Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 954
Loc: Country road
|
Re: Binoculars or a good spotting or field scope?
05/10/08 03:07 PM
|
|
|
The question of binoculars versus spotting scope has been on my mind for over a year. Last month and today I did some mini tests.
In the binocular cornerPentax DCF ED 10x50
Exit pupil: 5.0
Advertised FOV: 5.0
Apparent FOV: 49.7
Close focus: 11.5 ft.
Weight: 30.5 oz
Height: 6.7 inches
Width: 5.2 inches
Waterproof: Yes
Eye relief: 22.0
Price: $787.50 (now mostly seen above $1000.00)
Warranty: Lifetime
Fujinon Polaris FMT-SX 16x70
Exit pupil: 4.4
Advertised FOV: 4.0
Apparent FOV: 63.4
Close focus: 36.0 ft.
Weight: 76.1 oz
Height: 10.7 inches
Width: 9.8 inches
Waterproof: Yes
Eye relief: 15.5
Price: $685.00 (also seen in the $500.00s)
Warranty: Lifetime In the Spotting Scope cornerKowa TSN-661
Glass: Normal (non ED)
View: Angled
Eyepiece: 30x Wide (fixed, non zoom)
Aperture: 66mm
Exit pupil: 2.2
Advertised FOV: 2.4
Apparent FOV: 72.0
Close focus: 19.7 ft.
Weight: 35.6 oz
Length: 12.2 inches
Waterproof: Yes
Eye relief: 20.0
Price: $828.00 (including eyepiece and canvas case)
Warranty: Lifetime Round 1: American White Pelicans Pentax 10x50 binoculars mounted on a Manfrotto 679B monopod / 3232 adjustable head displays a flock of large white birds landing in the water on the opposite shore of Kentucky Lake, approximately 2000 yards distance. The only distinguishing details are the count of the birds (27) and the white color of their plumage; the color and shape of their bills and feet are not apparent. As good as the Pentax binocular is, it cannot reach the distant shore and fails to earn an identification, which amounts to the unpardonable among several bird watchers perched behind me on park benches.
Kowa 30x66 spotting scope mounted on a Bogen 3001 camera tripod / 3126 fluid head displays the incoming flock to be American White Pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. A fact which welcomes me back into the fold squawking at my back. Identification was possible because the Kowa spotting scope brought into view the unique shape and color of the bill and curve of the neck. Round 2: Where are the Red Tail Hawks?Round 2 returns to the location of Round 5 in Fujinon FMT-SX 16x70 vs. Garrett Signature 22x85 .
Fujinon SMT-SX 16x70 binocular mounted on a Manfrotto 3246 tripod / 501 fluid head displays a dead Chinkapin Oak, Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm, located on a rolling hillside overlooking the Kentucky River. The oak lies 1075 yards due South of my location. On May 1, I observed a pair of Red Tail Hawks on a limb in this tree. However, today the pair of hawks are no where to be seen. So I study the 4.0° FOV for other detail. A large hole is discovered in the trunk of the tree. The Fujinon binocular provides enough detail to see that this hole may provide entrance for some animal into the hollow of the tree. The panorama of the 4.0° FOV is nice.
Kowa 30x66 spotting scope mounted on a Bogen 3001 camera tripod / 3126 fluid head displays the dead Oak and the large hole in the trunk. The image size is approximately 10% larger than in the Fujinon binocular. However, the 2.4° FOV of the Kowa scope fails to satisfy as much as the Fujinon binocular. I am surprised at how similar in size the two images are—16x vs. 30x. However, this is what Kenny Jones must be talking about when he points how two eyes make the brain appear to function more effectively. Round 3: Robin on the lawn Fujinon 16x70 binocular fails to display a Robin on the lawn 25 feet away. The bird is too close for the Fujinon binocular to focus, even if the bird remains stationary long enough to focus each eyecup independently.
Kowa 30x66 spotting scope quickly swings around on the Bogen tripod and focuses with alarming sharpness within 3 seconds. I am amazed at how fast the focusing knob on the top of the scope actually functions. The sun is shining and the Kowa scope provides plenty of detail to the bird’s feathers. The bright sheen of the small feathers of the Robin’s crown is stunning, an observation I have never seen on a robin before. ConclusionThe Fujinon FMT-SX 16x70 binocular brings in almost as much detail at 1075 yards as the Kowa TSN-661 spotting scope. What’s more the wider FOV and ease of using both eyes gives Round 2 to the Fujinon. When sparring with the Pentax DCF ED 10x50 at 2000 yards the Kowa scope easily wins Round 1. When it comes to up close detail on the lawn in Round 3, the Kowa scope also wins.
Yes, I agree with Joe O and others, the serious terrestrial observer definitely needs a spotting scope as well as a collection of different purpose binoculars.
--------------------
Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
Edited by BobinKy (05/10/08 06:41 PM)
|
|
5 registered and 16 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: EdZ
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Rating:
Thread views: 1319
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Edit
Reply
Quote
