Which one should i buy, Opticron ES 80, MM4 or Lecia APO-Televid 62 (1 Viewer)

[Z3man]

Hi All,

I am new to this website, but i have been lurking on it for a few weeks now trying to decide which spotting scope to get, i have found loads of useful information on here, it is an excellent site.

I would be grateful for your help choosing what scope to buy.
This would be my first scope, i have been birdwatching for two years now and have Opticron Explorer 8 x 32 ED binoculars and I have been very impressed with them.

I have narrowed my search down to these four options, two of them are £250, and the other two are £450. I would prefer to only pay £250, but I will pay £450 if it is worth the difference, but can't go any higher than that. So I would love to hear your opinions on which is the best of the bunch. I will be using it for general birdwatching.

Option 1
Opticron ES 80 GA Waterproof. £250
I believe this has ED lens even though it doesn't say so on the side. It Comes with the original version of the HDF Zoom eyepiece which in can't find any info online about except for this old sale on eBay Opticron original HDF Zoom Eyepiece High Definition variable Pow #40862 (UK) NOS | eBay i think it must be pretty old.

Option 2
Opticron ES 80 GA ED. £250
I can't find any info online about this version, its not a V2 or V3 they both have a rubberised finish, it must be a V1 1/2 or something, it is this one Used Opticron ES 80 GA ED SDL Eyepiece | London Camera Exchange - Taunton
It comes with the original SDL V1 eyepiece, would this be better than the early version HDF eyepiece in option 1.

Option 3
Opticron MM4 60 ED Travelscope with SDL V3 Eyepiece. £450
This is the Travelscope version that is very small, but has what i would think is a great eyepiece.

Option 4
Leica APO-Televid 62 Scope with 26x WW Eyepiece. £450
I have had a try with one of these with a 16-48 zoom lens for a few mins and was quite impressed, so would like to know how it compares to my first three options.
I think this one may be getting a bit long in the tooth now and if i ever want to buy a 16-48 zoom lens for it, it could be very expensive and quite hard to find.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Or if anyone has any other suggestions or anything to sell along these lines i would be interested.

Paul

 

[Boogieshrew]

I would go for the MM4 myself. Its lightweight and small so you can take it anywhere and carry it all day long without tiring.

It has a great eyepiece and the 15x starting magnification is useful for limiting the effects of heat haze and has greater depth of field than a 20x. There are very nice, reasonably priced fixed mag EPs available if you feel the need to try them.

I own an MM4 with SDL2 myself and think it's a great scope. I do have a Swarovski ATS80 as well but use the MM4 far more often due to it's portability. If I could only have one of the two it would be the MM4.

The ES80s sound like they are old models so I wouldn't bother. I'm not convinced the first you mention is ED. There is a non-ED version.
Both are way heavier than the MM4.
The Leica is a nice scope but it is old and the MM4 may outdo it now. The fixed mag ep may be limiting and I don't know how easy it is to find a zoom. Of course the zoom will mean spending more money if you decide you need it.

All the best 👍

 

[Gzoladz74]

I own an MM3 (not MM4) with that eyepiece and it is very good when you consider its cost vs bigger brands. Definitely a good buy in that segment. For travelling it is very comfortable and it fits easily in your carry on.
I think the MM4 is a bit heavier but in theory a bit better.

 

[Z3man]

Thanks for you advice.

I think you are correct the MM4 is probably the best and most sensible option due to the reasons you have mentioned, but i really like the APO 62, i would love to be able to try them side by side to see how they compare, unfortunately that is very unlikely to happen. So i will probably get the MM4, but I will mull it over for a couple of days first.

 

[pete_gamby]

Information on the second of the two ES 80s you've listed is available here:

Opticron - ES Fieldscopes

The SDL v1 (part number 40935) is a better eyepiece than any model of HDF.

HTH

Cheers, Pete

 

[Z3man]

Thanks Pete,

That is really helpful, looks like it is classed as a V1 MKII.

I would be good to see the product page on the original V1 if you have one, i can't find it in your archive.

Thanks

 

[fazalmajid]

I believe that Leica was actually made by Meopta, who also made some of the Zeiss-branded scopes. Even though I have a MM4/50 with SDLv3 (and a Meopta S2 82 HD with 20-60 wide EP), I'd go with the Leica personally, the 26x is an outstanding eyepiece with a wide and bright view. Meopta makes excellent optics. The Leica will also keep better resale value should you choose to upgrade in the future.

