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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kevin Conville" data-source="post: 1327461" data-attributes="member: 63161">half,This is about as old an argument as 8 vs 10x binos. If you think about it, it must have a lot to do with one's height, the geographical terrain where one is, what the subject is, and how many are using it in the field. I have both angled and straight. Both have merits.The points you make are inarguable. What you're not saying however is how one crooks their neck to look in tree tops, how one has to adjust the tripod's height frequently when moving the scope on azimuth or sharing views with different height people.These are the reasons why some (many?) prefer angled scopes. The manufacturers ALL make them, and not on a whim. For the sake of this thread discussing the tiny ED50, an angled scope also offers the advantage of allowing a smaller, cheaper, easier to find tripod. If you are the only one using the scope and are 5'2", this may be a non issue.Your language reveals your predisposition when you say "...has the massive advantage of looking in the same direction as the bird..." and "Why would anyone prefer to squint down at an awkward angle?"The former works if the bird is at an angle that is easy relative to you, as in not high up. Regarding the latter, why does one have to "squint" when looking down? And, "awkward" is also relative.</blockquote>