New ATC/ STC 17-40x56 Telescope (7 Viewers)

[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.

 

[Bill Atwood]

Given that Swaro appeared to address the poor design of the foot I figured I'd give an ATC 56 a try out ahead of any likely tariff related price hikes. Turns out it's a cracking little scope, wide FOV, sharp to 40x, and great viewing ease even with glasses. Although the scope mount had the 2 pin holes I still had to contact Swaro to get the adapter plate. Combined with a Gitzo 1545T and Sirui VA-5 it makes a great lightweight kit. It's a bit painful to give up powers over 40x, but the size and weight make it quite easy to just just pickup and go. Too bad Swaro didn't push the upper power to 45x, or even 50x.

 

[REBIRDER]

Given that Swaro appeared to address the poor design of the foot I figured I'd give an ATC 56 a try out ahead of any likely tariff related price hikes. Turns out it's a cracking little scope, wide FOV, sharp to 40x, and great viewing ease even with glasses. Although the scope mount had the 2 pin holes I still had to contact Swaro to get the adapter plate. Combined with a Gitzo 1545T and Sirui VA-5 it makes a great lightweight kit. It's a bit painful to give up powers over 40x, but the size and weight make it quite easy to just just pickup and go. Too bad Swaro didn't push the upper power to 45x, or even 50x.

Hi Bill

So - contact Swaro If you are an exsisting owner and they supply the updated foot?

Cheers

Josh

 

[Bill Atwood]

Yes Josh. Emails to their USA cust. service dept. were bouncing so I called them up. They first verified that my scope's base had the two pinholes before deciding to send the plate. Looks like the 1st plate is free, otherwise they are $40 each.

 

[REBIRDER]

Yes Josh. Emails to their USA cust. service dept. were bouncing so I called them up. They first verified that my scope's base had the two pinholes before deciding to send the plate. Looks like the 1st plate is free, otherwise they are $40 each.

Thanks Bill 👍🏽

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Given that Swaro appeared to address the poor design of the foot I figured I'd give an ATC 56 a try out ahead of any likely tariff related price hikes. Turns out it's a cracking little scope, wide FOV, sharp to 40x, and great viewing ease even with glasses. Although the scope mount had the 2 pin holes I still had to contact Swaro to get the adapter plate. Combined with a Gitzo 1545T and Sirui VA-5 it makes a great lightweight kit. It's a bit painful to give up powers over 40x, but the size and weight make it quite easy to just just pickup and go. Too bad Swaro didn't push the upper power to 45x, or even 50x.

Glad you like it and everyone were impressed with the little scope yesterday for the Indian Cuckoo 🤤

 

[Bill Atwood]

Pretty sure I've been on that walkway. Wish it was a bit closer to home.

 

[Birdister]

I finally had the chance to try out an STC today. I was expecting something almost like my pocket binoculars - a smaller field of view, a darker image, a more difficult eye placement. I was pleasantly surprised therefore to have a scope which was nice and bright (even in fairly dull conditions), wonderfully sharp, and very easy to use. The focuser and zoom were smooth, and the scope as a whole was pleasingly light. I could even hand-hold it at 17x and get a passable image. I imagine it would work well with a tall monopod. It almost felt like a more 'polished' product than even my BTX 115, which has a far narrower field of view and (subjectively) a little less sharpness. In fact, it seemed a far superior scope than my old Zeiss Diascope 85, which really was an excellent full-size telescope back in the day. But the problem with using a BTX and then moving to a scope which has a single eyepiece is that it suddenly feels weird and uncomfortable. It is not nice having to scrunch one eye up. I think the BTX has probably ruined normal scopes for me.

The other thing I was interested to see, the 8 x 30 CL-B, I felt was a disappointment. The focuser was quite stiff, and I still had the same 'eyebox' issues that I have with my pocket binoculars. But the STC was impressive.

 

[rodneyAB]

I found the STC to work well with a tall monopod in the 17-25X range over rolling open fields following the glide of Northern Harriers, with movement both vertically and laterally over the monopod. Standing still takes a bit more practice for me, as without an anchoring foot, small jitters show. Over 25X I'd want a tripod or other solid support.

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

I found the STC to work well with a tall monopod in the 17-25X range over rolling open fields following the glide of Northern Harriers, with movement both vertically and laterally over the monopod. Standing still takes a bit more practice for me, as without an anchoring foot, small jitters show. Over 25X I'd want a tripod or other solid support.

Then I have good news for you

The first months with my STC on the monopod, I stayed with 25x magnification. After half a year I was able to use it at 35x.

Somehow you manage to adapt. For instance, you learn to find the best places to put it on the ground, where there is enough friction without stopping rotation.

Strangely enough, the small jump in magnification, from 35 to 40, is a bridge too far. The 35 is some sort of treshold value for shaking.