Wanted Aldi spotting scope or equivalent?

[lostplanet]

looking for a cheap used spotting scope with tripod fixing, dont need the tripod.

Can be straight (preferred) or angled, minimum mag 45. lense 60+

looking at a few on ebay and some new ones.

what have you got?

 

[daveO]

For what it's worth the Aldi one I have is pretty useless above about 30x despite going up to 60.

 

[lostplanet]

ah ok, i have read so many reviews on so many scopes its done my head in.

seems there are about 10 different brands that use the same kit with varying reviews. minefield.

 

[daveO]

I suspect that the cheapness is half the problem. Mine may have been knocked or something to be as bad as it is but they're not going to be especially robust or even quality checked for the price.

 

[BigMonster]

Best bang for the buck would be Celestron C70:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-52238-Mini-Spotting-Scope/dp/B001MUHQBI
You can find it below £100 on the internet. Great zoom range, very bright even at x75 magnification, great build and it comes with a tripod. Best one I have used and because of the zoom it can be used from plane watching to star gazing.

Watch reviews on YouTube.

 

[lostplanet]

thanks that C70 looks ace, i will have a search round.

 

[lostplanet]

I just got a C70 after trying a couple of other options. wow! this C70 is something else! serious kit.

Didn't get chance to use it in the light today but will be playing tommorow for sure.

Thanks for the recommendation

 

[Robson Valley]

Cheap usually means poor glass and that means fuzzy = poor resolution.
Bright and fuzzy is no better than dim and fuzzy.
As much as I like my Nikon Prostaff 82mm, it really isn't so great above 40X in the 20X - 60X range.
BUT
the 82 mm objective lens can pull in a lot of light in gloomy conditions.
That alone is a good feature.

If the Celestron (good optics brand) really has a 70mm objective,
the performance at dusk and dawn ought to be really nice.

 

[lostplanet]

Been playing with this and am really pleased.

Is there an upgrade I can do that will allow the eyepiece to have its own focus? as well as the standard focus on the scope?

At higher mags it has a very small focus/clarity window and id like to have a finer adjustment if possible?