Travel Scopes - Opticron USA

Travel
Scopes
You start birding with a
binocular, most likely 8- or
10- power. But soon you want
to identify birds farther away.
A good, full-sized spotting
scope can extend your reach
up to 60- or 75- power, but
there’s a price. And it’s not
just the money. It’s also the
size and the weight of the rest
of what you need.
A spotting scope is useless
without stable tripod legs to
steady the image and a good
fluid head to let you follow
and find the bird. The whole
outfit—scope, tripod, and
Our optics
experts in
Iowa sort out
the best small
scopes for
travel.
24
head, can be an awkward
and heavy burden to carry.
And don’t forget, you still
need your binoculars and
field guide along, too.
On the way out the door,
you glance at the scope outfit
and ask, “Do I really need to
take you along?” Too many
times, the scope loses the
debate and stays home. And
too many times, that’s when
you can’t quite see something you really want to see.
Here’s where the “travel
scope” concept comes in. A
scope that says, “I’m not so
heavy! You can carry me for
miles and not get tired. Take
me! Take me!”
A smaller, lighter scope
doesn’t need as heavy a tripod or head, so the whole
outfit can be much lighter
and more compact. It can all
fit into a carry-on bag. Diane
named her first travel-scope
outfit the “Guatemala Kit.”
It weighed only 5 pounds,
and she happily took it up
2014 Optics Annual
DIANE PORTER
Y
Michael & DIane Porter
Contributors, Bird Watcher’s Digest
REVIEW
the side of a volcano while
politely declining numerous
offers from others to help
carry it.
This review compares
spotting scopes with objective lenses of 65mm or smaller. It aims to help you decide
which small scope would
work best for you.
How We Tested
We spent several weeks
testing and comparing 12
small scopes. We also organized a test day so that local
birders could try the scopes
and give us their opinions.
We tested each scope for
resolution, to generate a
number that reflects the relative overall quality of each
optical system. A scope’s
resolution score relates
directly to how much detail
you can see in a distant bird.
We measured using
a T-21-RP U.S. Air Force
1951 resolution chart from
Applied Image Inc. This
chart is printed at such high
resolution that you actually
need a microscope to see its
smallest elements. It comprises progressively smaller
groups of lines, with each
group labeled by numbers
that get larger as the groups
of lines get smaller. These
numbers are the scores in
26
the scopes chart. We tested
each scope many times and
averaged the scores when
there was variation.
We tested indoors using a
500-watt halogen work lamp
so that the atmospheric conditions and lighting would
remain constant. To minimize
vibration, we mounted each
scope on a sturdy, carbon
fiber tripod resting on a
stone floor.
The tester’s eyes had normal 20/20 vision. We kept
a reference scope handy to
check whether eye fatigue
was becoming an issue.
The reference scope was
the Swarovski 95mm ATX,
with a 30x to 70x zoom. Its
scores are also included in
the chart, so you can compare other scopes in the
test to what a large, very
high-end scope is capable of
resolving.
By comparing the resolution scores of the Swarovski
65 ATX and the Swarovski
95 ATX, you can see a basic
principle of telescopes. All
other things being equal,
bigger objective lenses
deliver higher resolution.
The modular eyepiece element, prisms, optical quality, glass, and anti-reflective
coatings are the same in
both these Swarovskis. The
test scores clearly show the
2014 Optics Annual
Team Iowa
pauses for a
photograph
during field
testing for the
travel scopes
roundup.
increased resolution produced by the larger objective lens.
Some Caveats Regarding
Resolution Scores
These tests were done with
only one sample of each scope,
and that sample could have
been atypical.
Small scopes have a slight
advantage in resolution scores.
Their small exit pupil makes
them less affected by astigmatism in the tester’s eye and may
allow them to deliver a sharper
image.
It’s inherently unfair to
compare a $175 scope to one
costing more than $3,000. The
reader should take price into
consideration when evaluating scores. Scopes with lower
scores in this chart may still be
quite good optically.
About the Chart
Because of the wide range
of size and prices, we divided
the scopes into three groups to
make them easier to compare.
