Just got the Aldi catalogue for week beginning 14th February, and they're selling a "Spotting Scope" for 35.99 euro (in Ireland, that is). It's 60mm objective, with a 20-60 zoom eyepiece. It has a little carry pouch and a table-top tripod. The ad doesn't specify a maker, and I'd imagine the quality is not going to challenge the latest Leica HD's....but it might suit birders on a budget, or the kids, or someone looking for a car-boot scope. I might buy it just for the tripod and the carry pouch!
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Aldi spotting scope (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Sancho
- Start date
See It here. Not yet in UK but should be soon.
I think these offers come around every so often. Last time someone on BF even digiscoped with it! Expect floods on ebay if you don't get in quick.
Nev
Thanks for the spot Sancho, - will keep an extra eagle eye out for it in my Aldi emails
I think these offers come around every so often. Last time someone on BF even digiscoped with it! Expect floods on ebay if you don't get in quick.
Nev
Thanks for the spot Sancho, - will keep an extra eagle eye out for it in my Aldi emails
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Marmot
Well-known member
I got one last time they were on and it is not too bad. And I still have it
Managed to find the instructions from last years and it is a Traveler Prismatic Spotting Scope 20-60x60 by a firm called Supra.
Worth it yes..for £25 you cannot go wrong. it does have a tendency to get a bit of a brown ring around the edge. But for travelling and just general use it is good.
I have managed to find the thread from last time so hope this wil help. But I suggest if you are serious about getting it be there before the doors are opening as we just managed to get ours and we were in the queue for opening. You never know as well if some opportunist is going to pick up 3 or 4 to sell on ebay etc.
Last years thread on this with reviews.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=77832&highlight=aldi
Managed to find the instructions from last years and it is a Traveler Prismatic Spotting Scope 20-60x60 by a firm called Supra.
Worth it yes..for £25 you cannot go wrong. it does have a tendency to get a bit of a brown ring around the edge. But for travelling and just general use it is good.
I have managed to find the thread from last time so hope this wil help. But I suggest if you are serious about getting it be there before the doors are opening as we just managed to get ours and we were in the queue for opening. You never know as well if some opportunist is going to pick up 3 or 4 to sell on ebay etc.
Last years thread on this with reviews.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=77832&highlight=aldi
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Paskman
Well-known member
Don't start me off about them being on ebay......tried to get one last year.......all gone in minutes:C......argument with ebayer who had several on sale at over £70!!....I ended up buying an IS60 etc at over £200, still it is a much better scope. Live and learn and I did get some of the Bresser bins from Lidl for my brother at Xmas.B
Paul
Brosnabirder
Well-known member
Thanks for info,
Friend of mine asked about one but I couldn't tell him anything. I can point him here. Might do him as a starter scope and at that price
Friend of mine asked about one but I couldn't tell him anything. I can point him here. Might do him as a starter scope and at that price
Derek Watters
Well-known member
Marmot
What size is the exit / optic lense - I got one of the £99 Aldi / Bresser scopes last year - optics etc all fine but eypiece diameter is tiny - useless for any digiscoping except for mobile phone camera! Also very narrow field of view as a result and difficult on eyes over any prolonged period of use.
narawood
There is something not right wrong with me!!!
Picked up one today for the kids to use at the school where I work, hoping the kids can enjoy the wildlife and other attractions on the lower river Clyde.
Of course I checked the scope, very very nice, returned to Aldi and purchased another as a gift (won't tell him how much it cost - cheapskate me) for my son who has one of those riverside apartments enjoying vistas that cry out for a scope or pair of binos by a window.
How can one criticise this scope at £25.00 quid, (it is not perfect- but you really cannot seriously complain), you get a table top tripod, a carry case, 3 year warranty, even a lens cleaning cloth.
Is it really any good? yes it is, very acceptable, makes me rather miffed that I paid £70.00 for a mediocre Nikon soc for my ED82 (a tenner would have been plenty); my ED50 came with a piece of crap purporting to be a case.
The Aldi scope is very nice as I said, it would be a shame to pick faults in it, it costs £24.95, it is a very acceptable scope, and anyone who buys one will not be disappointed; magnification up to 40 is good then dims, a clear 40 mag is pretty damn good in my book.
Sancho, thanks for letting us know it was coming up for sale, I for one have had two real bargains today, think I will try out those Aldi or Lidl bins next time they come around (if they do IS be sure to PM me first).
Regrettable that a sufficient tripod and head will exceed the cost of this rather nice scope, OUCH!
Regards to all,
Of course I checked the scope, very very nice, returned to Aldi and purchased another as a gift (won't tell him how much it cost - cheapskate me) for my son who has one of those riverside apartments enjoying vistas that cry out for a scope or pair of binos by a window.
