Anyone into Optics/Spotting Scopes in the room

[Shox Dr]

I would like to buy a Spotting scope either new or second hand willing to spend up to £500ish

For general use, I want to see what's over there, from naked women, to wild animals to Man Made structures and natures excellent attempts. Low light would be good

Not bothered if eyepiece is angled or inline, (inline would be nice for SLR)

Needs to be fairly robust, as it will go where ever I do with in reason.

Weight is not a concern

80mm ish Object lens

Any suggestions?

 

[cumbriasteve]

No idea if this is any good but would hate you to miss it if it is:
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/sunday-30-november/product-detail/ps/p/dobson-telescope-1/

 

[Kayos]

I bought an el cheapo ebay spesh for about £100, works out about 1600mm on my slr at f8, bit of fun but easily affected by wind, even on 2 tripods!

Not took any "good" shots yet but only used it in a field facing some industrial units for an hour getting a feel of it

 

[Shox Dr]

No idea if this is any good but would hate you to miss it if it is:
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/sunday-30-november/product-detail/ps/p/dobson-telescope-1/

Thanks steve but not what I'm looking for.

 

[Maker]

My dads mate was selling one a few months ago, similar to this one, HUGE zoom.
I'll find out if it's still available.

 

[Brad93]

Zeiss, Swarovski, or Leica. Can't get any better than those.
Binoculars are better though.

 

[cumbriasteve]

For general use, I want to see what's over there, from naked women,

Always interested in a new educational hobby, eerrrrrrr...these scopes, do you errr see a lot of naked women with them?...from a totally scientific point of view of course

 

[Robotstar5]

I bought Mrs Robo a Celestron scope for bird (feathered kind) watching and it's good, comes with it's own carrycase and we just added a bracket to use a camera on it. They do 100mm ones as well - link

 

[Shox Dr]

Zeiss, Swarovski, or Leica. Can't get any better than those.
Binoculars are better though.

I'm familiar with all of those names. My Bins are WWII Zeiss. The rest either Rifle scopes, or spotting scopes. None of which I'll get for less the £500

 

[Maker]

I'm familiar with all of those names. My Bins are WWII Zeiss. The rest either Rifle scopes, or spotting scopes. None of which I'll get for less the £500

My bins are standard council ones.

 

[Shox Dr]

The social forum is that way>

 

[brightspark]

My bins are standard council ones.

The social forum is that way>

ask him to close the door on the way out

 

[fizzy]

I bought a Konus 100. It is massive and very good for the money. 20 - 60 zoom. Light gathering is brilliant.
http://www.a10optical.co.uk/spotting-scopes/264-konus-konuspot-100-20-60x100-spotting-scope.html
£250 or less - some people charge over £500.
You do need a huge tripod though.
Probably better than a Celestron but obviously not a Zeiss!
I have lots of expensive optics - was very pleased with the quality.

 

[Migmac]

The German made ones will be well over 1k, used a Swarovski one for a while. Stunning clarity and well built. If it was me I would go to a shop and try the cheaper models. Best to go on a dull day, if they preform in bad light they should be good in good light. I bought one from Lidl, £25. It does well for what I use it for but as the light fails it's quality or lack of quality shows. If you can find a secondhand greys telescope it would be worth buying, very tough and cracking glass in them

 

[Kent]

I like The German stuff but at that budget have a look at the RSPB branded stuff. Always look through optics and always buy the actual one you looked through as at the lesser end they vary within a batch

 

[Migmac]

Don't know if your interested but there is a Grays telescope for sale on the bay.

 

[norlander]

The German made ones will be well over 1k,

if they are that good how come they did not spot the D Day armada comin at em then?

 

[Migmac]

They had them the wrong way round and thought they had more time!

 

[sardine]

He needs it to go though a pair of net curtains on a bathroom window for instance, maybe a nurses accommodation or something like that, just as an example out of the blue.

 

[Shox Dr]

Thanks Migmac, that is a very nice scope. Having used the traditional type, I'd prefer the compact designs

Anyone used Kowa such as the Kowa TSN 822 or 824