DH and I are planning for travels where we will be focusing on wildlife watching.  We have a Nikon D-70 camera and are looking at several spotting scopes to enhance our wlidlife viewing ability.  There appear to be two choices of scopes that will work both "alone" for viewing and as an attachment to the camera.  One version is a "straight through" scope, the other is angled.  Do any of you have any recommendations of one version over the other.  (We do plan to have the scope on a tripod or attached to the vehicle window for stability.)

Thanks!

It really depends on how close you are in height. The straight through scope is easier to line up with your target as you look down the scope but, if one of you is 5 feet and the other 6 feet then the angled scope is the only way to go. There is no way a straight scope can work for different heights; either you need to keep raising and lower the scope or the taller person is always trying to squat down.

Any recommendations on a scope for a beginning birdwatcher? I did a little online research and they really get pricey. Would like to get involved at reasonable cost till we're sure this is a serious hobby. Does anyone do any digiscoping? Would love to try that, but it looks like it's even more complicated. Taking pictures of them an coming home to liesurely look through the books is the only way we can make any kind of reasonable identification. Closeup pictures would really help. Fred

Have tried several "spotting" scopes for viewing nature (?) . Hunting, bird watching, etc...
Long straight telescope type get wieldy to set-up and use. Can really be hard to capture subject , etc. Shooting range spotting scope I had from @ 40 years ago worked a little better.   Finnaly got a prism type with side viewing that worked better.   Found I wanted the largest lense ( field of view) and best light gathering lens possible.  Finnally found a 20 x 60 set of binoculars .

Now with the digital cameras, got a reflex 10 pixal with interchangeable lens and I use an adjustable 600 mm lens. 
Everything does cost more than you want to spend but it would have been a little less $$$$ if I hadn't waisted $$  on all those other scops that really didn't satisfy our needs/wants.

With the camera, we can watch birds close up and take pictures.   We still use small 8x21 "TASCO" binoculars for quick veiws.  

What ever you feel you need/want, just get the best ones you feel comfortable with for the $$$$ they cost.   They will last a long time.


Have fun and enjoy----  


-- Edited by jomago at 09:43, 2007-03-29

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