Tom,
I need a spotting scope. What would you recommend?
Any magnification above ~60X can be difficult to use because of thermal instabilities in the air. Everything is fine until ~9:00 a.m. and then your next look seems like the view through lobster stew. At high noon in New Mexico, (or around Houston, TX), it is nearly impossible to use 16X because of this air instability problem.
I have no interest in 'Hands on Optics' but use this merchant for all my optical needs. It is run by a competent bunch of people that truly stand behind the products they sell. Gary Hand, and his wife Sherry, are good people.
My preference in a "conventional" spotting scope is a Celestron shown here...
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) A series of scopes from Meade is also part of the stock at 'Hands' and shown
here....
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) And these are Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope, (MCT), type and will require additional eyepieces for different magnifications. I own and use a Meade ETX125 Astronomical Telescope on a fork drive and have found it to give good performance. It does not match the contrast and sharpness of a LOMO, but nothing else will.
Now we will take a look at Pentax spotters but sheeesh are they expensive!
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) And note the Pentax eyepieces shown in this section. Pentax eyepieces are what I use for astronomical observing. Pentax eyepieces are
considered the finest in the world.
You want a Zeiss? Arguably nothing
finer.....
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) And last but not least the lowly LOMO that I enjoy and use. Ultimately, my all-around
spotters and astronomical telescopes. I do not have any LOMO on any type of astronomical 'drive' so I must touch up the position of any of these telescopes to track objects in the heavens. Again, I absolutely >>defy<< anyone to show my finer optics in any MCT type telescope.
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) The handiest size of the bunch is the "Astele 70" which is ~6" long and 3" dia. And honesty is best here because it will be necessary to purchase different eyepieces for different magnifications. But do not discard the little "Astele 60" because it is not as pretty as some of the larger scopes. I do not own a 60 but have used one at the 'Hands on' shop and found it gives superb views.
Now let's talk about eyepieces. The simple 'Plossl' eyepiece will do everything that you could ever want and is commonly available for ~$25 and sometimes a little bit less. As long as you stay at 12mm and longer, (bigger number), they eye relief is, (how close your eye must be to the eyepiece), is very adequate. At 9mm eyepiece focal length with a 'Plossl' your eyelashes will begin to touch the eyepiece and most people find this annoying.
Go here for a look at the used market. I purchase many items from this site. It is a great service to hobby optical users.
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) Or simply visit
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) for a complete list of many items offered by 'Anacortes Telescope and Wild Bird' under their 'astromart' banner. Select the 'Classifieds' tab and it will take you to a list of bunches of categories.
Why don't I recommend a Kowa? I have absolutely nothing against that fine spotter but feel they are overpriced, just like a Pentax or a Zeiss. If you have your heart set on a
conventional spotting scope you won't go wrong with Kowa, Pentax, Zeiss and the like,
but I would recommend a 'Celestron' as my preference in a conventional style. I am not putting down the Kowa, Pentax, etc.....I simply feel that there are complete equals, and a few superior
products, on the market for less money. I can quickly convert other shooters to 'Celestron' or
'LOMO' products by giving them a look through what I use. When other shooters look through my tiny LOMO 70mm MCT the next question is always "where can I get one of these?"
You asked about the mirrors. I have never seen a problem with the mirrors in any of the products I use, but optical mirrors must be treated with care. An optical mirror is a 'first surface' mirror and unless you pay for 'dielectric' coating, (verrry expensive), the mirrored surface is unprotected. Any attempt to clean an unprotected 'first surface' mirror will result in disaster. Use only >>>clean, dry<<< compressed air to remove dust from 'first surface' mirrors.
And don't turn down a trip to Cabela's to check their stock. I have visited the Cabela's
stores in Dundee, Michigan and Wheeling, West Virginia and have seen some great bargains in spotters at their optical counters. A $120 Browning spotter is good stuff. Oh yeah, Burris has some good equipment also. Check Cabela's.
Russian optics
The very smallest LOMO scopes have a non-removable eyepiece built in.
A fair price comparison must include one additional eyepiece for ~$25. I have an assortment of over 50 different eyepieces, (worse than collecting guns), and use only 3 of them on a regular basis. And the same 3 eyepieces are used in all 5 telescopes, including the 14"
Celestron.
Is the LOMO line tough enough for outdoor mountain work? I have watched Jim Cheng drop his 95mm LOMO on the floor at "Hands on Optics" on three different occasions. LOMO scopes are built like tanks! A Questar MCT telescope is built with 1/16" aluminum tube, the 95mm LOMO is built with 1/4" aluminum tube.