Lightweight Birding Scope.

Jelster

Jelster

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Steve
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I have a Swarovski ATX 85mm spotting scope. It's brilliant at what it does, but it's large & heavy, and I struggle to carry it around due to my health issues. I've decided that I need a smaller lighter scope, with less magnification, that I can easily carry either a back pack or over my sholder.

To give you an example, today I was at Langford Lakes, and even on the widest magnification a Little Ringed Plover was filling the frame, and every time it moved I had to adjust & refocus. I'd like something that gives me better magnificaton than my 10x42 bins, but lighter & more practical than my ATX system.

Any suggestions from the birding crowd?
 
It might also be worth looking at image stabilised binoculars too, while on Mull, someone has a Kite optics pair and I was very impressed, with image stabilised you could look at higher magnification and still handhold.
 
Be careful , Lightweight normally means plastic optics .
 
Another vote for opticron
 
F1.2 said:
Be careful , Lightweight normally means plastic optics .
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True, though the Opticron MM4 series as far as I know has glass optics including some ED glass elements.

The Viking Swallow ED50 is a similar scope, also has ED glass elements and is cheaper. I've not looked through one of those so can't give an opinion on the view. Given that the OP already has a Swaro ATX 85 (which in IMHO is a benchmark scope), finding a compact and inexpensive 'travel' scope that satisfies, may be a bit challenging.

Question for @Jelster ; How about using a 65mm objective on your ATX?
 
Steve, Not sure what you think of this idea , I did long and hard and I must say in my old age it is great
Buy a mobility scooter , I have a Tramper all terrain model , Does 30 miles on a charge , I use it lots .
Then you can take your scope with you .
 
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