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Nikon Fieldscope EDG 85 (2 Viewers)

Jason Bugay Reyes

Jason Bugay Reyes

Well-known member
Malaysia
Hio all,

Had the opportunity to try for an hour the new Nikon Fieldscope EDG 85 straight body during the Nikon Photography Workshop in Sandakan last week.

With 38x used on both ED82 and EDG85, there a big improvement with the new scope which is brighter, sharper and it retained its natural colours similar like the ED82.

Construction of the scope is similar like telephoto lens and it doesn't really feel heavy with tripod on it even though the weight is over 2kg.

I will have more chances to try it on the field next month during my birding tour in Sandakan with the 20-60x zoom eyepiece.

Hope my friends who are using the Kowa 883 and 884 will come and test against the new scope hehehe.

Pictures of the scope at my blog under the address below.

Happy birding
 
mooreorless said:
Hi Horukuru, Thanks for posting this. Does this mean there is a replacement in the future for your 82ED?;)
Regards,Steve
Click to expand...

Hio Steve,

Hehehe hopefully if I managed to get few birding tours before end of this year :)

The ED82 is legendary and will keep it as my collection with the other future purchase such as the Nikon 10x42 SE hahaha.
 
Hi Horukuru, I understand what you say about the 82ED. That Green Broadbill is very beautiful bird.:t: Is Seng related to you?;)
Regards,Steve
 
Worth the money?

So HK, I brought up the insane (to me) price increase of the EDG scope over the Fieldscope III ED. Since you have used both, side by side I assume, what are your thoughts on the two? Would, if you had no scope or were in the market for a new big scope, be willing to pay for the increase over the previous FS III ED? Or is your FS III ED close enough in image quality that the extra cost of the new EDG is not warranted? Or is the EDG scope THAT good?
 
CLRobles said:
So HK, I brought up the insane (to me) price increase of the EDG scope over the Fieldscope III ED. Since you have used both, side by side I assume, what are your thoughts on the two? Would, if you had no scope or were in the market for a new big scope, be willing to pay for the increase over the previous FS III ED? Or is your FS III ED close enough in image quality that the extra cost of the new EDG is not warranted? Or is the EDG scope THAT good?
Click to expand...

CLRobles,

One thing about the new EDG 85 scope is the weight which is over 2kg without eyepiece. It might be one of the many factor for birders who decided to get their first scope compared with the new Leica, Kowa, Zeiss and Swarovski.

I had only fixed eyepiece 38x for the EDG against with the ED82 and it is cleared that the new scope is better than the current one. I will have a chance to try the new zoom for the EDG 20-60x this coming 17th and will report to the forum about it.

Given the choice if money is not an issue, it would be hard for the current Nikon followers like myself, either to buy the new EDG or switched to different brands if the new zoom eyepiece is on par with the others.

Few things about the EDG 85 is,

1. It is heavy than other scopes in 80mm class.

2. Body is longer than other scopes. New Swarovski and Leica is the winner here.

3. Price range is similar with other brands too.

This is my opinions based on my knowledge. Overall the new EDG is a fine instrument and hopefully one day I will own it too :king:

By the way, I'm currently at Mt. Kinabalu now, seen Whitehead's Trogon and Fruithunter plus the elusive Everett's Thrush. I need 6 more endemics up here before sending my clients to Danum Valley then drive to Sandakan hehehe ;)
 
Had an opportunity to try the new DSLR adapter FSA-L2 with Nikon Fieldscope EDG 65 connected with Nikon D3 in between my birding tour recently at Kinabatangan River with Tee from Nikon Malaysia.

The range with the FSA-L2 starts from 500mm to 1750mm by turning the zoom ring to a desired range while shooting. With FX body, there is a vignetting at 500mm and disappeared at 750mm.

It has fixed aperture F13 and manual focus through out its telephoto range but shooting with D3, the high ISO capability is awesome :-O

It is better with Wimberley head and carbon fibre tripod I reckoned :t: and I did try the FSA-L1 with ED82 last time, comparing both in term of sharpness and locating subjects, the EDG is a winner here.

For birders, it would be nice to use with DX body such as D90 or D5000 which both could record video and still image at the same time. But the price for the FSA-L2 is a bit expensive though.

Some of the pictures taken with this setup and I was shooting between ISO 1600 - 2500.

1. The setup.

2. Bornean freshwater crocodile.

3. Ruddy Kingfisher.

IMG00323 Nikon EDG 65.jpg DSC_0908 Bornean Crocodile.jpg DSC_1245 Ruddy Kingfisher.jpg


Happy birding folks :king:
 
Hi Horu, Thanks for more information on the new EDG spotters and the FSA-L2 DSLR adapter, it looks like a sturdy set up. Excellent pictures, I hope you don't swim in those waters.;) I wonder if there is any vignette at lower powers in the 85 EDG scope?
Regards,Steve
 
Very nice pictures from a nature that has to be beautiful.
I am curious about the compare of the EDG and the Kowa 883 and 884. Because for some birders the kowa is one of the best scopes that exist at the moment.
 
Ah sorry folks. I'm currently with WWF and forestry department updating birds and mammals list at one of the forest reserve here until the 12th of July.

I might have another chance to try the EDG85 and 65 during the Borneo Bird Festival in October this year. At the time being, I'm still using my ED82 hehehe maybe if Nikon Malaysia kind enough to lend me their unit for few months, that would be great for us to see its performance with other scopes and for digiscoping too :)

Let's pray for it hahaha
 
I see some British retailers are starting to offer the EDG scopes, Clifton cameras and Cleyspy have them listed at an eyewatering £1800 to £1900 for the 85 and £1400 to £1500 for the 65. Even the eyepiece prices are staggering; £600 for the zoom anyone?
I got my ED82 and the 30x wide on ebay for less than that!
I also note that prices for the ED 82, 60 and 50 have not dropped at all, nor have eyepiece prices.
TomW
 
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