Very helpful indeed.
Thanks Pete, you have saved me taking the very tight case off my scope to measure/weigh it.
Very interesting John your comment about rotation on the monopod. A good idea to take my own monopod into the store when trying out different scopes.
If possible I use a spike for stability and a small fluid head.
I tend to kneel/or crouch a la Sherlock Holmes for stability and stealth.
After trying a pair of 15x70 porro binos I was also considering this as an option. Much heavier, but also so much more relaxing using two eyes, and bigger FOV. This is another down hill straight through option. It suits my preference for scanning large areas.
I never seem to use zooms, instead I'm usually using 18-30 fixed eyepieces.
Any thoughts?
The data from Pete shows the MM4 body is a little lighter than the IS 60, but you may not notice it, and the 5mm difference in length is nothing. I thought the IS 60 was all plastic and the MM4 was alloy. I hadn't realised both were plastic and alloy - hence the weights of the 60mm scopes are similar. So it's really down to the view - is the ED view from the MM4 a big enough improvement over the IS 60 for you to part with your money ? Try to choose a dull day, or the end of the day when the light is going. And you need to see if your IS 60 eyepiece(s) can be used on the MM4.
The MM4 50 is lighter, but not by enough for me to want to sacrifice the extra light gathering power of a 60mm lens if I was used to carrying it round, but its what you think that matters, so try it.
If you really want to save weight then IMO the only way to go is an ED50, but I thought they were now only available direct from Japan. I therefore was surprised to see Bristol Cameras has them available ("available to order") for £409 for the body and a high £325 for the MCII zoom.
The new Vortex Razor 56mm scope might also be of interest but it doesn't seem to have fixed mag lenses available and you couldn't use your IS 60 eyepieces.
I hadn't thought of a spike and small fluid head to stop monopod rotation. I guess you have to make sure you are always walking on soft ground !
I mostly use my ED50 on a monopod standing up. I get the scope on the bird by leaning and twisting the monopod then fixing the rotation by holding the foot down with my foot. Kneeling or crouching sounds painful. I carry a sit mat in my rucsac. If I am going to be in one place for a time I sit on the mat on the ground and put the monopod between my knees.
I personally wouldn't want to be hanging 15x70 binoculars from my neck for a few hours on a walk. I am also not sure I could hold them still enough! You can get binocular straps/harnesses that spread the weight better than ordinary straps.
Fixed mag and zooms divide birders on this forum. I prefer a zoom because I mostly only need about 20X magnification but I want higher magnification available if and when required and I hate changing lenses in the field. Lower magnfications are also useful for extending the time the scope is usable in the evening. I can get 30 minutes to an hour's extra time with my ED50 at 13-20X magnfication when the (very good) 27X fixed eyepiece has long since become unusable. I also hate carrying around extra kit. Each to their own.
