finally used my first ever scope yesterday, it is a Hawke Endurance ED 25-75 x 85, I decided on a mid range scope.
I used it on my local estuary, mainly for long range waders etc. It was great to see such details at such a long range, I could even see the glint in a Shelduck's eye!
I did struggle on getting the correct eye relief, the manual said for non glasses wearers, the eyepiece should be twisted fully out, but this only allowed for a small centre portion of the image to be seen, fully in and the image filled the whole eyepiece, is this correct? Also do you have your eye pressed against the eyepiece or just off? As I found I was moving the scope slightly with my eye pressed against it.

Also, any other tips on using a scope would be appreciated, sorry for the novice questions, but we all got to start somewhere 😁

Like any new optics it's take a bit of time to find your ideal eye position. Keep trying different positions and it won't take long until something just 'clicks'

 

[KevinL]

I have glasses so I'm right up against the scope.

 

[Ratal]

The Hawke 85ed has plenty good eye relief. I know as I had one for a good few years and it was a brilliant scope to get back into the hobby with. Add a cable tie sight and it was golden.

The twist up cup should be settled for you, personally, what and where you find comfortable. With use, itll become readily apparent where and how.

 

[jring]

Hi,

as has been noted above, for an angled scope the cable tie trick is warmly recommended. Regarding the eyecup - you can twist it down a bit from the outmost position until you get the full field... there might be people with larger eyesockets who need the outmost position...

Joachim, who barely touches the eyecup in order to avoid the shakes...

 

[Tringa45]

Joachim, who barely touches the eyecup in order to avoid the shakes...

We all have to find a compromise, but you Joachim are one of the last people I would have attributed to the category of flimsy tripod users.

Regards,
John

 

[jring]

Hi,

well any tripod will shake with enough force. The ones I am willing to carry around tend to do so only when touched with more force than I usually apply when observing or focusing. But since the original poster stated that the scope moves when he presses his eye against the eyecup - I am quite sure my tripod would shake in that case...

Joachim

 

[dougan]

Many thanks for all your comments, much appreciated!

 

[jring]

Hi,

one more thing to mention... if you still could return the scope... test it thoroughly while you can still return it.

At least you should be able to get a crisp image at maximum magnification on an overcast and cool early morning (to avoid bad seeing).

Or read up on star testing a scope on here...

Joachim