Spotting Scopes

New Guy · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

Good morning,

I've reviewed your products and determined my favorite selections for spotting scopes are:

Oberwerk Military Obseration
Meade ETX-90
Oberwerk Giant Binoculars

My concern is purchasing a scope that exceed my needs. Historically, I purchase the top of the line in varies products (i.e. stereo, computers). After several months, I learn that half the buttons and features I never use. Bottom line, I have "Pontaic" needs and "Mercedes" tastes.

I live on Lake Michigan and will use this scope for viewing boats. I like the Oberwerk MO appearance, Meade is impressive and Oberwerk GB appears very functional. This equipment will be prominently displayed in my house.

My "New Guy" status says buy the top of the line but I know the "Pontaic Guy" will be disappointed in several months.

Suggestions?

I live in Milwaukee and will travel to your store if there are sales or second items available.

Thanks for your help.

New Guy

AstroBoy · Guest

Using binoculars and using a spotting scope are different, you need to determine your preference by trying both.

With binoculars, you use both eyes, which is more comfortable than looking with one eye and closing the other. On the other hand, if multiple people are going to be viewing (children in particular), it's a pain to keep adjusting the eyepiece spacing and the attendant re-centering and re-focusing after the jostling.

You also need to determine whether you are more comfortable looking through binoculars at eye level, or whether you prefer looking down through an angled eyepiece. This is especially true if you end up viewing celestial objects (there are, however, binoculars with angled eyepieces--the astronomy version of the Oberwerk Military, for example).

The Meade gives you the flexibility of changing eyepieces for different uses, including photography and electronic imaging. This can be particularly important if you get serious about astronomical viewing, as you will most likely want different eyepieces depending on what you want to look at.

You may also want to consider whether you want zoom capability. Fixed magnification can be limiting (particularly for imaging). Zoom optics are not genrally as good as fixed, but some zoom eyepieces are very good (Meade has a well-regarded zoom eyepiece).

I've had the same problem as you, but over the years I've learned that the best products (for me) are the ones that do specifically what
I want--simply, conveniently and well. I try to spend my money on performance and not features that I probably won't use.