How can one criticise this scope at £25.00 quid, (it is not perfect- but you really cannot seriously complain), you get a table top tripod, a carry case, 3 year warranty, even a lens cleaning cloth.
Is it really any good? yes it is, very acceptable, makes me rather miffed that I paid £70.00 for a mediocre Nikon soc for my ED82 (a tenner would have been plenty); my ED50 came with a piece of crap purporting to be a case.
The Aldi scope is very nice as I said, it would be a shame to pick faults in it, it costs £24.95, it is a very acceptable scope, and anyone who buys one will not be disappointed; magnification up to 40 is good then dims, a clear 40 mag is pretty damn good in my book.
Sancho, thanks for letting us know it was coming up for sale, I for one have had two real bargains today, think I will try out those Aldi or Lidl bins next time they come around (if they do IS be sure to PM me first).
Regrettable that a sufficient tripod and head will exceed the cost of this rather nice scope, OUCH!
Regards to all,
Corax67
Well-known member
Bought mine at ten this morning on the way to church and tried it out this afternoon around where I live..
No great expectations but pleasantly surprised - OK it will never replace my Leica but it will live in my car for those "where's a scope when I need one" moments alongside my trusty old Opticrons.
Clean image up to around x40 when it gets too dim to be really useful but hey my Leica lives with a 32x bolted on. I did not notice a "brown ring" around the images but today was gloriously bright so maybe a test in typical Welsh weather is called for.
Absolute bargain = well pleased birder.
No great expectations but pleasantly surprised - OK it will never replace my Leica but it will live in my car for those "where's a scope when I need one" moments alongside my trusty old Opticrons.
Clean image up to around x40 when it gets too dim to be really useful but hey my Leica lives with a 32x bolted on. I did not notice a "brown ring" around the images but today was gloriously bright so maybe a test in typical Welsh weather is called for.
Absolute bargain = well pleased birder.
The Valley Walker
Well-known member
I agree with Karl...popped into the EV branch of Aldis on my way from the Silent Valley Feeders and picked up one....about 30 left I would say. Went to a local pond and tried it out - gets dim over 40 but 20x is very acceptable...will be in my car boot from now on. Also picked up their feeder station for £10.99....wifey erected it and put it in the garden whilst I was out watching short eared owls...she says it looks lovely!
Derek Watters
Well-known member
Got one of these scopes today at the local Aldi branch - I was first in the door but there was no major rush on them (though one guy bought 4 of them!). There was still 30 or so left when I returned at 2pm.
Anyway the weather here was very dull and misty today with very poor seeing. However I was very impressed with the scope (as others have said - up to c.40x). No brown circle visible despite the conditions.
The eye piece lense (a particular critism I had of the more expensive, pre-Christmas Adli / bresser scope) is 50% greater, measuring 16mm in diameter and therefore more suitable for digiscoping and prolonged viewing.
All in all an excellent second scope and like the Lidl binoculars unbeatable on a value for money basis.
Derek Watters
Anyway the weather here was very dull and misty today with very poor seeing. However I was very impressed with the scope (as others have said - up to c.40x). No brown circle visible despite the conditions.
The eye piece lense (a particular critism I had of the more expensive, pre-Christmas Adli / bresser scope) is 50% greater, measuring 16mm in diameter and therefore more suitable for digiscoping and prolonged viewing.
All in all an excellent second scope and like the Lidl binoculars unbeatable on a value for money basis.
Derek Watters
Craig H
Well-known member
Just to add what others have said - for 25quid its a bargain. Its obviously not in the same league as Leica's or Nikons but neither is it in the same price bracket. I was very dubious when I opened the box, but as soon as I looked through it I was well pleased. It may have curvature at the edge of the field, and more CA than my Leica but it in the centre of the field it does do what I want a telescope to do - make stuff bigger so I can I'd it.
I only wanted it as a travel scope/boot of the car job, so am very pleased I didnt spent £80-100 on a more well known 50mm scope.
I only wanted it as a travel scope/boot of the car job, so am very pleased I didnt spent £80-100 on a more well known 50mm scope.
Corax67
Well-known member
That would be fantastic! Send me a PM if you do find one & we can sort out postage/picking up. Thanks very much!
Picked one up this morning - store still had about 20 in stock - PM me and I will sort out details with you.
I am in Kent until the weekend visiting the in-laws but have the scope with me.
Picked one up this morning - store still had about 20 in stock - PM me and I will sort out details with you.
I am in Kent until the weekend visiting the in-laws but have the scope with me.
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