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Here are the new modular Swarovski scopes (1 Viewer)

Can't help but this idea brings the Kowa telephoto lens http://kowa-sporting-optics.com/telephoto-lens to mind as well as these lens2scope pieces http://lens2scope.com/product.html . The concepts differ, that's for sure, but the basic idea of modularity is the same IMO. I've had always the dream of changing the viewing angle of a scope from angled to straight or vice versa, just as required in a certain situation of watching, but not by changing the whole eyepiece/prism section with the need to carry an additional piece of kit through the field. In the past there were solutions for this kind of task, that is changing the viewing angle as a function of a scope in some vintage or military optics. A recent example of what I mean is this one: http://www.eschenbach-optik.com/en/...df1a98e1316fa6059e1c09cbe9f&tt_products=46311 Perhaps the modularity isn't as much of a clou here as to get focussing and zooming close together. But this idea isn't really new either since this is the way photo zoom lenses use to work.

Steve
 
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my SW newsletter of today described these as a new "telescope"

I am not sure of the sematics, but telescope to me means night sky,
and these seem to be bigger spotting scopes
although 95mm is a decent sized refractor

edj
 
Current UK price for the ATM80 HD with 25-50 zoom = around £2300
and the ATM65 HD with 25-50 zoom = around £1800. Shop around and you might better these prices a little.

Based on the Eagle Optics prices, the new 95mm modular scope works out at $4078 which translates to £2611.
The new 85mm option is $3728 (£2387)
The new 65mm option is $3058 (£1958)

Nobody would expect new models to be cheaper than the older models, but in reality they aren't that much more expensive. The 95mm option especially looks to be something of a bargain if it delivers what it promises, not to mention the added flexibility and functionality, especially for digiscoping/photography. This looks like a really well thought out system on paper. Now lets see what they look like in the flesh...
 
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SteveClifton said:
Current UK price for the ATM80 HD with 25-50 zoom = around £2300
and the ATM65 HD with 25-50 zoom = around £1800. Shop around and you might better these prices a little.

Based on the Eagle Optics prices, the new 95mm modular scope works out at $4078 which translates to £2611.
The new 85mm option is $3728 (£2387)
The new 65mm option is $3058 (£1958)

Nobody would expect new models to be cheaper than the older models, but in reality they aren't that much more expensive. The 95mm option especially looks to be something of a bargain if it delivers what it promises, not to mention the added flexibility and functionality, especially for digiscoping/photography. This looks like a really well thought out system on paper. Now lets see what they look like in the flesh...
Click to expand...

$4078 should translate into £2611 using normal conversion.....but i believe that the way some optic pricing 'works'....[as in this case]?...$4078 becomes roughly the same amount in English pounds...basically over £4000...:eek!:

I hope i'm wrong....but i am told this is often the case...:smoke:

So the amount you see as dollars is the same amount as £'s....great eh...?!

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/
 
username said:
$4078 should translate into £2611 using normal conversion.....but i believe that the way some optic pricing 'works'....[as in this case]?...$4078 becomes roughly the same amount in English pounds...basically over £4000...:eek!:

I hope i'm wrong....but i am told this is often the case...:smoke:

So the amount you see as dollars is the same amount as £'s....great eh...?!

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Not quite. Ace Cameras have the prices up already for the new scopes.

http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web/ph/cat/prodtype/1293/prodtype.asp

The 95mm module with angled body unit is £2950. A bit over £2611, but considerably less than 4 grand!
 
SteveClifton said:
Not quite. Ace Cameras have the prices up already for the new scopes.

http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web/ph/cat/prodtype/1293/prodtype.asp

The 95mm module with angled body unit is £2950. A bit over £2611, but considerably less than 4 grand!
Click to expand...

I am very happy to hear that Steve....thanks for that info!

Didn't know Ace Cameras had £ prices up already and i'm glad it isn't £4000.......[just wish it was £400]...;)

All the best....

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/
 
Interesting new system but as Henry mentioned I would like to see higher magnifications range on the 95mm version.
Many ideas of using the 95mm body for visual and photo are coming to my mind ;)
I was thinking of replacing my TMB92 by the Kowa lens scope body but the Swaro 95mm body is probably a better choice. Just replace my TMB by the 95mm body at http://www.pt-ducks.com/cr-telescopes.htm#Nikon_FSA-L2 and at http://www.pt-ducks.com/cr-telescopes.htm#CR-binoviewing and you can have an idea of what I'm thinking of ...:king:
Swaro is confident of their new prism/zoom ep system since otherwise they would fear of only sell bodies. I'm also seeing astro people looking carefully to the bodies of this system...:-O
Also good news will be the reaction of other top producers to the 95mm version.
 
Interesting. I've been using a 92mm apochromat for birding for many years, and the views at 94x are marvelous. It is not something I generally carry around - I have a 65mm scope for that - but is marvelous on the back deck or the beach up at camp. Over the pond, the seeing often supports 94x nicely.

Clear skies, Alan
 
Steve Dudley said:
The theory of a modular scope system has been around the top manufacturers for years. The main reason for not progressing this has been development costs and retail price. Swaro have have gone and done it and borne the first of these, but we'll see if the market can bear the retail price.

Well its here now and it looks fabulous! I cant wait to see the new Swaro system and I wonder how long it will be before the others dust off their own designs that have been gathering dust for the last 15+ years.
Click to expand...

Steve,
Kowa did a good job with their modular Kowa Lens/scope system released about 18 months ago but I'm not sure how successful it's been. The biggest problem of having choices is you tend to take out too much rather than too little in case you leave the "wrong" bit at home. The Kowa is not as robust and dust proof as the Swarovski looks either.
Neil
 
J. Moore said:
According to the stat sheet Henry linked to (no pun intended). 67.4 oz for the 85 and 75.8oz for the 95 (angled). 95 too heavy for routine field use for my tastes, and even the 85 weighs more than the Kowa 883. Would expect to "have it all" at these prices.

Jim
Click to expand...

Compared to the current 25-50x eyepiece, the longer eye relief, larger AFOV, and larger zoom range of the ATX/STX are certainly very welcome. Other than that, I can't imagine anything that's significantly better optically than the ATM/STM HD. So I'm sure the new line of scope will be a delight to look through.

I agree with Jim, the weight quoted seems heavy. The 65mm ATX is within an ounce of the ATM HD 80mm with eyepiece. I guess a lot of the weight may have come from the modular mount, which has to be sturdier than a traditional eyepiece mount due to the additional stress. Still, the prospect of having a 65mm/95mm ATX combo for about the same price as the ATM HD 65mm/80mm combo is fascinating. :eek!:
 
What seems really new for me is the SLR-photo-adapter. If I got it right from the site mentioned above it takes the image from the eyepiece and not as all the other SLR-adapters direct from the scope's objective. It would be interesting to know the range of focal lenghts and focal ratios with the 3 different bodies. In other words: how fast optical could this setup be at maximum? How good at taking images from moving birds?

Steve
 
Having had a little time to think about this new Swaro kit...i do wonder how large a market there is for such a product....

Even 'reasonably well off' birders i imagine would at least think twice over lugging around over 4lb of scope...well certainly over any distance...[and especially older folks]...! No disrespect intended to very fit older folks...B :)

Time will tell i guess....and maybe having looked through one all thoughts of cost and weight will go out the proverbial window...

http://username-beast.blogspot.co.uk/
 
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