2014 Optics Annual The groups are:
A.The most compact and
light weight travel scopes
B. The midsize and midprice travel scopes
C.The high-end, most
expensive travel scopes
For perspective, we also
included the data on the
Swarovski 95mm reference
scope that we used in our tests.
The Three Resolution
Scores Shown in the
Chart
30x column: This shows what
we could see at 30-power,
which all the scopes in our test
included in their zoom range.
Res Max column: This shows
what we could see at the maximum magnification that the
scope’s eyepiece allowed.
Note that this is not a same-tosame power test, but more a
real-life, practical power test.
A scope with a higher magnification has an advantage.
This score shows how well, at
27
maximum magnification, a particular scope will let you see a
distant bird.
Res Max Mag +2x column:
This is the same measurement
as the Res Mag column, above,
but with a 2x magnifier behind
the eyepiece. Again, this is not
a same-to-same power test. It
shows what a person with better than normal 20/20 eyesight
might see. It gives a little deeper look into a scope’s ability.
Size and Weight
Manufacturers’ length specifications do not always include
the eyepiece. We stood each
scope on end and measured its
length including the eyepiece.
We weighed each scope, eyepiece attached, using an electronic postal scale.
Our Close Focus
Manufacturers’ close focus
specifications may not all be
done the same way. The results
will depend on the close focusing ability of the person doing
the test. We measured this
distance ourselves, using the
same person for all the scopes.
Eye Relief and
Field of View
Eye relief and field of view
data are from the manufacturers’ specifications.
28
Focusing
The scopes represented
four focusing solutions. We
found all the scopes’ focusing
mechanisms to be responsive,
smooth, and free from slack, so
we did not score the focus solution in the chart, but only indicated the focus type. Which is
best is a personal preference.
One: A single focus knob,
usually located on the top of
the barrel in front of the eyepiece. The focus has to work
fast enough to change range
quickly and yet slow enough to
allow fine focus adjustment.
Two: Two focus knobs. The
front knob allows fine adjustments. The rear knob moves
faster through the focus range.
2-Speed : Zeiss has cleverly
re-designed the focus mechanism so that one knob handles
both slow and fast focus. For
more detail, see the Zeiss
review below.
Barrel: Instead of a small
knob on top of the scope, a
wide ring circles the barrel, like the focusing ring on
telephoto camera lenses. For
more detail, see the Swarovski
review below.
Not in the Chart
Waterproofing was not
in the chart because all the
scopes in the test were waterproof.
2014 Optics Annual
SCOPES OF NOTE:
Space doesn’t allow an individual review of every scope we
tested, but here are some scopes
that stood out.
SCOPE IMAGES PROVIDED BY MANUFACTURER
The Most Compact
Travel Scopes
Vortex Optics Razor HD
11-33 x 50mm • 25.5 oz.
10.3” • $699.99
Best small travel scope
The 50mm Vortex Razor, the
second-smallest and lightest
scope in our test, was introduced
in 2013. It competes directly with
the 50mm Nikon Fieldscope.
Heavier than the Nikon by 5.5
oz., and an inch longer, the Vortex has a greater zoom range of
11-33x, compared to the Nikon’s
13-30x. The extra power may be
the reason that the Vortex could
slightly edge out the Nikon’s
resolution in the Max Mag + 2x
column. At 30x, the Razor’s resolution score tied the Nikon’s and
bested all the other under-$2,000
scopes in the test.
The Vortex’s maximum field
of view (191 feet at 1,000 yards)
beats the Nikon’s. When you try
2014 Optics Annual to find a bird in a scope, the wider
field of view at low power can save
precious seconds. Furthermore,
one of our judges noted that
because it can zoom down to 11x,
and is lightweight, you can hand
hold it. You might get a quick look
at a bird without setting up your
tripod.
Nice features include eye relief
of 20mm, great for glasses wearers. We measured the close focus
at 7.9 feet. The body is partially
armored, at points of hand contact. Lens covers attach to the
barrel by elastic rings, so they can
stay attached to the scope while
in use. It has a double focus knob.
