Whats a min good budget spotting scope? (1 Viewer)

[nightheron28]

I purchased a svbony 406p ed and its okay up to about 35x I would say but even in strong light 60x is pretty dark and very limited fov. I wanted to love it but it just doesn't seem so clear.

Unfortunately my only way to look at scopes and its a little limited is a couple places. Big R and Sportsman Warehouse here in the U.S. They will only let you test in store and are kind of limited. We have a store which caters to birders but honestly its limited as well. They are more of a back yard bird feeder supply store. They're prices are a bit high because they can't compete with the only ordering platforms.

So just curious what you all would consider a budget spotting scope that you would put up with? Mainly im looking for something that is sharp at 45x and above.

Where I'm at its mostly sunny but you know usual dawn and dusk conditions apply.

Really thank-you for any opinions!

 

[Jinac]

The sv406p could be ok with other eyepiece that original zoom.
Have you tried an hyperion baader 9mm for example ?

 

[Granpoli]

The same thing happened to me, I thought that an 80mm ED would reach more light, but no. It was the same, then I bought a Pentax 65 and the same but more than double the price, at least this last one was a 65 ED... and I tried it with 7 or 8 EP...
I'm talking about light capture, not anything else. Total disappointment...
Greetings

 

[nightheron28]

The sv406p could be ok with other eyepiece that original zoom.
Have you tried an hyperion baader 9mm for example ?

Is that the one that is $300 U.S.? Thanks!

 

[Jinac]

Is that the one that is around $300 U.S.?

Your model yes, I didn't say that it will be ok at 45x with other eyepiece, I say that it could be with other eyepiece. The original zoom is indeed less luminous than other I think. I've tested the Hyperion 13mm and the uff18mm and both are better than original zoom at their focal distance.
So I'm looking for now an eyepiece for 50-60x.
I've just buy some second hand (mint) celestron ultima lx, unfortunately the big 2inch support impede the eyepiece to sink in the scope...

 

[wllmspd]

Aperture and good beyond 50x. I picked up a cheap 5”maksutov. Minimum power around 60x (if you want a reasonable field of view eyepiece). Pretty much colour free, though the contrast isn’t as good as a refractor (even if you throughly flick the inskde and use a blackened dew shield). More aperture and so it can keep the brightness up at more power.

Peter

 

[Jinac]

Hello, I've just bought a second hand skywatcher nirvana 7mm (astro boys sometimes says that it's better than Hyperion...). It will be delivered next Tuesday I expect... as soon as I tested it, I'll posted a report it.

 

[jring]

Hi,

if it's too dark at 60x, you need more aperture... Mak- or Schmidt-Cassegrain are the way to go.

Joachim

 

[Hermann]

Hi,

if it's too dark at 60x, you need more aperture... Mak- or Schmidt-Cassegrain are the way to go.

Or a big refractor. The 95mm Swaro for instance. Which is expensive - but good. I don't know of any cheap, fieldworthy catadioptrics that can be used for birding. I experimented for a while with an MTO 10/1000. Wasn't really worth the effort.

Hermann

 

[GHOV02]

Try SV406p.

 

[Granpoli]

But.. With other eyepiece?

 

[Bill Atwood]

Generally speaking, "budget" and "sharp above 45x" are mutually exclusive.

 

[Jinac]

"Sharp" and "budget x45" are ok by the way ^^

 

[nightheron28]

Generally speaking, "budget" and "sharp above 45x" are mutually exclusive.

Whats the minimum amount of money one has to spend to get sharp at 45x to 60x then?

 

[Bill Atwood]

I've not tried one, but the Nikon Monarch 82ED gets very good marks from others here on BF. $1,372 at B&H.

 

[Jinac]

Nirvana 7mm tested today, not very more bright that the zoom but very more comfortable with the huge FOV. I think it's more clear than the original zoom. If I find a good second hand or a good réduction, I think I'll buy the 10mm to get a 43x.

 

[Montereyman]

I like the Kowa and the Vortex scopes for value. I would however not recommend the budget Vortex Diamond optics. BH Photo in New York is selling the Vortex Razor HD 22-48x65 angled scope for $999. As mentioned by another getting a 60x scope is not going to be at a budget price is buying a new one.

 

[Granpoli]

I will tell you something about this topic:
A while ago a friend bought the Svbony S406p with ED lens and 20-60x zoom. I have looked at it quite a few times and he has even let me have it once. In my opinion and using the standard zoom, I would say that from 20x to 40x or 45x the image is generally good, later they gave me a Pentax PF 65 EDA and in our opinion it also gave a good image up to about 45x, this was used with a Svbony zoom....
Conclusion in $ vs image...: Svbony €300 vs Pentax €750.
Isn't that all it is? I know. But it is something very important for many.

 

[Steve Babbs]

I've not tried one, but the Nikon Monarch 82ED gets very good marks from others here on BF. $1,372 at B&H.

I have one: it is very sharp above 45X. I have the 30 - 60 x eyepiece. The 20 - 60X is a cheaper eyepiece and I can't comment on its performance with that.

 

[Alexis Powell]

My general advice is to buy a used and possibly very old but clean 60mm scope (e.g. classic models from Bushnell, Bausch & Lomb, Nikon, Kowa) with a nice 25x or 30x fixed power eyepiece. I find that such a scope covers 95+% of birding uses (i.e. where the goal is to identify birds). If buying new, I would suggest getting a decent quality travel scope (~50 mm size). Such scopes are quite functional, are often competitively priced, and don't require a big expensive head or tripod. Moreover, if you do end up someday getting a nice big scope, the travel scope will still have its uses, so no money wasted.

--AP