Jonathan Avery
Active member
I am a happy owner of an Opticron MM4 77. Every now and again I wonder whether I should change or upgrade. I think the image from the scope is good and it is probably underrated, but do I need more reach when looking for distant waders etc? The question is what scope would I move to? Having moved from an MM4 60, I have grown to like the brighter, bigger image of an 80mm scope. This was impressed on me when I looked through a Kowa 66a recently and thought the clarity of the image was impressive but it seemed small after getting used to a 77mm objective. I also appreciate that the MM4 77 is not overly heavy for an 80mm class and wonder how much extra weight I want to carry. I think I prefer the finger focus rather than barrel but could probably overcome that.
Optics salesmen say that as I am at the top of the middle with the MM4 the only thing to do is to buy an alpha scope. Some add that the difference from at least some alpha models to the Opticron would be "night and day". However, I can see that at the lower end of the zoom at least, the image I get often looks not far off my fellow birders' alpha scopes but would be interested in comments from people who have used the Opticron and also alpha scopes on this assessment.
I appreciate the only ultimate answer is to look through scopes with my own eyes and I have done quite a bit of that (also might visit Bird Fair), but looking through a scope in an optics shop, even one with a a good place to try out, is not the same as using a scope day in, day out in the field. I guess obvious contenders would be the Swarovski ATS 80mm (111gms heavier). However, when I looked through an ATS 65mm which uses the same eps as the 80mm I had difficulty with eye placement and reflections for some reason - is that a problem for glasses wearers with these eps? (20-60 and 25-50). The Kowa 883 looks interesting, available at good prices second-hand with the introduction of the 88a. I have looked through this and get on with the ep and like the image a lot and the focus - all looks good but it looks to be 391 gms heavier than the MM4 77 - is that very noticeable in the field? An intriguing possibility is the Meopta S2 82 HD which seems to get rave reviews from anyone who owns one. This would be 216 gms more weight with the 30 - 60 WA lens but I have yet to find any outlet in the UK that sells the scope. Are they available second hand?
I would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who has used any of these scopes and the MM4 77 in the field. Have I missed any obvious options? Are there new entrants waiting in the wings? Is the price for any upgrade from the MM4 77 to an alpha 80 mm scope inevitably several hundred grams extra in weight? I don't anticipate changing my scope soon - have to negotiate finance with powerful authorities first! - but it is interesting to have options to review as you visit reserves with optics on display or drop into one of the big optics retailers - any comments welcome!
Optics salesmen say that as I am at the top of the middle with the MM4 the only thing to do is to buy an alpha scope. Some add that the difference from at least some alpha models to the Opticron would be "night and day". However, I can see that at the lower end of the zoom at least, the image I get often looks not far off my fellow birders' alpha scopes but would be interested in comments from people who have used the Opticron and also alpha scopes on this assessment.
I appreciate the only ultimate answer is to look through scopes with my own eyes and I have done quite a bit of that (also might visit Bird Fair), but looking through a scope in an optics shop, even one with a a good place to try out, is not the same as using a scope day in, day out in the field. I guess obvious contenders would be the Swarovski ATS 80mm (111gms heavier). However, when I looked through an ATS 65mm which uses the same eps as the 80mm I had difficulty with eye placement and reflections for some reason - is that a problem for glasses wearers with these eps? (20-60 and 25-50). The Kowa 883 looks interesting, available at good prices second-hand with the introduction of the 88a. I have looked through this and get on with the ep and like the image a lot and the focus - all looks good but it looks to be 391 gms heavier than the MM4 77 - is that very noticeable in the field? An intriguing possibility is the Meopta S2 82 HD which seems to get rave reviews from anyone who owns one. This would be 216 gms more weight with the 30 - 60 WA lens but I have yet to find any outlet in the UK that sells the scope. Are they available second hand?
I would appreciate any thoughts from anyone who has used any of these scopes and the MM4 77 in the field. Have I missed any obvious options? Are there new entrants waiting in the wings? Is the price for any upgrade from the MM4 77 to an alpha 80 mm scope inevitably several hundred grams extra in weight? I don't anticipate changing my scope soon - have to negotiate finance with powerful authorities first! - but it is interesting to have options to review as you visit reserves with optics on display or drop into one of the big optics retailers - any comments welcome!