A slight flaw is the old-fashioned,
roll-down rubber eyecup. And
the tripod mount does not allow
rotation of the scope to different
angles.
This little scope stood out as a
favorite among our judges. Several wanted to take it home with
them. We rate it the best scope
in the small travel scope category
because of its excellent optical
quality, good zoom range, wide
field of view, and long eye relief. It
also has a very competitive price.
Nikon Fieldscope ED50
13-30 x 50mm • 20 oz.
9.3” • $829.95
Smallest and lightest
The time-tested, popular Nikon
is the smallest and lightest scope
29 30
It’s fully rubber armored and
hand friendly. The single focus
knob is smooth and slack free.
However, its close focus of 25.3
feet was the longest in the test.
And like the Nikon and the 50mm
Vortex, it has no barrel rotation.
Included with the scope is a tabletop tripod.
We rate it a best buy. If you
would like to add a small scope
to your birding toolkit, but your
budget is limited, here’s the
scope for you.
SCOPE IMAGES PROVIDED BY MANUFACTURER
in our survey. At 30x, it tied with
the small Vortex for best resolution, beating all the other scopes
except the over-$2000 group.
The 50mm Nikon has a single
focus knob, focusing as close
as 9.2 feet. The focus speed is
well chosen for both fine and fast
adjustments and turns with traditional Nikon precision and smoothness — not a trace of slack.
Like the 50mm Vortex, but
unlike all the other scopes in the
survey, the Nikon has the old-fashioned roll-down rubber eyecup.
Its 13mm of eye relief is less than
ideal for glasses wearers.
Other drawbacks include the
lack of rubber armoring and, like
the 50mm Vortex’s, the Nikon
tripod mount does not allow the
scope to rotate.
For years, the Nikon has
enjoyed a top position in the high
quality, 50mm travel scope niche.
Now it faces a challenge from the
less costly 50mm Vortex Razor
HD. However, the Nikon has excellent optical quality, and if getting
the absolutely smallest and lightest scope is your top priority, this
is it!
Alpen Outdoor 728 Compact
15-45 x 60mm • 26.3 oz.
11” • $175.00
A best buy for those
on a budget
Here’s a small travel scope that
almost anyone can afford. At its
maximum zoom of 45x, its resolution scores beat several larger,
costlier scopes. It’s remarkably
light and compact, within one
ounce and one inch of the 50mm
Vortex.
2014 Optics Annual
Midsize and
Midprice Travel
Scopes
Vortex Optics Razor HD
16-48 x 65 • 48.4 oz.
14.3” • $1,199.99
Best midsize scope and a
high-resolution best buy
The 65mm Vortex Razor HD was
clearly the best scope in our midsize and midprice category. It was
also the most expensive, but it got
the highest resolution scores in the
group. It had the best close focus
distance in the group, 12.3 feet,
and the widest field of view at lowest
magnification.
The scope is partially covered
with rubberized armoring, giving it
an attractive green-and-grey design.
Our judges also praised the large,
well-engineered, dual focus knobs.
We found the 65mm Vortex’s
resolution approaches the quality of
the three high-end scopes, and yet
the scope costs much less. We rate
it a high-resolution best buy and
tops in the mid-sized group.
Opticron IS 60 WP
with HR2 Zoom
16-48 x 60 • 33.1 oz.
12.3.” • $409.00
2014 Optics Annual A best buy in midsize scopes
One of the three least expensive
scopes in our survey, the Opticron
IS 60 stands out for its light weight
(33.1 ounces) and good optical
quality, as evidenced by its high
resolution score in the Max Mag +
2x column.
Some of our judges were happily surprised that such a small
and inexpensive scope could be so
good. For an entry-level scope or
for the budget minded buyer, this
is one to consider.
High-end
Travel Scopes
Leica APO-Televid
25-50 x 65 • 55.1 oz.
14.3” • $2,099.00
Best buy in high-end scopes
Of the three high-end travel
scopes, the Leica APO-Televid
weighed the least. Its 19mm eye
relief was excellent for glasses,
and we noted that the eye relief
did not seem to diminish as we
moved through the zoom range.
