Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!pacbell!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!ncar!boulder!sunybcs!bingvaxu!marge.math.binghamton.edu!matt 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) Distribution: all Organization: Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, SUNY at Binghamton Lines: 25 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 matt@marge.math.binghamton.edu INTERNET fac119@bingvaxb.bitnet BITNET