Re: Hawke ed scopes

Hi all

I tested the celection regal 80 ed-f the  hawke endurance 60ed today. I slightly prefered the celestion it seemed a little clearer the focus wheel semmed smoother. These where tested in the same shop side by side on the same point of reference close and at full zoom. The only thing is is a big old scope and seemed big when on the tripod, I also tested a opticron 665gs scope with the hdf 18-48x zoom  eye piece on it. I have got to say it was very good light and solidly built. The scope was at a different shop so couldn't put it in use side by side but could see much diff in the image. I did test in against the Avian multi view (80) which didnt boast ed glass either but the image was yellower and not as clear. The opticron was far better but more exspensive. The optiron didnt boast ed glass but was still V bright and the eye piece was a please to use. This has thrown a curve ball into the mix. ED glass is there any standard or rating for it???? It's almost like saying i have a fast car but how do u know if it  is fast or how fast it is.???? Please help.

Galatas:- the ebay site says it's brand new and english stock so should be ok hopefully

Cheers Rik

Hi galatas

Yes it was V sunny here as well the celestrion was was clear also the hawke  and opticron but the hawke was a 60mm,same with the opticron. The celestrion is a big piece of kit looked massive compaired to the opticron.The opitron is more than the celestrion £460 but doesn;t come with ed or f glass which would come into it's own at low light but was unable to test the opticron in low light. I put a digi scope kit on the opticron and haad a quick go. the hdf eye piece had a big viewing aperture and the picture came out well . But again it's bright and sunny.

Still none the wiser

I am pulled more towards the opticron due to size,weight and quality of build but will i want to upgrade in a few years time again???? does the opticron have better opticals(glass and coating even though not ed glass) in etc due to to higher price tag some people say u get what u pay for

Thanks

Rik

Galatas

rik rock

should I be warey of ebay????.

I have bought lots of stuff using ebay both private sellers , and dealers at home and in China or USA . I have never been disappointed or let down. If ordering from abroad be aware you may have to pay import duty. Customs seem particularly keen with goods from the USA.

Hi-  I use ebay a lot  and NOT just for optics-  I've picked up some really good bits of kit ( mainly from known optics shops) second hand.

Handy for cameras too-  ALL of my digi-scoping cams came off ebay and all bar one of my Lumixes.  I got a spanking pair of old red spot Leitz ( needed a service and new eyecups ) for a reasonable price- keep them hidden in the car at all times :)

I am currently hunting a good pair of the old Swarovski 7x42 SLCs  as they are no longer made but are fantastic bins :) The new version  ( 8 x 42 ) retails at about £1000  but I reckon the old ones might be found at half that and will last 25 years of sea watching  :)

S

Seaman

rik rock

but will i want to upgrade in a few years time again

This may depend on how much you use your scope.If,like us,your birding involves reasonable amounts of moorland walking carrying a scope may be a bit of an overload with the rest of the kit needed for such outings i.e.basic hill safety kit and bits and pieces needed for bird counts.In these cases my OH and myself just use bins and maybe an Opticron MM2 travel scope and light monopod.Not ideal but saves the shoulders a bit but it will never replace a full size scope and decent tripod.

I couldnt agree more :))  I use a monopod and a  13 year old ( second hand)  Kowa 613 on a monopod for long slogs/ small migrant hunting in late autumn-  hasnt failed me yet!

S

Seymour,just wondered what the attraction of the 7x42 Swarro's is for sea watching against 8x.Is it the low light performance or wider angle for covering large expanses of water ?

Hi-  reasons for  old  7x42s for seawatching rather than my everyday bins

great light gathering-

ease of use over long periods of sustained viewing - easy on the eyes

big depth of field

sea watching / spray is hard on bins-  the swaros are also

really easy to clean

secondhand bins worth less than new bins :)

I find birds with the bins then hit them with the Kowa scope

S

Thanks Seymour,roughly what I thought but we don't get a lot of sea watching practice here in the middle of N.Yorks,usually means a 2 hour trip to Flamborough Head (Ian Wallace country)Always had a soft spot for 7x as you say they do seem easier on the eye over a long day.

Hi all

Just to let you all know I have gone for the celestron regal f-ed 80. I tested one on Wednesday against the opticron 665gs with hdf eye piece and ghe hawk endurance ed. all v good but in my eyes just shaved it. I also got a great deal on eBay £380.00 brand new uk stock. Thanks for your great advice. All I need now I'd a digiscope kit.

Seaman

Thanks Seymour,roughly what I thought but we don't get a lot of sea watching practice here in the middle of N.Yorks,usually means a 2 hour trip to Flamborough Head (Ian Wallace country)Always had a soft spot for 7x as you say they do seem easier on the eye over a long day.

If you see DIMW say Hi from me-  he's great fun in the field :))

S

seymouraves

Seaman

Thanks Seymour,roughly what I thought but we don't get a lot of sea watching practice here in the middle of N.Yorks,usually means a 2 hour trip to Flamborough Head (Ian Wallace country)Always had a soft spot for 7x as you say they do seem easier on the eye over a long day.

 

If you see DIMW say Hi from me-  he's great fun in the field :))

One of the most unassuming "named" birders I have had the privilege to meet,he officially opened the new trap at Buckton a little while ago in Swahili !!

 

S