Swarovski scope zoom lenses (1 Viewer)

[Craig Thayer]

I have a 9 year old Swarovski STS-80 HD spotting scope with a 30x (fixed) wide angle eyepiece

I have read that the latest generation of Swarovski zoom eyepieces are better quality than the zoom eyepieces form 9 years ago. Since there is a Swarovski sale this month(until 30 September) I am strongly considering purchase of a zoom eyepiece.

Opinions regarding purchase of the 25-50x wide angle vs the 20-60x eyepiece are welcome. If it makes a difference I wear eyeglasses. My age (65 years) might also factor into the decision

THANKS

Craig

 

[Boogieshrew]

HI Craig,

I use an ATM65 with the 20-60 zoom rather than the 25-50. The reason being that I wear glasses and the 25-50 doesn't have enough eye re;ief for me. The 20-60 is much better but still doesn't have good e/r throughout the zoom range. E/r is fine up to about 30-35x but after that there isn't enough for me. It doesn't bother me too much because I don't often need to zoom up to the high powers anyway and when I do the zoom is useablem I just can't see the whole field of view.

I also like the grater depth of field for scanning that 20x gives compared to the 25x.

Of course this may be different for you and your glasses but that's how I find the e/ps compare.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Nick Leech]

Hi Craig

I have an ATM80HD scope with zoom eyepiece and wear glasses and have somewhat different experience to Boogieshrew!

I used to have the 20-60 zoom and changed to the 25-50 a couple of years ago. It was some years ago when I bought the 20-60 eyepiece; I don't know if the latest version of the 20-60 is superior to the version I had.

My experience as follows:-

20-60:
Nice to have x20, but field of view at x20 so narrow that it was like looking through the inside of a toilet roll!
Quite a drop-off in image quality above x50 - image darker and losing some resolution. So I didn't really use the eyepiece above x50 anyhow!

25-50:
Wider field of view at any given magnification cf. the 20-60. Field of view at x25 the same or greater than field of view at x20 on the 20-60 eyepiece - so don't miss the x20 setting.
No discernible loss of image quality right through range from 25-50x.
Slightly more critical for eye-placement at higher mags than the 20-60 with my eyes/glasses. I avoid this issue by screwing out the eyecup very slightly (so slightly that it doesn't really affect the FoV).

Overall I felt that the 25-50 zoom eyepiece is superior to the 20-60.

At the time I changed to the 25-50 I did a lot of research on the internet on whether it was worth changing (as well as comparing them with my own eyes as well, of course!). As well as field-of-view issues, several people stated that they could resolve details at great distance better with the new 25-50 eyepiece than with the 20-60 eyepiece, despite the lower max magnification.

Best bet is to make a side-by-side comparison yourself using your own eyes/specs!

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide!

For myself, although very pleased with my ATM80HD and 25-50, I am considering upgrading to an ATX95, if I can afford it!

 

[dogfish]

As a glasses-wearer, I too have no problem with eye relief on the 25x50. Eye placement just a little more critical than with the old zoom, but not a problem. Used with my ten-year-old ATS 80, there is a slight fall in image quality at maximum magnification: perhaps the later scopes with improved coatings don't suffer from this.

Sean

 

[jeffhosier]

My towpennyworth

Just to add my towpennyworth.

I have fairly thick glasses (4+ dioptres) and recently got an ATM 80 with a 20-50 eyepiece. Part of what sold it for me was the wide field of view, combined with an extraordinary depth of field. I'd had scopes before, but always struggled with actually finding anything through the scope. With this set up, it's an absolute doddle. At the high zoom end, I sometimes have to move my head slightly to see the edges of the image, but it's no big deal.

Jeff

 

[Neil]

I wear bifocals and the Eye Relief of the 25-50 at 20 mm throughout the zoom range is good enough for me. An excellent piece of kit.
Although if I'm only digiscoping I like the fixed 30x , of course not an option on the new scopes.
Neil.

 

[Boogieshrew]

I wear bifocals and the Eye Relief of the 25-50 at 20 mm throughout the zoom range is good enough for me. An excellent piece of kit.
Although if I'm only digiscoping I like the fixed 30x , of course not an option on the new scopes.
Neil.

Hi Neil,

I think the e/r of the 25-50x zoom is 17mm not 20mm.

Unforunately I can't get on with it, I need more e/r than it has. Quite a lot of people have the same problem from what I have read and heard. Shame as it's a great eyepiece. If it had 20mm e/r it would suit me very fine indeed.

Best wishes
BS

 

[Neil]

Hi Neil,

I think the e/r of the 25-50x zoom is 17mm not 20mm.

Unforunately I can't get on with it, I need more e/r than it has. Quite a lot of people have the same problem from what I have read and heard. Shame as it's a great eyepiece. If it had 20mm e/r it would suit me very fine indeed.

Best wishes
BS

You're right. I was thinking of the new STX/ATX 25-50 modular eyepiece. That's why I always preferred the 30x eyepiece.
Neil

 

[Boogieshrew]

You're right. I was thinking of the new STX/ATX 25-50 modular eyepiece. That's why I always preferred the 30x eyepiece.
Neil

I have just bought the 30x fixed for my ATM65. Its a brilliant eyepiece. I'm using it nearly all the time now, only reverting too the 20-60 zoom for distant waders and the like.

Mind you the ATX would be my next scope for sure if I could afford it. 25x with 20mm sounds ideal as I wear specs and prefer the extra depth of field of lower mag.

 

[proudpapa56]

Just for general info, those ATX/STX Eyepieces are 25-60.