One thing about the zoom eyepieces, they are EXPENSIVE!  I bought a Leica 
Televid 77 scope for about 600 dollars, and the 20-60x eyepiece added 
another 400 dollars.  They are well worth it, but it may be beneficial to 
buy two or 3 fixed ones instead.  Just me 2 cents...

Of course, you buy that nice a scope, and you'll want a nice tripod too. Not 
so,e 50$ walmart job to plant it on.  I paid another 300 dollars for the 
tripod...

Of course then, I had to pay another 100 dollars for a tripod HEAD!  and 
another 25 dollars for an extra quick-release plate for my camera!

And I thought birding was supposed to be relaxing!  No wonder I never get a 
chance to bird anymore...I spend too much time working to afford the gear!

Leslie
Sikeston, Missouri




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Lade" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: RFI Spotting Scopes


> Matt, the higher end spotting scopes usually are in two parts the 
> objective lens in the main body of the scope and then the ocular or eye 
> piece which attaches to the opposite end of the scope.
>
>  There are fixed power eye pieces, such as 20 X, 32 X, wide angle 
> eyepieces and also zoom eye pieces which can be rotated to different power 
> levels. On my KOWA scope I have a 20 - 60 power eye piece. I generally use 
> the 20 X and if I need greater magnification I rotate the eye piece to 
> increase the power. As I rotate the eye piece, I begin to lose some of the 
> resolution and sharpness of the image and also the "field of vision" 
> becomes smaller and smaller as you rotate to greater and greater 
> magnification. I would suggest that you "try before you buy" and find the 
> eye piece (and scope) which you are comfortable with. Other birders will 
> generally allow you to look through their scopes if you happen to be in a 
> group of birds, some of whom have their scopes with them. Hope this helps 
> in your decision making.
>
> "Andrews, Matthew E" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>  I am getting ready to buy a new, nicer scope, probably a Carl Zeiss, 
> could someone please explain to me the whole eyepiece thing? The scope I 
> have now is a cheapie and I never had to deal with eyepieces before. What 
> exactly is it? an accessory or part of the scope that is necessary to buy? 
> And since I will be using it strictly for birding is there anything else I 
> need to know about eyepieces? Thanks so much!
>
> Matt Andrews
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Larry Lade
> Saint Joseph, MO
> Buchanan County
> [log in to unmask]
>
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