Trevor's Spotting Scope and Optics Review

  Orion Apex Maksutov-Cassegrain 102mm Telescope My 114 mm Newtonian reflector telescope and my 80mm refractor do not have sufficient focal length to  magnify strongly enough to get good views of Jupiter and Saturn. I bought the Apex which has a focal length of 1,300 mm to improve matters. When the scope arrived I was, pleasantly, shocked and stunned by the quality of the optics. The scope is equally at home being used for astronomy and terrestrial observations. Here are some of the specifications: Maksutov-Cassegrain design, Optical aperture -102mm , Focal length -1300mm, Focal Ratio f/12.7 f/12.7, Resolving Power - 1.14arc seconds. Supplied eyepiece  - Sirius Plossl 25.0mm (1.25"), Magnification with included eyepiece  - 52x, Highest useful magnification -  204x, Limiting stellar magnitude -  12.7, Finder scope - 6x26 Correct-image, Diagonal 1.25" 45° Prism Correct-image, Optical Tube Assembly( OTA) material - Aluminium, Length of optical tube -...

  This review was first published on January 2020 and I have edited it in italics. Helios Fieldmaster A90R 25 to 75 x 90mm spotting scope I really like Helios optical products. I used one of their Japanese made telephoto lenses with my 35 mm SLR film camera way back when. I also have two pairs of their binoculars which I use for astronomy. Their Fieldmaster 7x50 Porro binoculars are nothing short of amazing value for money at £50. They compare favourably with the much more expensive German made ( but possibly not - Japan ?) ED roof prism binoculars that I use mainly for birdwatching. My existing spotting scope was given to me and was beginning to show its age. So, I decided to replace it. I am not an avid birdwatcher, but I like to visit local lakes every now and then for a couple of hours of long-distance observations. I do bird surveys for the local nature reserve, which does not include a lake, and of course spotting scopes are useless for this type of location – I use binocula...

 I now do a fair bit of  bird watching, and astronomy, so I thought that I would review some of the equipment that I use. It is difficult to find reports that truly reflect reality on forums which are often used to promulgate users' prejudices and sometimes their arrogance and snobbery. There is no doubting that instrument manufactures such as Zeiss, Leica, Swarovsky, Kowa and Vortex etc. produce the finest instruments which are not just optically superb but are also tough and long lasting. These sort of scopes are ideal for adventurers, professional naturalists and hunters who want the best images, ergonomics and build. They get this from the prime makers but they have to pay for the privilege. Many bird watchers like me do not venture far and we usually observe from sedentary postions and hides.  You can't do visual astronomy when it rains so you do not need a waterproof scope. This blog therefore concentrates on my scopes and optics which do not cost a fortune but whic...