Bird Watching Binoculars & Field Guides : Picking a Spotting Scope for Bird Watching

[sonofthedestroyer]

spotting scopes are too big and expensive. Not all practical to carry around when trekking. A small binoculars is much better.

[quacker1964]

Yep I thought this too until I saw my first Golden Eagle feeding a chick in the nest from several hundred yards away magnified at 60x - my 8x32 binoculars could not even find the vicinity on the mountain!

[sonofthedestroyer]

Spotting scopes are also bad for eyesight and will cause headache.

Best scenario is a camera.

[quacker1964]

Have you looked through a high quality scope? Have you used a top notch piece of kit such as Leica, Swarovski, Nikon, Zeiss, Kowa etc. - if you did you will KNOW it is no different than looking through a camera and large lens. Except the scope has anything up to 10x more reach and much better stability when tripod mounted. Check out articles on eye relief if headaches are a problem. I have both scopes and SLR kit up to 600mm lenses. Scopes win hands down.

[sonofthedestroyer]

Not for me, i have done alot trekking and even having a light backpack can be a real nuisance. Expensive, heavy spotting scope? No way

[quacker1964]

Fair comment, but I find using a Scopac and evenly distributing the weight leaves both hands free for binoculars etc. I guess it depends on whether the primary aim is birding or photography lol. I know I'd never have seen those eagles with a camera and big lens.  I'd love to see some comparison photographs of cropped DSLR v digiscoped though. Would be interesting. We'll agree to disagree my friend :-) I have both and depending on my needs is what goes out with me - it's all good, as they say.