Here are some more takes on this model:

Advice on Leica APO 62

Hello, I have found a good opportunity to buy a spotting scope Leica APO 62, I have read some interesting things about this model, but I would like to hear first hand some advice about this small telescope ... as well as of the eyepieces that Better work in this spotting. I am very grateful for...

www.birdforum.net

 

[Z3man]

I believe that Leica was actually made by Meopta, who also made some of the Zeiss-branded scopes. Even though I have a MM4/50 with SDLv3 (and a Meopta S2 82 HD with 20-60 wide EP), I'd go with the Leica personally, the 26x is an outstanding eyepiece with a wide and bright view. Meopta makes excellent optics. The Leica will also keep better resale value should you choose to upgrade in the future.

Thanks for the advice.

I really like the Leica 62, i am hoping to get another try of one in the next couple of days. Since i last tried the 62 i have now tried some other scopes so now i can see how it compares to them.

I now have a chance of getting one with the zoom eyepiece instead of the 26x, so i would probably go for that just because its more flexible. I would like to have both but they are very expensive on the used market that's if you can find one. If you could only have one eyepiece would you have the zoom or the 26x.

 

[fazalmajid]

I'd go for the fixed magnification eyepiece if the field of view is significantly larger.

 

[Sc0tty]

I've got the Leica APO 62 with the 26x and 16-48x eyepieces, also a Kowa 883 with 25-60x.

I've had the Leica for many years with just the 26x and was quite happy with it. I then got the Kowa and later on a whim decided to get the locking 16-48x Leica eyepiece. I now use the zoom all the time. Occasionally, I use the 26x, which is fantastic, but I always go back to the zoom because of the extra reach and flexibility. I've not tried the Opticron MM4 60 but I have compared the MM4 50 against my Leica and the Leica was only marginally better. Where the Leica wins is in the feeling of quality. The action of zooming is just so much better than Kowa, Swarovski and Opticron.

Having said that, if I was in your position, I would probably go for the Opticron MM4 60 with the SDL3/4 eyepiece because its a much newer scope. If the Leica was to fail, you might struggle to get it repaired due to the age and lack of spares.

 

[Z3man]

Thanks Sc0tty,

That is really helpful. From what i am being told by yourself and various other people, it certainly seems like the MM4 is the sensible option. Even more so now that you have said that the Leica is only marginally better than the 50mm MM4, which makes me think it is probably on par with the 60mm, but not as good as the 77mm.

I know what you mean about the feeling of quality when using the Leica, that is what gives it that desirability which is making me want one even though i know it's not the sensible option.

I am going to keep researching and give it a few more days before i decide what to get, no point in rushing and making the wrong decision. I can't even manage to deicide if i want 60mm or 80mm, i keep changing my mind. Ideally i could do with two scopes, a small 50mm which is nice and light and portable, and also an 80mm for the serious stuff, but unfortunately i can't afford to do that.

 

[Blincodave]

A friend of mine wanted to purchase a Leica 62 a couple of years ago from a UK dealer who confirmed that it was indeed manufactured by Meopta and warned that spare parts might be difficult to source. My advice would be to buy an MM4.

 

[Z3man]

Looks like MM4 is the way to go.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between MM3 60 ED (no longer made) and MM4 60 ED.

 

[Sc0tty]

Looks like MM4 is the way to go.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between MM3 60 ED (no longer made) and MM4 60 ED.

MM3 ED is “weatherproof” whereas the MM4 is waterproof and nitrogen filled. I assume the MM4 also has improved coatings.

 

[Blincodave]

MM3 was made in China. MM4 Japan. More reliable quality control and slightly better optical quality.

 

[Z3man]

Thanks guys.

Looks like MM4 60 ED with SLDv3 would be a good choice. Shame the one in my opening post has just sold today.

 

[Blincodave]

Used Opticron MM4 60 ED with SDL V2 Eyepiece | London Camera Exchange - Southampton (Civic Centre)

Used Opticron MM4 60 ED with SDL V2 Eyepiece | London Camera Exchange - Southampton (Civic Centre) | To buy or for more information visit Southampton (Civic Centre) or call 023 8033 1720

www.lcegroup.co.uk

 

[Z3man]

Used Opticron MM4 60 ED with SDL V2 Eyepiece | London Camera Exchange - Southampton (Civic Centre)

Used Opticron MM4 60 ED with SDL V2 Eyepiece | London Camera Exchange - Southampton (Civic Centre) | To buy or for more information visit Southampton (Civic Centre) or call 023 8033 1720

www.lcegroup.co.uk

Already got my eye on that one thanks.

Not as good a deal as the one they sold yesterday that had SDLv3 and was only £450, but it is still a good deal.

I am edging towards wanting an 80mm scope now. I tried an MM3 60 ED with HDF T today, although it was very clear and sharp i still wasn't massively impressed. When i zoomed in to identify birds there was no sort of wow factor where you think that's brilliant compared to my binoculars, it was better but not as big a difference as i was hoping for, i think maybe it just wasn't powerful enough so i am now edging towards 80mm.