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From: matt@marge.math.binghamton.edu (matt brin)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: telescopes
Message-ID: <1623@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu>
Date: 3 Dec 88 20:26:05 GMT
References: <7823@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Sender: news@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu
Reply-To: matt@marge.math.binghamton.edu (matt brin)
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Organization: Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, SUNY at Binghamton
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In article <7823@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> e299-ao@sim.UUCP (Brenda Baker) writes:
>My Mother is trying to decide on a telescope to buy for bird watching.
>We've looked at the Discoverer by Bausch and Lomb and were not very
>impressed.  She has also looked at the Renaissance by Televue.  Does
>any one have any comments on it or any other brands?
>
I have had a Bushnell spotting scope (60mm diam front lense and 10 to 60
power eyepieces available) and have enjoyed it immensely.  (The front lens
is not good enough to support the 60 power eyepiece by the way.  The "total
visual information" does not increase much over the 25 power.  I would
recommend the 25 power if you get only one.)  It cost about $125 over a
dozen years ago.  I do not know the "discoverer" and cannot tell you how the
spotting scope compares.  None of these scopes can be used successfully
withouut a tripod.  Birding is usually an outdoor activity, and put tripods
in their worst situations (high winds) a lot.  Take your newly purchased
scope with you when you shop for a tripod, and try the scope out on the
floor models.  See how much wiggle you can see through the scope when you
gently tap the pod.  Zero wiggle is not possible - you are searching for a
minumum.  Best pods for strength vs weight are Gitzo's, but they are killers
in price.  Bogens are good but weigh like tanks.  Do not skimp on the
tripod.

matt brin / math. dept / SUNY / Binghamton, NY 13901
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