Absolute finest; money not an issue......

HawkMan · Guest

I am a licensed falconer.....I trap, train and hunt with hawks and falcons.

During the search for a young falcon, I MUST have the very finest of spotting scopes that will:

1) Allow me to discern the color of the fleshy area around the falcon's beak from 300-400 yards away at 60x magnification (or higher)......

2) Have absolute, precision focusing capabilty for razor-sharp
detail/clarity......

Given that the equation "higher price = higher quality" applies particularly to spotting scopes, I am assuming the following are the absolute finest, in order:

1) Swarovski 20x60x80 HD scope.....
2) Zeiss 20x60x80 HD scope......

.....followed by these ties for 3rd:

3) Kowa
4) Pentax
5) Leica

I am really interested to know more about the fairly new Pentax 27x78x100. With a 100 mm objective lense for brightness and a whopping 78x magnification, this could be the "ultimate" scope for my needs IF the clarity, detail and color-fidelity is equal to the Swaro and Zeiss models....

What say you experts on here?

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5673

Hi

I would not rate the Pentax with the others as far as optics, though it would certainly work. Keep in mind that a 100mm scope is NOT portable and is NOT a good choice for carrying in the field. If you want this type of scope, the Televue 85 would be a much better choice.

As far as your choices for the top, they will certainly work, but so will the top end Kowa, Nikon Fieldscope and the not yet available Leica HD. The choice here would be more personal preferenece than performance. My personal choice would be the Kowa 883 with the 20-60 zoom. I would rate it as the best I have yet used, overall.
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renbe · Guest

Hawkman,
I'll agree with Joanie. As a birder, I've looked through most of the scopes available (just go on a birding field trip and you'll see most). After looking, I settled on the Kowa 883 as the clearest and easiest to use. With the 20-60 zoom eyepiece, you'll give up nothing.
John

Guest · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:58 am Post subject:

Joanie and Renbe,

Thank you both for your opinions......you have swayed me from the 20x60x80 HD Swarovski, to the 880-class Kowa...... Smile

Final question:

Is there any differcne in image-quality between the 883 Kowa (45 degree angled eye-piece), and the 884 Kowa (straight-eyepiece)???

Or is it simply a matter of what head-position one prefers? I actually scope out of my truck window when looking at raptors and have alwasy used straight-eyepiece spotting scopes......

But I would consider the angled 883 model if it offered any true resolution/clarity/brightness advantages over the 884 (other than simply a potentially more comfortable viewing-position).....

Thanks again, folks.....

Richard

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5673

Hi

Glad to help.

No, performance will be the same, though you may enocunter some who theorize that a straight offers better image quality. Nonsense. Ignore such claims. Never something that can be seen, visually, even on an optical test target and certainly not in the field.

Staight bodied spotting scopes are easier to line up on target for beginners and also balance nicer if you attach a heavy camera for photography. I definitely prefer a straight scope when working from a window mount in a vehicle, but you can use an angled. Just a bit awkward at times.

Angled bodied scopes are more comfortable to look through for longer periods of time and are more stable, because they can sit lower on the tripod. Angled scopes are also a better choice for looking at objects at an elevation and are a better choice if you are sharing the scope with people of different heights. Angled is my personal preference.

Either configuration, however, will work for almost any application, with personal preference being the deciding factor. These days we sell 60% angled and 40% straight
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renbe · Guest

Ditto Joanie again. It took me about two trips to get the angled look down, but now it's pretty easy to get lined up. Just start at the low power and look for something clearly identifiable near your target.
John

ruyzho · Guest

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5673

Hi

I agree in the theory, but it is absolutely nonsense in terms of practice. I challenge anyone to objectively distinguish between an angled and a straight without knowing which version is being used. The difference is simply not detectable without instruments.
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renbe · Guest

I doubt anyone could tell the difference when looking through the scopes. The biggest difference in hawkman's use might be that he will be using a vehicle window mount which would make the straight scope more appropriate, although I can use the sleeve on the angled scope to make it more even for window mounting.
John