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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hermann" data-source="post: 1310826" data-attributes="member: 4925">The ED82 is still one of the best scopes - provided you can live with its size and weight. I can't, so I'm using a Nikon EDIIIA myself. Carrying a big scope feels too much like hard work ... But you can't go wrong with the Nikon, it may not be the very best scope out there, but it's considerably cheaper that the Kowa 883/884 which may well be the top scope on the market at the moment. Be sure to use it on a good tripod to fully utilize its capabilities, especially at high magnification. Eyepieces: I feel the Nikon 25-75x is a must with that scope. Sure, it has got a narrow field of view compared to some of the other top zooms, but it's the most versatile eyepiece for the Nikon. I'd also get one fixed eyepiece, probably the 30xWA or even the older (and much cheaper) 25x. I only rarely use fixed eyepieces anymore, and usually only for raptor-watching at migration hotspots.</blockquote>