It’s great that Amazon offers so many choices within almost any category of interest. I wanted a birding scope for field scanning and good magnification on target, understanding that this would require the use of a stable tripod.

Scanning at 20X was great for distance (I estimate perhaps a quarter mile in this case) though not practicable within a close field. Full zoom to 60X magnifies atmospheric interference correspondingly and I could not get a really sharp image at such a distance even on a crisp September day.

Specifically, a very patient bald eagle, perched on the chimney of an abandoned building (Manana Island, off Monhegan, midcoast Maine) was barely visible to the naked eye but easy to find at 20X.

Zooming to 60X was difficult and disappointing: yes, the eagle stayed put and occupied more of the field of view but the zoom control grip was extremely stiff and the fine focus adjustment did not improve resolution.

On the other hand, once you’ve got it stabilized and looking at stuff larger and slower than a bird, it’s a great instrument.

I have returned this scope because for my purposes it is too cumbersome for convenient use (16 inches and five pounds?). Coarse and fine focusing knobs are properly related but you’ll have to teach your hand how to find them while manipulating your view and you’ll also have to buy a wrench to shift the zoom grip.

Amazon was prompt in accepting this return for full credit minus about $10 for customer dissatisfaction postage, a bargain for the experience.

Real nice ED lens Spotting Scope for a reasonable price of around $400. Rubber coated and has ED glass objective lens for sharp details with less distortion than regular optical glass lenses.

Has non-interchangeable zoom lens that goes from 20 to 60x. Has good eye relief and scope feels well made. Light gathering of 80mm objective lens is excellent.

Looked at full moon on cloudless night and details were sharp and there was none to little color distortion of moon’s rim. Has an attached movable rubberized lens hood and stacked adjustment knobs which provide excellent general & fine tune focus adjustments.

Comes with a nice semi-hard case. Great scope and all you will need for terrestrial viewing and Moon as well as making out the inner planets. For a more detailed viewing of the planets you will need a telescope with more magnification power and better light gathering ability of at least a 90mm ED objective lens.

The Televue 85mm telescope however is able to give you decent views of the inner planets as well as good views of the huge gas giants Jupiter & Saturn but will cost you around $2500 complete.

The Bushnell Legend 80mm for the money is just one nice premium scope.

I took delivery of this spotting scope just a few days ago, so I have not had the opportunity to field test it properly yet. I have done a little local viewing and everything looks great. Colours are very true with no ringing or colour banding. Focusing is very smooth. Zoom is a little stiff but I’m sure it will loosen up a little.

Will go to Olango bird sanctuary just outside Cebu, Philippines in a couple of weeks to try it out thoroughly, then it’s off to Mai Po reserve in Hong Kong to give it a good work out. It came with a hard case that is a bit bulky so have ordered a soft case that will be easier to lug around. Decided to buy a decent all metal tripod soon (Giottos MTL9271B 3 Section Aluminium Professional Tripod with SLIK SH707E Head).

One thing I have noticed and this is VERY important is the fact that my one at least is focusing down to 12 feet and not the 35 feet that is described in the listing. This is very good news. I am so pleased that I purchased this scope.

Field tested the scope at Olango Bird Sanctuary and it carried itself impeccably. I was able to easily make out all the intricate markings on an adult Asiatic Dowitcher. The image was bright, even at 60X magnification. I was even able to follow a Gull Billed Tern in flight with no problems.