telescope as spotting scope (1 Viewer)

[sfs]

HI,
I would like to know which kind of telescope may be use to spotting scope too...
without buying another additional lens to fix the inverse image.
like:
Refracting ,
Reflecting ,
Catadioptric ,
Dobsonian ,
GoTo .


a huge thanks to the replies !!!!

 

[Tero]

Spotting scopes are used as is. Some are porro design and some are roof prism. A very small number of reflecting scopes are in use. Here is one described.
http://www.lasc.us/RangingShotWeaver90ETX.htm

There is not much point in using a telescope that gives an upside image since so many of all sorts are available.

 

[JerryLogan]

HI,
I would like to know which kind of telescope may be use to spotting scope too...
without buying another additional lens to fix the inverse image.
like:
Refracting ,
Reflecting ,
Catadioptric ,
Dobsonian ,
GoTo .


a huge thanks to the replies !!!!

Do you only want to correct upside down, or do you want to correct left-right as well?

Best,
Jerry

 

[sfs]

Do you only want to correct upside down, or do you want to correct left-right as well?

Best,
Jerry

I want L&R also.....
BUT I understood that I can buy a special prism to fix L&R , is it right?

 

[mooreorless]

http://www.adorama.com/VX45EID.html

Yep, something like this, but they can degrade the image some compared to a mirror star diagonal

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=497269&d=1400283439

 

[JerryLogan]

I want L&R also.....
BUT I understood that I can buy a special prism to fix L&R , is it right?

Ok, so except for spotting scopes or binoculars (both of which have erecting prism systems built into their bodies) all telescopes are going to invert, flip or invert and flip the object image.

For a standard refractor the image is inverted and flipped if just look through the scope with a standard eyepiece. If you add a mirror or standard prism diagonal then the image will be erect, but flipped. You have to use an erecting prism diagonal to get a completely corrected image.

In my experience there are three levels of quality in erecting prisms. The least expensive aren't very good at all and I've found them disturbing to use in any situation, astro or terrestrial. Next step up at around 100 to 125$ are prisms that give very good terrestrial views up to 60x or so like the Williams Optics prisms. But these images still fall apart at higher magnification astro views.

Finally, there's the $300 Baader Amici prism that's good for all uses and nearly indistinguishable from a top quality astro diagonal. The Baader is the best, but the best compromise is probably to buy something like the Williams and reserve it for low magnification terrestrial views. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I believe you can use erecting prisms with any telescope you can fit a diagonal in, so don't look for correct images in a Newtonian reflector - diagonals don't fit into Newton focusers.
Best,
Jerry

PS If you want to spend serious money, you can also purchase erecting mirror systems, the best known are produced in Japan by Matsumoto but that's a very expensive option.

 

[mooreorless]

Or you can get used to moving the opposite direction of the view right and left, you just can not read anything like you could normally. I didn't bring up about the Baader Amici prism because of price.

 

[ceasar]

Over the years I've used my old Tele-Vue 70mm Pronto as a spotting scope on a number of occasions and I've been satisfied with it. But that's my own viewpoint. I haven't used it for a while but my son and a couple of his buddies have used it a few times. I bought an old 2" Brandon "Amici" for use with it years ago. I've learned since than that it really isn't an Amici but it does give a correct image view. It is a bigger set up than most people would like I think.

Bob

 

[albatrosviajero]

Now, I ´ve use my 80ED William Optics Fluorite model with Amici prism 2" 45º, also WO., and I am super-super satisfied!!! The visual image is Fantastic!!! Side by Side with Swa, Zeiss and Nikon....what difference!!
BUT.... not waterproff!!
greeting

 

[etudiant]

There was a very positive review some years back of the Televue 76 (and 85 previously) by Steve Ingraham posted here:
http://www.betterviewdesired.com/Tele-Vue-76-mm-APO.php

I was greatly impressed by the view provided by a Televue 60 set up at a recent talk by Al Nagler, the founder of Televue.
Although the setup was absurd, a small scope, a long elbow for the amici prism, then a bulging eyepiece, the visuals were really outstanding, good eye relief and a superbly sharp and bright image.
So I believe there is a gap optically between the best astronomy scopes and birding scopes, but the inconvenient packaging and lack of waterproofing constrain the acceptance of the astronomy scopes.

