Opticron Upgrade - MM4 77 GA plus eyepiece (3 Viewers)

[Gander]

I have for quite a few years been using an MM3 60 ED, with a HDF T 40862. It was my starter set up and has been a great servant. Recently, I have been trying to do a bit more sea watching, and have found that my set up can be a bit limiting, so I have decided to upgrade. As I am happy with my previous purchase, and taking into account value for money and mobility, I have pretty much decided that I am going to upgrade to the MM4 77.

What I am now trying to work out, is what the best eyepiece option is going to be. Main purpose of the scope will be to give me more reach than my current set up, which gives X45. Option one is I could just continue to use my current eyepiece, but am wondering if I might be better also upgrading the eyepiece. Second option I am looking at is going for a 41280 SDL V4. This will still only give me X18-54, the same as my present eyepiece would with the MM4 77, but as it is the most expensive option, I am assuming that it will give better quality viewing in some way unless the additional expenditure is down to it being waterproof?

Third eyepiece option under consideration is the 41145 HR3. Relatively inexpensive in comparison to option two, it gives an increase to X20-60. I wonder though if the increase in max magnification comes at an unacceptable sacrifice of view quality? It is noted that this one is not waterproof, so some of the price difference will be related to that.

And lastly, option four is a fixed magnification 40861 HDF WA X88. Again, relatively inexpensive, I wonder if losing the zoom option might be more than compensated for by the large jump in magnification. Even while typing this, quick mental calculation indicates that I could probably go for this last option in addition to options two or three (certainly three).

I will be grateful for any feedback from anyone who has tried any of these set ups. My primary use will be, as indicated previously, sea watching, although I have one or two other spots where I think increased reach will give me an advantage when searching through wader flocks. If anyone has used these set ups, I am also particularly interested in FOV, as this detail is not included on the Opticron website.

 

[Gzoladz74]

I am also particularly interested in FOV, as this detail is not included on the Opticron website.

Surely it is...their specs clearly state that the FOV is "wider", the weight is "lighter" and the scope overall is "better". I own and MM360 that was weather proof according to their website, but it ceased to be when the new model was launched...

Main question would be what feature you are looking to improve. More light? Wider fov? Better iq? etc. as that will help direct the advise.

I use my MM360 with the SDLv3 (previously with the SDLv2). IQ is very good in good light. FOV is quite narrow, but a bit wider than with the SDLv2. I have never seen an MM3 77 even in the field, what is unusual, but I would expect it to be at least as good as the MM360 and brighter. Opticron's stubbornness to continue refusing to make meaningful measurable specifications available to customers makes it impossible to make an informed purchase decision so FOV for that scope is anybodys guess unless you have a chance to try it. As Opticron's FOV is known to be narrower that other brands, I would not chance it without trying one side by side.

I would not get the 40861...too much magnifiction, even narrower FOV and darker. It will be no good for sea watching, bad for scanning and terrible to try to find a subject that you may have spotted with your binocs.

I would try the MM477 side by side with an alpha, to use it as benchmark to assess its performance...also to prevent buyer remorse...when I upgraded my binocs and scope I decided to go for the best, make it a lifetime purchase and prevent start feeling that I wanted to upgrade again in a few years.
For sewatching I find a zoom eyepiece useful to scan and then focus on very distant subjects.
Difference between the HDF and SDL...some users dont find any, some users find it is very marginal. I found it is very marginal (IQ).

 

[Gander]

Main question would be what feature you are looking to improve. More light? Wider fov? Better iq? etc. as that will help direct the advise.

I think primarily, I want greater reach, but realise that to accomplish this, more light is needed. My hope is that the extra magnification does not impact IQ and FOV too much, but again, I realise that there needs to be reduction in these areas to get the extra reach.

I would not get the 40861...too much magnifiction, even narrower FOV and darker. It will be no good for sea watching, bad for scanning and terrible to try to find a subject that you may have spotted with your binocs.

Thanks, that's good info for me.

I would try the MM477 side by side with an alpha, to use it as benchmark to assess its performance...

Struggling to find somewhere where I can do that, but I am looking into it.

 

[ChicagoBirder]

I own an MM4 77 with the SDLV3 eyepiece. I am just learning that a V4 is now available. I'm used to alpha binos, (Swaro NL Pure and Zeiss Victory SF) and opted for the Opticron based on my limited use. I would look for a good price on SDLV3 since it's been discontinued.

The image quality is decent with the V3. I would rate it slightly below that of a Kowa Prominar, but not by much. My use is for seabird watching, primarily on Lake Michigan. I use a Sirui ST 124 carbon tripod with a VA5 fluid head, which makes it very stable.

 

[Peregrine Took]

The Opticron MM4 77 is now upgraded to what they call the MM4 77 GA VHD. VHD refers to glass that is equivalent to Kowa's fluorite. I'd be interested to know if anyone has compared it to something from Kowa.

The price of the 77 VHD is the same as the previous version and the improved SDLv4 eyepiece is the same price as the previous SDLv3.
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