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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Art Thorn" data-source="post: 207151" data-attributes="member: 535"><p>I'm now using a Televue 85 with a series of non-zoom eyepieces, from a 5mm Radian (120x) to a 24 mm Panoptic (27x).  My favourite eyepiece is my 9 mm Nagler, which produces an incredible 67x, wide field view, and with excellent eye relief.  The field of view (82 degrees apparent FOV) with the Televue and a Nagler eyepiece far exceeds anything available in a dedicated birding scope, and brightness (85mm objective, no prisms) and lack of chromatic aberration (true APO) overshadow the problems of weight and waterproofness, for ME.  I emphasize that, because I don't bird in the rain (drizzle OK) and I don't cart the setup for miles or hours.  I park the car close by, and use the scope mostly at the shore.  In the woods I use binoculars.  I love the view, and would not go back (I did have a Swaro 80), but my needs are different than those of some others.  I did have both the Televue zoom and the Swaro zoom, and did not enjoy the very small field of view to which I am now accustomed.  You have to try it!!!!!</p></blockquote><p></p>