Telescope Advice Please

[Austin]

I don't know a huge amount this but after a vague interest in Target shooting a while ago I picked up some awareness. I take it you know the basics - the first number is usually the magnification eg 7x or 10x for sporting binoculars. The second number is the diameter in mm of the object lense - the big end. The bigger the better generally but if the optics are very high quality then they can be smaller. If you divide the big number by the small number this gives you a guide as to how easy they will be to use in practice. An outcome greater than 5 is Good; less than 4 is pretty crap. If you go for high magnification you really do need big lenses or get something fancy with image stabilisation.

Having said all that optics really do make or break a scope. I have a pair of very fancy pair of Swarovski bino's. They are 7x42 and the image is awesome giving the impression of much greater magnification compared to much cheaper pair of 10x50 I also have.

I also used to have an ex-naval pair of 10x60. These are the sort you see salty sea dogs using in films. Average optics and age spoilt them, then I dropped and broke then, but something like this would be ideal for you although they are heavy. Good luck and dont turn into a Pervy voyeur.

[alanvendy]

aldi do a "spotter scope" which should be good for what you want. they come with a mini tripod and soft carry case. excellent magnification, lightweight and compact. last time they were available they cost about £25 great value.
i know they don't have the at the moment so be patient i'm sure the'll have them again soon

[twistgrip]

You are not alone in a new fad every week or two. I'm just hopeless! Funnily enough it was telescope for me this time but I wanted one to look at the moon and stars after the Brian Cox thing on the telly. I got a reflector off ebay but it would be no good for you. For looking out to sea forget big heavy binoculars after five mins your arms will be fropping off! I have some 8x25 pocket binoculars that are very good and the suggestion of a spotting scope holds well. If you want to watch for a while you really need something that will sit on a tripod. Also 12x and above are difficult to keep on target without some sort of steady. I could swap a canoe for some 12 x 50's!

[RickSkye]

A tripod does make a big difference, even to a 20 quid lidl 10 x 50 binoculars that I use for birding.

(This is getting very close to double entendre)

Rick

[BobA]

Thanks for all your posts chaps.

I recently acquired a decent tripod (FOC) and I think I quite fancy the sound of the LIDL spotter scope when they come round next.

If only LIDL did canoes too!!!



Thanks again




Bob

[alanvendy]

just found on a canoeing site this thought you may be interested

Our latest ‘toy’ is an inflatable canoe that we bought from the unlikely source of Lidl in Aberystwyth.

[digitalcaptive]

If they are not suitable these are mine;

Yep Aldi is my friend too and they're not too bad

[StumpyFingers]

Yep Aldi is my friend too and they're not too bad

Actually they came from Price drop tv.

[Warthog]

Have a look see if you have not found anything:

Bushnell Spacemaster spotting scope Archery, Bird watch on eBay (end time 18-Apr-10 16:10:21 BST)

Decent brand and appears to be waterproof-ish

[alanvendy]

hi bob
looks there coming soon.


10th may

i'm sure mine from aldi wasn't that much (i convinced the wife and must have only remembered what i told her) although mine has onlt a short tripod.