A twist-out eyecup has four positions for customizing the scope to
31 suit your eyeglasses.
The optical quality is superb,
a beautiful wide view. Leica got
the same resolution scores in the
Max Mag + 2x column as the 56x
Zeiss and the 60x Swarovski,
showing its deep optical quality.
The lesser score in the Max Mag
column is expected, as the Leica
zooms only to 50x.
The Leica has two focus knobs,
partially recessed into the body of
the scope. They are easy to find
and turn, and their position offers
good protection against snagging
and damage.
The scope is completely black
rubber armored. Patches of
leather-like textured armoring on
the bottom and on the top near
the focus knobs provide a design
element and may make the scope
easier to hold.
Because it delivers super high
resolution at a lower price, we rate
it the best buy in high-end scopes.
Zeiss Victory
DiaScope 65T* FL
15-56 x 65 • 55.8 oz.
14.8” • $ 2,649.99
A unique focusing solution
There is something unique
about the Zeiss DiaScope. One
single focus knob acts like a fast
focus knob and a fine focus knob,
putting an end to fumbling for
32
which knob to turn.
The first 270 degrees of rotation
either way is precise and slow. After
that, the knob shifts gears and
starts moving the focus five times
as fast. When you stop turning the
knob, it automatically goes back
to the precision mode. The solution works well but requires getting
used to. If you share the scope with
a friend, be sure to provide some
hands-on instruction.
Our judges noted that the Zeiss
DiaScope’s eye relief was good
at both the minimum and the
maximum magnification, but that it
declined in the middle ranges. If you
turn the zoom on the Zeiss while
wearing eyeglasses, you can see the
image circle shrink and then expand
again as the eye relief changes.
Resolution scores tied with the
other high-end scopes. The DiaScope provides a bright, clean,
sharp, lovely image, with more
resolution than your eye can see. It
has an extremely wide maximum
field of view, 153 feet at 1,000
yards when set at minimum magnification. Easy to locate a bird!
Swarovski ATX
with 65 objective
25-60 x 65mm • 56.7 oz.
13.4” • $3,058.00
2014 Optics Annual
Best scope in test
With their new ATX model line,
Swarovski has reinvented the spotting scope. It’s now a modular system, much like an SLR camera. The
scope is in two pieces, the objective
module containing the front lens,
and the ocular module containing
the prisms and eyepiece.
The same ocular module can
take three sizes of objectives,
65mm, 85mm, or 95mm. You
can invest in one ocular but have
another objective to use for different
situations. If you are digiscoping
close to the car, use your 95mm. If
you are traveling or walking far, put
on your 65mm.
The modules join together using
a large bayonet mount located near
the middle of the scope barrel. This
way of joining is much stronger than
the usual eyepiece mount. Instead
of sticking out of the scope body,
the eyepiece is integrated into the
scope body. The whole system is
protected and armored all the way
from the front end to the eyecups.
Eye relief is a generous 20mm, and
the close focus, which we measured
at 6.8 feet, was the best in the test.
Both the focus and the zoom
controls are located on the barrel, one immediately behind the
other. You can switch between
them instantly. They will work in
cold weather with gloves or even
mittens. The large diameter of the
focus ring gives you great control
over fine focusing. You can also
move quickly from near to far by
2014 Optics Annual swiping along the top of the ring
with the flat of your hand. It’s an
elegant bit of ergonomic design,
a happy marriage of function and
aesthetics.
The ATX system seems
designed from the get-go for digiscopers. The ocular module with
its robust bayonet mount can
securely support the weight of an
adapter and camera. You’ll enjoy
stability, good alignment, and
sharp pictures. Also, Swarovski has
new digiscoping adapters to take
advantage of the new design. It’s a
digiscoper’s dream.
Another detail: Most scopes
have their magnification power
scale printed on the eyepiece. It’s
often hard to read, and to confuse
matters, there’s often more than
one scale. On the Swarovski ATX
system, each objective module is
able to have its own scale, with
big, easy-to-see numbers. Small
stuff like this helps make a great
product.
