New ATC/ STC 17-40x56 Telescope (1 Viewer)

[TheBlackGrouse]

I've been getting in some hours with the STC and am about to get a monopod. What monopod are you using and what additional elements for the STC? Thanks.

Wanted to have a very stable monopod, it's the RRS MC-34. Expensive but worth it! One of the things I should have bought much earlier in my life. The monopod is also used for my 10x42 Leica Ultravid HD. The monopod is always with me.

The STC is attached to the monopod with a quick release plate. No tilt-shift or video head, saves weight, length and moving the stick is much faster, you're standing anyway.

Following raptors goes well, that's the advantage of using a straight scope on a monopod, you can move freely, even turn around fast when needed.

With the monopod the STC is good until the 25 magnification. To get higher you need to stabilize the monopod or use a tripod. Sometimes I push it into the mud to get extra magnification. Often I work with a clamp and use something, for instance a fence, pole or bench. Then the STC can go up to 40, no problem.

 

[ReinierB]

SWAROVSKI, 17-40X56 ATC, STAY-ON CASE

The Outdoor Vision Stay-On Case (SOC) provides optimal protection for your glass, while featuring easy opening objective and eyepiece covers, which stay neatly secured to the case while in use. FEATURES: 500D CORDURA® high tenacity nylon exterior Polyester inner fabric to protect spotting...

outdoorvisiongear.com

Interesting piece of kit! I just found this. I always missed some kind of bag/cover.

 

[rodneyAB]

SWAROVSKI, 17-40X56 ATC, STAY-ON CASE

The Outdoor Vision Stay-On Case (SOC) provides optimal protection for your glass, while featuring easy opening objective and eyepiece covers, which stay neatly secured to the case while in use. FEATURES: 500D CORDURA® high tenacity nylon exterior Polyester inner fabric to protect spotting...

outdoorvisiongear.com

Interesting piece of kit! Is just found this. I always missed some kind of bag/cover.

Quite the line-up on stay on cases.

 

[Hermann]

Stay-on cases? I've had quite a few over the years, for different scopes and from different manufacturers. I don't like them: Too many useless features, too many zippers, too much velcro, limited access to the focuser. And in wet weather you have to take them off once you're home because water collects inside. Great stuff. And they add some weight to the scope, of course.

Why would anyone buy a stay-on case for a waterproof, armoured scope? I just don't get it. If you've got a scope that's not waterproof and/or not armoured, alright. A well-made stay-on case may make sense - provided it's well-made. Most cases aren't.

The manufacturers love them though. They can make a lot of money by selling sub-standard pieces of neoprene or cordura (with some padding that may or may not protect the scope if you drop it) at inflated prices.

Hermann

 

[rodneyAB]

Stay-on cases? I've had quite a few over the years, for different scopes and from different manufacturers. I don't like them: Too many useless features, too many zippers, too much velcro, limited access to the focuser. And in wet weather you have to take them off once you're home because water collects inside. Great stuff. And they add some weight to the scope, of course.

Why would anyone buy a stay-on case for a waterproof, armoured scope? I just don't get it. If you've got a scope that's not waterproof and/or not armoured, alright. A well-made stay-on case may make sense - provided it's well-made. Most cases aren't.

The manufacturers love them though. They can make a lot of money by selling sub-standard pieces of neoprene or cordura (with some padding that may or may not protect the scope if you drop it) at inflated prices.

Hermann

Oh totally agree. When my ATX gets out of the Marsupial case/bag...it is out of the bag...all that Swarovski armor works as expected.
I still comment that the linked product line is expansive.

 

[etudiant]

Stay-on cases? I've had quite a few over the years, for different scopes and from different manufacturers. I don't like them: Too many useless features, too many zippers, too much velcro, limited access to the focuser. And in wet weather you have to take them off once you're home because water collects inside. Great stuff. And they add some weight to the scope, of course.

Why would anyone buy a stay-on case for a waterproof, armoured scope? I just don't get it. If you've got a scope that's not waterproof and/or not armoured, alright. A well-made stay-on case may make sense - provided it's well-made. Most cases aren't.

