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leica or swarovski??? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter dave365
- Start date
Hi Dave and a warm welcome to you from the entire staff here at BirdForum :t:
If you check out this link, you should get a lot of information on the various scopes:
http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=286
If you check out this link, you should get a lot of information on the various scopes:
http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=286
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
You'll get a different answer from everyone you ask - in my opinion they are both as good as each other so choose the one you prefer - how they "feel" to use is highly under-estimated.
Mark Bruce
Super Moderator
Hi Dave,a warm welcome to you and good to have you with us.
Hi and welcome to BF
I've had both a Leica APO and a Swarovski HD and think that both are wonderful - I can't flaw either, especially optically. As has been mentioned it's imprortant to try them for yourself and see which you prefer. It will probably come down to issues of cost (the Swarovski is about £200 more than the Leica) and focus - do you prefer barrel of finger focus?
If you like the Swarovki ATS65HD there's one for sale on here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=38371 - looks like a good deal to me.
I've had both a Leica APO and a Swarovski HD and think that both are wonderful - I can't flaw either, especially optically. As has been mentioned it's imprortant to try them for yourself and see which you prefer. It will probably come down to issues of cost (the Swarovski is about £200 more than the Leica) and focus - do you prefer barrel of finger focus?
If you like the Swarovki ATS65HD there's one for sale on here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=38371 - looks like a good deal to me.
Mary Evelyn
New member
Hi Dave,
Welcome.
Welcome.
pduxon
Quacked up Member
dave365 said:
it is!
I own a Leica APO 62 and a friend owns a Swaro HD65. Personally there's little between them and both are superb. On the zoom front the Leica is less powerful than the swaro but because of this it has a wider field of view. You pays your money to makes your choice.
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
Looks a great deal!
I went for the Leica APO 77 - the only draw back is the weight. My sister has the smaller 62 APO - lighter and side by side pretty damn close in terms of performance except in poorer light.
My wife is struggling to come to terms with the Leica - we used a Kowa TSN 3 for years - but loves the Swaro so wishes I'd got that!
I read lots of threads talking about some very technical detail but frankly to my eyes there is nothing between them so get one you feel comfortable with and if they both "feel" the same go for the best buy financially!!
I changed 'scopes and bins in the last 12 months - and it took me quite some time to get used to the diffent feel of both - optically they are great, but after 10 - 15 years of using one set-up a new set-up feels odd. A bit like football boots - they need time to "bed in" !!
Good luck with what you choose - I'm sure you'll be delighted with either!
I went for the Leica APO 77 - the only draw back is the weight. My sister has the smaller 62 APO - lighter and side by side pretty damn close in terms of performance except in poorer light.
My wife is struggling to come to terms with the Leica - we used a Kowa TSN 3 for years - but loves the Swaro so wishes I'd got that!
I read lots of threads talking about some very technical detail but frankly to my eyes there is nothing between them so get one you feel comfortable with and if they both "feel" the same go for the best buy financially!!
I changed 'scopes and bins in the last 12 months - and it took me quite some time to get used to the diffent feel of both - optically they are great, but after 10 - 15 years of using one set-up a new set-up feels odd. A bit like football boots - they need time to "bed in" !!
Good luck with what you choose - I'm sure you'll be delighted with either!
I went for Swarovski (currently an ATS80HD) because I like the large central focussing wheel, as well as the fact that I think the optics are marginally better. My mate has a Zeiss Diascope, and I have also had the opportunity to use a Leica in the field - I felt that both were mechanically inferior and I can no longer cope with these tiny focussing wheels, especially the dual "fine-coarse" focussing system.
tom24
Well-known member
I got rid of my leica 77 apo 'cos of the weight.I now use swaro 65hd with a c/f 'pod and it's great.I like the large focus ring,i don't understand the comments made about shake whilst focusing,never found the dual focus to be any help.Can't comment on zeiss scopes really as i've only ever had a quick look when they first appeared.
The smaller scopes combined with a c/f 'pod make a walk so much more enjoyable,i picked up one of my old 'pods that i used with the 77 in a shop the other day and couldn't believe how heavy it was on its own.
I've seen a swaro 65 dropped on a concrete slipway...not a thing out of place,nor even a mark on the rubber.
The wee leica is superb optically too,but as robust as the swaro..?
I prefer a couple of fixed eyepieces to the zooms. Tom.
The smaller scopes combined with a c/f 'pod make a walk so much more enjoyable,i picked up one of my old 'pods that i used with the 77 in a shop the other day and couldn't believe how heavy it was on its own.
I've seen a swaro 65 dropped on a concrete slipway...not a thing out of place,nor even a mark on the rubber.
The wee leica is superb optically too,but as robust as the swaro..?
I prefer a couple of fixed eyepieces to the zooms. Tom.