Same eyepiece 'dilemma' with a smaller Swarovski (1 Viewer)

[Idle Valley Birder]

Just sold my Kowa 823 and I am going to buy a smaller scope, probably the Swarovski ATS65 HD.
As I have always had a Kowa scope and zoom lens I don't know much else really but I had a brief look through a Swarovski ATS65 HD today with the 30x lens on it. I was very impressed but confused now. |:$|

Any advice on how good is the Swarovski ATS65 HD?
Does anyone use the new 25x-50x Wide Zoom and what's it like please?.
Which lens to choose: 30x, 20x-60x zoom or the new 25-50x zoom.
All and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

LB.

 

[SteveClifton]

Just sold my Kowa 823 and I am going to buy a smaller scope, probably the Swarovski ATS65 HD.
As I have always had a Kowa scope and zoom lens I don't know much else really but I had a brief look through a Swarovski ATS65 HD today with the 30x lens on it. I was very impressed but confused now. |:$|

Any advice on how good is the Swarovski ATS65 HD?
Does anyone use the new 25x-50x Wide Zoom and what's it like please?.
Which lens to choose: 30x, 20x-60x zoom or the new 25-50x zoom.
All and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

LB.

The Swarovski ATS65 HD is an excellent scope, and in many ways is almost as good as an 80mm class scope, but before making your choice you should really have a good look at the recent competition from Leica, Zeiss, Kowa etc. just to put your mind at rest that you chose the best scope for you.

All of the above have wide zoom eyepieces at least comparable with the new 25-50x zoom from Swaro (and some would say better-especially the new Leicas & Kowas).

Personally I have the 20-60zoom and the 30x wide. Some people just hate zooms, and would only consider wide angles, but I use my zoom about 90% of the time (used to be the other way round though!). I've recently looked at the new wide zoom a couple of times and really liked it, but for someone who already has the above two eyepieces, I'm not sure the extra £500 would be worth the investment. However, if I were starting out again, I would probably get just the one eyepiece (25-50 zoom) and take it from there, perhaps adding a wide angle later when funds allow.

Good luck with whatever you choose,

Steve

 

[Idle Valley Birder]

Same eyepiece 'dilemma' with a smaller Swarovski

"if I were starting out again, I would probably get just the one eyepiece (25-50 zoom) and take it from there, perhaps adding a wide angle later"

Hi Steve.
I understood the new 25-50x was a wide angle lens.

Regards.
LB

 

[SteveClifton]

"if I were starting out again, I would probably get just the one eyepiece (25-50 zoom) and take it from there, perhaps adding a wide angle later"

Hi Steve.
I understood the new 25-50x was a wide angle lens.

Regards.
LB

Yes, it is, but not quite as wide as a fixed wide-angle eyepiece, as I understand it.


Steve

edit: I just checked and the field of view of the 30XW (42m at 100m) is the same as the new zoom at the 25X end.

 

[Sancho]

LB - I used to have the Swaro ATSHD65, with both 30xw and 20-60 zoom eps. It is a cracking good scope. I moved to Nikon (ED50 and ED82A), because I wanted portability (ED50) and brightness/sharpness (ED82) for different types of outings. But to be honest the difference between the Swaro 65 and the Nikon 82 (as regards brightness etc.) is a hair´s breadth, indetectable in most lights. On any scope, I find a 30xw ep better than a zoom for 99% of situations, and I can only remember one occasion on which a zoom helped me clinch an ID. The zoom is handy for getting a closer look at a stationary bird, but the 30xw is a perfect all-rounder, and I don´t think you´ll do better in terms of ergonomics than the Swaro 65. Their after-sales service is also top-class. Best of luck with your choice, if you can, try before you buy.

 

[Phil Bishop]

Echoing others, I would say try before you buy.

I was very impressed with the ATHD65 at the Bird Fair a couple of years ago. I did not realise at first that it had the 45x eyepiece fitted and assumed it was the 30x. The view was absolutely first class. A couple of guys were using them with 20-60x zooms at Staverton lakes looking at the Willow Emerald damselflies, and even though zoomed in the image was bright and clear despite being in a woodland ride.
Went to the Fair this year and I took a good look at the 25-50x zoom and while it was very good optically, it was not quite as good as the Leica to me. As I wear glasses it can be difficult finding eyepiece designs that suit me, and I found that at maximum zoom I lost the full field of view (unlike the Leica which also seemed more comfortable to use).

To be perfectly honest, you should not see any difference in resolution between a 65mm and an 80mm scope at any magnification used in spotting scopes (the human eye would need something like 100-140x to resolve the detail from a good 65mm objective). Additionally most of the time image brightness will be similar, though I would favour an 80mm objective if using high magnifications in very low light.

 

[username]

Echoing others, I would say try before you buy.

I was very impressed with the ATHD65 at the Bird Fair a couple of years ago. I did not realise at first that it had the 45x eyepiece fitted and assumed it was the 30x. The view was absolutely first class. A couple of guys were using them with 20-60x zooms at Staverton lakes looking at the Willow Emerald damselflies, and even though zoomed in the image was bright and clear despite being in a woodland ride.
Went to the Fair this year and I took a good look at the 25-50x zoom and while it was very good optically, it was not quite as good as the Leica to me. As I wear glasses it can be difficult finding eyepiece designs that suit me, and I found that at maximum zoom I lost the full field of view (unlike the Leica which also seemed more comfortable to use).

To be perfectly honest, you should not see any difference in resolution between a 65mm and an 80mm scope at any magnification used in spotting scopes (the human eye would need something like 100-140x to resolve the detail from a good 65mm objective). Additionally most of the time image brightness will be similar, though I would favour an 80mm objective if using high magnifications in very low light.

I used my swaro65hd with 20-60 zoom on the willow emeralds...always amazed at close focusing when out 'chasing dragons'...really is a big 'plus'!
I wear glasses and have never had a problem with losing field of view on highest mag...[we're all different i suppose]! The 25-50 wide angle zoom really isn't 'that' wide angled....still a good lens...[like i think i've said elsewhere on swaro thread]...so i won't be swapping my 20-60 lens!
Have, for the most of my birding life, been happy with fixed 30..[ish] wide angle lenses but the swaro 20-60 changed all that. As good as fixed lenses are...especially seawatching...sometimes you need that bit extra power..say for instance..if a skua lands far out on sea.

ps...Loundbirder....do bear in mind that after sales service of leica..is really quite rubbish...to be blunt...[ask around...not just my opinion]. Swaro after sales service is top notch:t:
pps...just so you don't think i'm too bias towards swaro...i hate they're 'dodgy' focus wheels on the binoculars...[thats why i use nikon32 hg bins...no 'play' in the focus wheel]!

Whatever 'feels right' for you tho.......!

 

[John Russell]

I concur with Phil's comments on the Swaro zooms.
I had the chance to look through both the 25-50 and 20-60 at the Bird Festival in Bochum yesterday and, as a glasses wearer, was somewhat disappointed by the limited eye relief of the 25-50. I really had to crawl into it to get the benefit of the increased AFOV.

John