The manufacturers love them though. They can make a lot of money by selling sub-standard pieces of neoprene or cordura (with some padding that may or may not protect the scope if you drop it) at inflated prices.

Hermann

The logic of stay on cases is mostly as an additional travel protection.
If the scope can't be hand carried, it gets subjected to airline baggage handling, which is not gentle. The stay on case attenuates the shocks.

 

[Ribbon]

Stay-on cases? I've had quite a few over the years, for different scopes and from different manufacturers. I don't like them: Too many useless features, too many zippers, too much velcro, limited access to the focuser. And in wet weather you have to take them off once you're home because water collects inside. Great stuff. And they add some weight to the scope, of course.

Why would anyone buy a stay-on case for a waterproof, armoured scope? I just don't get it. If you've got a scope that's not waterproof and/or not armoured, alright. A well-made stay-on case may make sense - provided it's well-made. Most cases aren't.

The manufacturers love them though. They can make a lot of money by selling sub-standard pieces of neoprene or cordura (with some padding that may or may not protect the scope if you drop it) at inflated prices.

Hermann

Seeing someone drop a STX on asphalt once made me realise that even a waterproof 'well armoured' scope can have benefit from a SOC. And yes the insides of the scope were damaged making the thing unusable.

Depending on which scope is used the limited focusser access can be a bit annoying, but with my ATX the zoom function is more limited by the SOC than the focusser. It's something I got used to though.
With my Kowa I don't have this problem.
I never take 'em off after they got wet. They dry (even in the trunk of my car) and do not affect the waterproof scope in any way. The weight added is marginal when taking the total (scope, head, tripod) in to account.

Yes, they're expensive, especially the Swaro ones, but these scopes are not indestructable, so I see SOC purely as shock absorbers.

 

[Hermann]

The logic of stay on cases is mostly as an additional travel protection.
If the scope can't be hand carried, it gets subjected to airline baggage handling, which is not gentle. The stay on case attenuates the shocks.

Well, for travel I wrap the scope up in clothing. Towels work really well, for instance.

Hermann

 

[4John]

Why would anyone buy a stay-on case for a waterproof, armoured scope? I just don't get it.

Hermann

I wouldn't rely on any stay-on case for waterproofing or armouring, but I still have a stay-on case with very limited padding for my waterproof but unarmoured ED50. Why ? Because it has an objective lens cover attached to the case (so it won't get lost) that is very easily flipped up to cover the lens to reduce the amount of rain spots, sea spray, dust and other dirt that would otherwise end up on the lens requiring cleaning a lot more often. The cover also provides some protection from things poking/scratching the glass as I am carrying the scope about and putting it in and taking it out of the car. Yes, the plastic lens cap supplied would perform the same function, but that would have to be taken out and put back in my pocket every time I wanted to use the scope, and would innevitably soon get lost. The eyepiece cover attached to the case performs the same function, but I don't use it as much unless it's raining.

 

[Hermann]

I wouldn't rely on any stay-on case for waterproofing or armouring, but I still have a stay-on case with very limited padding for my waterproof but unarmoured ED50.

The somewhat fragile ED50 is one of those scopes that might actually profit from being in a case. I use the handholding case Nikon offers (or offered?).

Why ? Because it has an objective lens cover attached to the case (so it won't get lost) that is very easily flipped up to cover the lens to reduce the amount of rain spots, sea spray, dust and other dirt that would otherwise end up on the lens requiring cleaning a lot more often. The cover also provides some protection from things poking/scratching the glass as I am carrying the scope about and putting it in and taking it out of the car.

I use a filter on mine, in combination with a lens hood. Works pretty well.

Hermann

 

[etudiant]

The somewhat fragile ED50 is one of those scopes that might actually profit from being in a case. I use the handholding case Nikon offers (or offered?).

I use a filter on mine, in combination with a lens hood. Works pretty well.

Hermann

Fully agree that the ED50 is helped by the stay on case, it offers a convenient grip for hand holding.
Agree also on using a lens hood, it keeps off rain and stuff pretty effectively. Adding a filter is overkill imho, it is just a condensation trap.
Filters fog up inside in cold rainy weather, so the glass becomes useless just when you need it.