Sub 500 Spotting Scope help (1 Viewer)

[provo]

Any advice out there on an affordable sub $500 spotting scope
weight really is at the bottom of my list of concern
image quality is the highest on my search.

I am choosing a $500 limit because I shoot with my DSLR
and my 500mm lens also I am saving for new lens
so that's my budget.

Thanks folks and Merry Christmas to all.

 

[mooreorless]

Hi Provo, Have you considered astro type scopes shooting prime focus esp. if weight is of no concern ?

Merry Christmas!

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=194800

 

[provo]

Hi Provo, Have you considered astro type scopes shooting prime focus esp. if weight is of no concern ?

Merry Christmas!

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=194800

You have an example sorry im a newbie to spotting scopes entirely.

I went onto Bhphoto and found this one very highly rated.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/485314-REG/Celestron_52291_C5_Spotter_5_0_127mm_Spotting.html


I keep seeing these barska spotting scope really cheap and some of them are rated highly
on other online resellers are they really that good?

 

[mooreorless]

I had a look at your excellent pictures. Very nice!! The scope in your link would be great for long distance and night sky. There are other threads below this one that you can get an idea of different scopes in this price range.

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=227026&d=1257384978

Sorry don't have a picture of scope with my Pentax DSLR on it.

 

[mayoayo]

I think for 500$ is either an Astro style scope,like Steve is pointing, or something like the Celestron Regal FL 80..You can find some good ED refractors in that budget,but You need eyepiece and erector prism to use the scope as a visual tool,or to do digiscoping,..for prime focus photo,as Steve also mentioned,You wont need neither of these things...
There are many eyepieces to choose ,a decent one is going to cost You near 100$..at least...and for a decent prism (or even a diagonal,given that you would not care getting a reversed image )is going to be about the same..so you need to use 150-200 $ from your budget,at least ,to use the scope for observation...that leaves 300-350$ ...a tad short for a quality ED astronomy refractor,..you might need another 100-150 $.Not much, but over your budget a tad..
The Celestron Regal comes with a Zoom eyepiece .Is large and Heavy ,but the quality ,given that you get a decent unit,is very good for the price..Both optically and build quality(metal,rugged body)..It is also weatherproof, definitely a better option for field use than the Astronomy spotter..

 

[eitanaltman]

It's not clear to me whether you are going to use the scope to shoot photos with the DSLR? Do you want a BIRDING scope that is at least somewhat portable, or the maximum image quality for photo shooting, portability be damned?

 

[BChiker]

I went onto Bhphoto and found this one very highly rated.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/485314-REG/Celestron_52291_C5_Spotter_5_0_127mm_Spotting.html

Provo, presuming that you are considering the Celestron C-5 for visual use only, my only concern would be your expectations for low power use. You likely will need a set of long focal length eyepieces such as a 25mm (50x – included with the scope), 32mm (39x), 40mm (31x), and 55mm (23x). A set of Plossl eyepieces from Tele Vue (32, 40, 55mm) will run about the same cost as the C-5. That of course would blow your budget.

 

[provo]

I'm going to spend a little bit more and go with the celestron 100mm f ed 45angled
Its on another thread back vs porro seems like a better investment

 

[mooreorless]

Nice choice, please let us know how you like it. Good luck with this!!

 

[provo]

Thanks Steve & everyone else
sorry for late response been busy editing
HDR images

 

[mooreorless]

Joshua I see you posted some new excellent images in your gallery on here, you have been busy. I like them all, but esp. like the Osprey in flight!:t:

 

[MPeoples]

Any advice out there on an affordable sub $500 spotting scope
weight really is at the bottom of my list of concern
image quality is the highest on my search.

I am choosing a $500 limit because I shoot with my DSLR
and my 500mm lens also I am saving for new lens
so that's my budget.

Thanks folks and Merry Christmas to all.

Hi,

The Celestron C-90 is ok not the best, I use the Celestron C-5, 1250mm f/10 you would need the t-adapter and also a t-ring for the camera you are using. Also you can lower the f/l by using the f/6.3 reducer
here is a link for the C-5 http://www.adorama.com/CNC5SS.html

Best
Mike

 

[MPeoples]

Any advice out there on an affordable sub $500 spotting scope
weight really is at the bottom of my list of concern
image quality is the highest on my search.

I am choosing a $500 limit because I shoot with my DSLR
and my 500mm lens also I am saving for new lens
so that's my budget.

Thanks folks and Merry Christmas to all.

Hi,

The Celestron C-90 is ok not the best, I use the Celestron C-5, 1250mm f/10 you would need the t-adapter and also a t-ring for the camera you are using. Also you can lower the f/l by using the f/6.3 reducer
here is a link for the C-5 http://www.adorama.com/CNC5SS.html
please note these are little on the heavy side scope you would need a good tripod.
Best
Mike

Mike

 

[MPeoples]

Any advice out there on an affordable sub $500 spotting scope
weight really is at the bottom of my list of concern
image quality is the highest on my search.

I am choosing a $500 limit because I shoot with my DSLR
and my 500mm lens also I am saving for new lens
so that's my budget.

Thanks folks and Merry Christmas to all.

Hi,

This one may also work for you, http://www.celestron.com/sports_outdoors/celestron-regal-65-f-ed.html you would just need a t-ring for your camera.


Mike

 

[Elkhornsun]

The Celestron Regal scopes require a special double threaded adapter to be able to use a standard T-adapter for a camera. Good news is that it is shipped with the scope. Bad news is that if it is lost you cannot get a replacement adapter from Celestron.

T-adapters for the Nikon and Canon cameras cost around $12 and for $25 you can get one for the Olympus 4/3 cameras including the great Pen cameras. Great for both still and video photography of small or distant birds.

The one limitation I did not think about before getting the Regal 100mm is that the minimum magnification of 22x is too great for large birds like a hawk that is closer than 40' distance. A 10x to 40x would be a better eyepiece for general birding and the 40-60x is not all that usable anyway with the refraction problems.