The 65mm Swarovski ties with
the other high-end scopes for the
highest resolution scores in the
Max Mag + 2x column. However,
because of its groundbreaking
ergonomic design, the Swarovski
wins, hands down, for best scope
in the test. Of course, it’s also the
most expensive. But isn’t that what
money’s for? £
33 Objective
mm
Length
Inches
Weight
Oz.
Street Price
Model
Manufacturer
Travel Scopes Review
THE MOST COMPACT AND LIGHT WEIGHT TRAVEL SCOPES
Vortex Optics
Razor HD 11-33x50
$699.99
25.5 10.3 50
Nikon
Fieldscope ED50
$829.95
20.0
Opticron
GS 52 Fieldscope wSDL V2 eyepiece
$808.00
36.8 11.0 52
$175.00
26.3 11.0 60
Alpen Outdoor 728 Compact Waterproof
9.3
MID-SIZED AND MID-PRICED TRAVEL SCOPES
Vortex Optics
Razor HD 16-48x65
50
$1,199.99 48.4 14.3 65
Opticron IS 60 WP with HR2 Zoom
$409.00
33.1 12.3 60
Celestron
Regal M2 65ED
$499.95
58.5 15.5 65
Vanguard
Endeavor HD 65A
$589.99
51.5 13.5 65
Vanguard
Endeavor XF 60A
$389.99
45.2 13.5 60
HIGH-END, MOST EXPENSIVE TRAVEL SCOPES
Swarovski
ATX with 65 objective
$3,058.00 56.7 13.4 65
Zeiss
Victory DiaScope 65T* FL
$2,649.99 55.8 14.8 65
Leica
APO-Televid 65
$2,099.00 55.1 14.3 65
95 MM REFERENCE SCOPE
Swarovski
LEGEND
Eyecup Type Special Glass
34
ATX with 95 objective
$4,078.00 80.0 17.0 95
F = Fold-down eyecup, T = Twist-up eyecup, TC = Twist-click eyecup
Y = Has special low-dispersion glass, N = Does not have special glass
2014 Optics Annual
Eyecup
Type
Focus
Solution
Res Max
Mag + 2x
Res Max
Res
30x
Special
Glass
Close
Focus ft
Min FOV
1000 yds
Max FOV
1000 yds
Eye Relief
Max
Zoom
Range
THE MOST COMPACT AND LIGHT WEIGHT TRAVEL SCOPES
11-33
20
191
96
7.9
Y
5.7
5.7
6.8
Two
F
13-30
13
157
NA
9.2
Y
5.7
5.7
6.5
One
F
12-36
20
180 108
6.9
Y
4.8
5.2
6.0
Two
T
15-45
18
115
25.3 N
4.5
5.4
5.7
One
F
59
MID-SIZED AND MID-PRICED TRAVEL SCOPES
16-48
20
138
75
12.3 Y
5.2
6.6
7.1
Two
T
16-48
18
135
69
20.5 N
5.0
5.7
6.8
One
T
16-48
20
131
68
14.2 Y
5.0
5.7
5.7
Two
T
15-45
20
141
68
15.6 Y
4.0
5.0
5.7
Two
T
15-45
20
138
68
13.8 N
3.6
4.0
4.0
One
T
HIGH-END, MOST EXPENSIVE TRAVEL SCOPES
25-60
20
124
68
6.8
Y
6.4
9.8
10.1 Barrel
15-56
16
153
62
12.6 Y
6.4
9.0
10.1 2-Speed TC
25-50
19
123
84
9.6
6.4
8.3
10.1
12.9
14.3 Barrel
Y
Two
T
TC
95 MM REFERENCE SCOPE
30-70
20
104
57
14.7 Y
6.4
T
All the scopes in the survey are waterproof and fogproof. Focus solution column is explained in the article. The
weight, length, and minimum close focus are by the authors’ measurement. See article. Eye relief and field of view are
taken from the manufacturers’ specifications.
Notes:
2014 Optics Annual 35