mooreorless
Well-known member
scampo said:
Hello All,Anacortes Telescopes &Wild Bird now list this Nikon 50ED spotter for sell in the "States".
Steve
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Nikon ED50 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Swissboy
- Start date
Hello All,Anacortes Telescopes &Wild Bird now list this Nikon 50ED spotter for sell in the "States".
Steve
mooreorless
Well-known member
Swissboy said:
Price for the 50ED body is $499 same as the other places.These are in stock and $510.24 shipped to my door in cental Pa.
Steve
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scampo
Steve Campsall
I really can't fault it - and it's a good price, especially if you already own a full size Nikon scope (my son has one so I borrow his eyepieces!).passerine said:
If I had the chance I'd team it up with Nikon's 38x eyepiece which, I think, would give a 20x magnification with the ED50. That would be a very effective combination. You'll be thrilled at the construction and the view - which defies the physical size and weight of the scope (it really is tiny and light).
I tend to use the 30x (= 17x with the ED50) and the 50x (= 27x) because the field of view of both is wide. Team the scope up with a Cullman shoulder pod and you'll be amazed at its ease of use.
scampo
Steve Campsall
In some ways, yes - but the whole point of owning an ED50 is its almost non-existent weight and bulk. With a shoulder pod, the whole thing is so easy to carry around when carrying a heavyweight tripod and full-size scope just won't do.yossi said:
Optically, I just don't feel that the ED50 is wanting - it offers stunning views that belie its minuscule size and weight.
yossi
Well-known member
Steve, I agree that it's very compact and lightweight.
For viewing it's a gem, but digiscoping IMO needs a heavier outfit and some better optics.
Most of the sample shots I took with this scope were lacking sharpness due to vibrations when a moderate wind was blowing, even with quite a sturdy tripod (Manfrotto 441).
With the x24 Wide EP there was too much CA for my taste - see the attached sample - (but less with the zoom EP).
It's a nice scope but not similar to the Leica Apo 62, for example.
For viewing it's a gem, but digiscoping IMO needs a heavier outfit and some better optics.
Most of the sample shots I took with this scope were lacking sharpness due to vibrations when a moderate wind was blowing, even with quite a sturdy tripod (Manfrotto 441).
With the x24 Wide EP there was too much CA for my taste - see the attached sample - (but less with the zoom EP).
It's a nice scope but not similar to the Leica Apo 62, for example.
Attachments
I'm kind of puzzled as to why someone would buy the ED50 primarily with digiscoping in mind. A bigger scope will always be more effective for that - although the ED50 still takes reasonable pictures.
I also have the ED82 and use it far less often since I got the ED50, especially now I have a 27x lens for it. If you use the ED50 for the purposes it's primarily designed for (i.e. as a very compact and lightweight scope that still gives excellent views) then I don't think you'll be disappointed. Having both the ED82 and ED50 is a very versatile combination. I think someone's losing out by getting rid of one of them.
I also have the ED82 and use it far less often since I got the ED50, especially now I have a 27x lens for it. If you use the ED50 for the purposes it's primarily designed for (i.e. as a very compact and lightweight scope that still gives excellent views) then I don't think you'll be disappointed. Having both the ED82 and ED50 is a very versatile combination. I think someone's losing out by getting rid of one of them.
Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
I've noticed that some people are attracted to the 50mm ED for its price rather than its weight. With that in mind, has anyone directly compared the 50mm ED to the non ED 60 mm Fieldscope III? I expect the 60mm is a nicer scope to work with overall (unless tiny size is the priority), and would be brighter at higher mags and in low light. What I'd like to know about is how these scopes compare at the same mag, say 30x or 40x, w/respect to contrast and issues with CA.
--AP
--AP
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scampo said:
More or less made my mind up to invest in the ed 50 - my first scope. Sounds as if Iwanted to invest in a more heavyweight scope at a later date the ed 50 would still have its uses. If I had to buy just one eyepiece would you recommend the 50x? New to birding and am still confused by the technical side of things. Not (yet) a dawn to dusker - just happy to potter and learn basic bird ID.
scampo
Steve Campsall
As it's your only scope, my first advice is to try the scope out before committing yourself - everyone reacts differently to slight variations between different make scopes. A good store is In Focus - they have the Nikon ED50 on display if you can get to one of their shops. Alternatively you could buy from a mail order place that will accept a swap or return (I think the law allows you 14 days, in fact - but check with the supplier).passerine said:
As I said, I'd go for the 38x (20x equivalent) as that gives a very useful wide angle view suited to most birding. The 50x gives 27x which is, of course, absolutely fine - I just think the 38x would be that bit more useful as it's brighter and wider: two useful qualities in a birding scope. You might find the 50x better with a lightweight tripod rather than a chest/shoulder pod (make sure it has a pan / tilt single adjustment head - Velbon make good ones).
I use it with the 27x most of the time, although I also have a 16x. I've not had great difficulties using it at 27x with a shoulder pod, although obviously you get a more stable image with a tripod. The 20x might be the best all round magnification (I had lenses already) but it's still very good and useable at 27x.
Quacker
Well-known member
passerine said:
A wise choice I would say. It is only when you have bought a bigger (heavier) scope to carry around all day, you will then see the advantage lol. I have Nikon ED 78 as well as 60mm Fieldscope but the ED50 would see more action than both of these if I purchased one. Well impressed when looking throught one with a wide Nikon eyepiece.
I have a lightweight scope already (Kowa 613) but wouldn't dream of using the ED50 for digiscoping. In my experience, one has to buy a few scopes in order to tell if one has purchased the correct one anyway B
Steve
henry link
Well-known member
I use both the 20X and the zoom in a different telescope. The 20x is no brighter than the zoom when the zoom is set to 20x, but of course the eye relief is much longer and the field is much wider. If I owned this scope I would be inclined to go with the 27X and the zoom, since I don't wear eyeglasses so the eye relief of the zoom is adequate. In high quality scopes a magnification that results in an exit pupil of around 2mm gives up very little in sharpnes to lower magnifications and in daylight shows almost as much detail as the objective aperture will allow. The zoom would combine in the same eyepiece a reasonably wide field high magnification when needed (the apparent field at 40x is 60 degrees) with a bright low magnification for very low light conditions.
scampo
Steve Campsall
Brightness seems identical to me. If you only had the zoom you'd love it - but when you put a fixed eyepiece on, the image is so w-i-d-e as to make the zoom a little less attractive.Richard D said:
I like the 20x eyepiece because it is so bright, sharp and wide - it just "does the job" for when a heavyweight scope isn't convenient.
I haven't tried my ED50 on a lightweight tripod - that's when I think it'll really shine. It's fine with a shoulder pod but that kind of kit, as beautifully light as it is, does have its limitations for long steady viewing - when a tripod would come into its own.
