Advice on spotting scope for birding

[MichaelZZ]

I've fairly recently taken up birdwarching and have a decent pair of binoculars, nothing extravagant but adequate for my purpose. (Opticron Imagic 10x42)
I am thinking of buying an "entry level" spotting scope and would like some poiters as to what I should look for. I have seen some of the guys at my local RSPB reserve walking around with what look like mobile rocket launchers. I'm sur my budget wouldn't run to this and in any case (cynically) wonder if these guys are just poseurs. I suppose biggest is dearest is best but would I get anything half decent for a couple of hundred quid?

[redman41]

Your local RSPB Shop should have Scopes and Binoculars for sale.
Ask if you could have a look through some of the affordable ones and if it suits your needs you could purchase from them.
Maybe you could have a look on Ebay as well as there are always good quality bargains to be had.
Don't forget, there are poseurs about as I have encountered them myself.
Very often the one with the biggest Scope knows the least about the Birds he/she encounters !
It is a great Hobby so choose wisely and enjoy the wildlife !

[rowanwitch]

Consider second hand as well... worth waiting for an 'optics' fair at your nearest rspb as you will get a chance to try a lot more than the usual stock... dont forget you will need the body, eyepiece(s) tripod, hide clamp and car window clamp and a carrying case and these can mount up.... opticron are good.... as are bushnell.... those lovely rubber armoured swarowski can cost thousands....start saving now once you start you will get hooked

[ladybirder]

Michael secondhand is a good way to go. You will usually get something as good as new but perhaps not the latest spec, for a lot less money. Most good shops will do it, ie Jessops etc. I got a a pair of Leicas s new for £600 which had cost a lot more only a year before. They had belonged to an enthusiast who always had to have the latest thing and traded his old stuff in. I would advise you to go for the best you can afford or you will wish you had as you get more into birdwatching. Good luck.

[MichaelZZ]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I've discovered that there's an equipment demo day at my local RSPB next week. I'll be there!

[redman41]

Have fun MichaelZZ and hope you find something suitable

[ethandron]

michael, set yourself a budget and buy the best you can within that price range. we've spoken to a number of people who've bought ones from aldi and whilst we know they're not as good as the named ones, they do a perfectly reasonable job.
we find we use the hide clamp far more than the tripod, it depends where you're going to use the scope the most. we bought ours from the rspb, can't remember which one it was, but the whole package (tripod, clamp, cover, scope and eyepiece) came to something under £400. we'd set ourself a budget of £500.
i agree with redman, about those with the biggest or fanciest scopes, you can often see people (usually men) eyeing up each others scopes in a hide, and they're the ones who'll not think twice about shoving you out of the way to get their fancy gear set up. they're generally the people who would never share a view too. we always let those without a scope have a look through it if there's something worth seeing.

[MichaelZZ]

I posted an equiry about spotting scopes last week and had a number of replies - thank you all.
I now have another question:
Having more or less decided on a 20-60 x 80 spotting scope, I wonder if any of you digiscopers out there can tell me if my camera, a Panasonic Lumix FZ38, is suitable for hooking up to a spotting scope and if so, then what adapters / connectors do I need?