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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. P

    My tablet dilemma

    I'm not entirely sure of the limits of Google maps - I cleared the cache after transferring from my Fire, so that might have affected things. But thanks for the heads-up. I was tickled my Sibley ported for free, though at $20 it would still be a bargain.
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    My tablet dilemma

    Well less of a dilemma now...the Samsung is getting blown out at $99 around here (USA). No doubt in anticipation of end of support, but with my limited intended use, should probably work till the battery dies. So a no-brainer and I've already started using it. The GPS even allows me to navigate...
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    My tablet dilemma

    Weird. In a hobby that applauds 3K optics, you bitch about a $150 tablet (not aimed at you, Bubbs;-). The Apple costs $550. Does that make you feel better? Okay, the consumable aspects are irritating (though dedicated to E-bird and guide, security is not an issue.) The Sibley guide is heavier...
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    My tablet dilemma

    A few years ago, I realized the best way to reduce my kit was to exchange my guidebook for an app on a mobile device. I could use a smart phone, but I prefer the larger format of a tablet. The cheapest option was an Amazon Fire 8HD combined with the Sibley app. The app is glorious. The tablet...
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    Pentax PF80 EDa and fixed eyepieces

    Pop in here with some received wisdom when I was considering similar options. A zoom is not about visual experience; it’s a tool to ID birds. Use the better view low magnification to search , then zoom in when you need to sort. Made sense to me.
  6. P

    Best bird guides by region...Asia

    Just got the US (Princeton Press) version of Yang & Liu's Birds of China. Can't offer any expert insight, but as a visual experience - WOW!
  7. P

    Just received a 10x42L

    Should have written that better - the weight is equivalent. I'm assuming paying more for great rather than very good optics is a separate and minor consideration compared to the boost from IS.
  8. P

    Just received a 10x42L

    Almost joined the dark side... Have been seriously thinking about the 10x42 L's and saw a used pair at half list from a reputable used specialist. Jumped on it without asking questions - probably always a mistake. They arrived quickly - just the binocs, no accessories. Not unexpected, but...
  9. P

    New Pentax 65-EDII

    Well my scope got it's baptism last month. I pulled the trigger on the XF zoom. I chose it in part because I didn't want to duplicate the 27x view of my Nikon ED50 and in part because I found Eitan Altman's post on zoom as a tool resonant. And it was slightly discounted:-) It arrived very...
  10. P

    Just received a 10x42L

    Does anyone know how often Canon modifies the firmware? Can you upload a new version from the web? I see some attractive prices on "brand new still in the box" items and I'm wondering if I need to worry about the date of manufacture.
  11. P

    New Pentax 65-EDII

    Yes the zoom for the 80 - It's big and the range is reduced on the 65. Not that I could tell the difference as I was cold and miserable and couldn't keep my specs clear.
  12. P

    New Pentax 65-EDII

    Rather in the same boat. Started out with a Nikon ED50 and 27x wa. Used an old Slik Sprint Pro aluminum travel tripod with ball head. Great combo - I can sling it across a shoulder and hike for a couple of hours without noticing it, while it triples the reach of my binoc's. Then I saw a great...
  13. P

    Sticky thread for best birding apps

    I have to give IBird Pro a thumbs-down. I just started fooling around with it. I saw some Black Ducks recently and wanted to check exactly how they differed from female and eclipse Mallards. So I looked up the Mallard and...there is only one image, a very familiar male Mallard. The Sibley app...
  14. P

    The Sibley app on an Amazon Fire?

    Okay, I contacted the makers support and they said it was okay. Bought it and downloaded it without issue. Quick look says it's head , shoulders, and abs above its graphic competition on Android.
  15. P

    The Sibley app on an Amazon Fire?

    Has anyone installed the Sibley app on an Amazon Fire recently? I'd really like to get the app, but the recent comments on Amazon look pretty dire.
  16. P

    How birding apps Search function should work.

    This idea came to me as I thought about the Search function in iBird. The problems are not so much the clunky interface, as the whole thrust of the mechanism. If there are other apps that do this right, I am not aware, but would certainly like to hear. Fundamentally, the Search should not have...
  17. P

    Best, favorite, or most desired e-guide device

    I was thinking more along the lines of an off-line device - an e-reader rather than a phone...
  18. P

    Best, favorite, or most desired e-guide device

    Ok Christmas is coming. I realize that the biggest way I could reduce the size and weight of my load is to substitute a Kindle like device for my guide books. What is your favorite (or best or most desirded) combination of e-reader (etc) and bird guide?
  19. P

    What I've learned about QR plates.

    To paraphrase Gandhi on Western Civilization, I think Arca plates are a great idea! I also think slots and lips are a good, flexible solution. I mentioned I was pleased with the way the Breakthrough Photography plate worked with my Nikon ED50. My objection is the current state of implementation...
  20. P

    What I've learned about QR plates.

    Thanks Kevin, for the info. My OP wasn't my opinion so much as what I gathered the general consensus was from various sources. I'm quite convinced by both Alexis and you that RC2 is a misfire. But I think RC5 is much better designed and a very competitive alternative with bigger instruments. I...
  21. P

    What I've learned about QR plates.

    At a certain age, one starts to understand the deep meaning of "good enough". Now where's my drill... Calvin and Hobbs: [I pray for] The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference.
  22. P

    What I've learned about QR plates.

    Well if I have an audience of at least one, it might raise my average;-) I'm looking for the Dia-Compe without the QR - I've checked all those sites and the local used bike parts collective is closed for the shut-down. It is available in Japan and Europe, so I have one in the mail, it's just...
  23. P

    What I've learned about QR plates.

    Coincidentally been updating a vintage bicycle I have. I now need a part that used to be ubiquitous. (A headset mounted cable hanger to get low enough to accommodate aero lever cabling.) What a headache! Turns out there are only 3 ready manufactures left - Japanese and US boutique operations way...
  24. P

    2 section tripod legs

    You definitely want a long plate for a large scope. Arca's do come in long versions ("camcorder" versions with an alignment pin) , but the Manfrotto 5 hundred plate is often cloned as well. I don't understand what I'm seeing with the that 502. I'd try to get a clear answer first.
  25. P

    2 section tripod legs

    Well, since I said I would, I took my scope out, focused it across our shallow valley, jacked it up to 60x, and hit the tripod with a hammer... Okay, a rubber mallet before anyone gets apoplectic:-) It damps, well, instantly. I couldn't get the "1" out, let alone "Mississippi". Now mind you, if...
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