 

[woodhornbirder]

` a long elbow for the amici prism, `

imo its the poor range of prisms choice/price that holds back more folk using them. ALso many birders like to hunt in packs, and dont want to stand out from the rest of the sheep-wolf hybrids. It takes a while to build up knowledge about these scopes, and many folk cant be botherd to do the digging!

 

[JerryLogan]

` a long elbow for the amici prism, `

imo its the poor range of prisms choice/price that holds back more folk using them. ALso many birders like to hunt in packs, and dont want to stand out from the rest of the sheep-wolf hybrids. It takes a while to build up knowledge about these scopes, and many folk cant be botherd to do the digging!

I completely agree. Going out a little further on the limb, I'd say that for 1/3 the price of any alpha scope it's possible to obtain an equivalent or better view with astro scopes, plus the convenience of relatively inexpensive, quality eyepieces. You pay a very substantial price for the plainly superior durability and ergonomics of dedicated spotting scopes.

Best,
Jerry

 

[Hermann]

You pay a very substantial price for the plainly superior durability and ergonomics of dedicated spotting scopes.

I'd call that "fieldworthiness". And IMO dedicated birding scopes are fieldworthy, astronomical scopes are not, at least not in my kind of climate. I still remember fondly that chap who had a Questar many years ago and always started jogging back to his car when a dark cloud appeared over the horizon ...

Hermann

 

[JerryLogan]

I'd call that "fieldworthiness". And IMO dedicated birding scopes are fieldworthy, astronomical scopes are not, at least not in my kind of climate. I still remember fondly that chap who had a Questar many years ago and always started jogging back to his car when a dark cloud appeared over the horizon ...

Hermann

Yes, fieldworthy - that's the right concept. Of course, field worthiness depends on the field :>)

I have an 84 year old friend who uses her husbands TMB 80mm APO to watch the hummingbirds at her neighbors feeders.

Best,
Jerry

 

[lflip]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the Tele Vue 60° Everbrite 1¼" Diagonal. It is much better than the William Optics 2" 45 degree Erecting Prism. I guess Etudiant looked through it when he wrote about the absurd scope setup.

http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=62&Tab=_60EB#.VTODwiHtmko

 

[JerryLogan]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the Tele Vue 60° Everbrite 1¼" Diagonal. It is much better than the William Optics 2" 45 degree Erecting Prism. I guess Etudiant looked through it when he wrote about the absurd scope setup.

http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=62&Tab=_60EB#.VTODwiHtmko

Yes, it's very nice - but OP asked for LR correction, leaving the Televue out. (See posts 3 and 4).

 

[mooreorless]

Jerry B&H has this as an erecting diagonal. I think they made a mistake.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...DPC_6012_60_Degree_Everbrite_Erect_Image.html

 

[JerryLogan]

Jerry B&H has this as an erecting diagonal. I think they made a mistake.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...DPC_6012_60_Degree_Everbrite_Erect_Image.html

Hello Steve,

It does erect the image; but it doesn't fix the left, right flip. Astronomy folks get it but I think the ordinary buyer might expect more when they read "erecting diagonal." To be fair to B&H, at the very end of all the small type, they do note the images are laterally reversed. Taken as a whole I think the B&H description is technically accurate but kind of opaque to the average buyer.

Best,
Jerry

 

[mooreorless]

Hi Jerry,

Yes, you are right about that. I think someone that bought this diagonal would be happy with it as long as they understood. At that price a person would be better off buying the Baader Amici Prism diagonal, if you can find it. On Astromart they come up once in a long while $290-$250. I would rather have the TeleVue one at 60° even if reversed left and right. I am not reading anything and am used to reverse R&L. A fellow in UK uses the Baader Amici diagonal to read ships names etc. from shore. I forget what refractor he uses.

 

[henry link]

I've used almost nothing but small astronomical refractors as birding scopes during the past 30 years. Over that time I've collected a drawer full of prism and mirror diagonals, including the 60º TeleVue. The mirror image has just never been a problem for me when viewing birds through a scope, so it hasn't made any sense to accept the low optical quality of the 45º Schmidt roof prisms I've tried just to achieve image reversal. I don't see how any of these Schmidts can be very good since to my knowledge none of them is phase corrected. The Baader 90º Amici is a temptation since I already have all the Baader T-2 system parts for it, but compared to a single reflection diagonal it also has to be an optical compromise, especially since it's apparently not phase corrected.