New Scope...
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Olivon T80 spotting scope.
The scope has an 80mm objective lens, with a 20-60mm zoom eyepiece. It's waterproof and nitrogen purged. I was tempted to get the 90mm version, but then I wouldn't have been able to afford the tripod, so my choice represents the best option in value for money and functionality. This combo cost me £249 from Sherwoods (see also Birding Links ), so no going out for a month or so - I've seen it offered elsewhere for £300.
I've opted for the scope and tripod combo as the tripod is good and solid, being made entirely from aluminium (rather than aluminium and plastic, like my current tripods), and as the scope slots directly into the tripod head without needing a mounting plate, which eliminates another potential flex-point. As I'd be buying an all-metal tripod at some point anyway, this saves £81 on the price of buying them separately - no contest.
This scope/tripod combo is, apparently, in short supply, so if you're tempted, buy soon, as the replacement will be different, and possibly cost more.
The camera adapter, which allows an SLR body to be fitted directly, effectively making the scope into a 480mm telephoto lens. Cost of the adapter is £35 and the camera-specific T2 mounting ring, is £15. Obviously, a digital SLR would be the ideal, but a 35mm SLR is much cheaper. It lacks the viewing LCD screen but the viewfinder is perfectly usable.
Update: I bought a T2 mount, second-hand, for £5, and gently pulling off the scope's rubber eyecup reveals a thread which is the exact size for attaching the T2 - so that's £45 saved. Question is, why don't the sneaky buggers mention that thread, rather than peddle a £35 adapter?
This is the stay-on case that comes with the scope. It actually has a shoulder strap (not shown). Unzip each end, and the flap around the middle, and you're in business. Unsophisticated compared to many stay-on cases, but it does the job.
This pic shows the case open. The pic below is a conventionally-styled stay-on case - this style typically costs £100 or more, which is quite absurd. It should be noted that stay-on cases are not exactly luxuriously padded, no matter what you pay for them.
And this is the T158M with the TRH-11 pan and tilt head - total weight 3.4 kg - not light but I don't intend to be carrying it far! One leg (the one in the middle in the big pic, right leg in small pic), unscrews to combine with the centre column and make a monopod - another saving - though like the scope, not light. The head, again, is unsophisticated in design, but looks extremely robust and does all I need it to do. The right-hand pic, being silver, gives you a better view, I think (though the current colour is, I believe, black); the head is shown separately.
It has to be said that the tripod is substantially over-engineered, but that all adds to its rigidity - it should provide a good, solid platform for the scope, in pretty much any conditions.
Finally, there's some useful scope-related info here.
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