Optics4Birding.com: Tele Vue Reviews

The following comments are the opinions of the writers. We're publishing them here with the permission of their authors, with minor edits for clarity or brevity. If you would like to submit a comment, send me an email.

After carefully reading the specifications and evaluating a number of 70mm & 80mm scopes and receiving advice from the owner of a recognized dealership I purchased the Televue "Pronto" with a large 2" focuser, 1 1/4" 32 mm Plossl 4 element lens and 1 1/4" 45 degree erector, primarily for birding. The 2" focuser allows additional flexibility in lens choices. Teleview recommends their much lighter and less expensive Ranger model for birders. It has 1 1/4" focuser but the same optics. After a week of careful use evaluating the Pronto, viewing winter gulls and ducks in bright sunlight and overcast skies, as well as cityscapes at night (without the Barlow, as the preferred 45 degree erector is not designed for use with Barlows making the choice of a suitable birding lens critical) I have decided to exchange all three items for the 22mm Panoptic 6 element lens, the 2" Star Diagonal and 2" Big Barlow. The Panoptic has a dual barrel construction, fits both 2" and 1 1/4" focusers and provides a wider 68 degree apparent field and x22 magnification (compared to the 50 degree field and x15 magnification of the 32mm Plossl). The view of the 2" Star Diagonal will be reversed, compared to the 45 degree erector, but for birding this does not bother me. This set-up is costlier and heavier, but, although the optics of the 4 element 32mm Plossl are very good, I found the X15 magnification to be inadequate for viewing shorebirds, gulls and ducks at the distances one often encounters, and in low light conditions I prefer to limit my use of a Barlow whenever possible. Teleview is well known for it's quality optics in amateur astronomy circles and offers a vast range of lenses and options, but has only recently entered the birding arena and currently lacks a brochure for terrestial viewing and birders in particular, describing recommended lenses and options. Nevertheless, it is my expectation that when the new combination arrives I will be very pleased with the improved viewing. Any comments and suggestions from your readers and from Teleview will be appreciated.

Michael Deeley, 20 Feb 1998

A few months back I sent a post to BIRDCHAT asking recommendation's on spotting scopes. First of all, I want to thank everyone that responded. The scope's that got the most votes were the Kowa's, Fujinon Super 80 ED and Leica Televid 77. A few recommended TeleVue. After evaluating your opinion's and comparing spec's I decided that I wanted a Leica Televid. That was until I found out that I would have to wait maybe a year or longer for a ocular lens. I then contacted some of you again for more opinion's and input. Some still highly recommended the Televue's. I talked to several optic salesman at more than one store and most gave the Televue's rave reviews.

As I mentioned in my first post, I had used a Bushnell Spacemaster II for the last 15 year's and was always satisfied with the optical quality, especially with the 22X wide angle lens. At 40X though it just didn't get it and I wanted more power with good optical clarity. After much consideration I decided on a TeleVue Ranger. I was a little hesitant about the purchase not ever having heard of them before. But, I just returned from a birding trip to Delaware and I am pleased to say that I have no absolutely no regrets whatsoever. The optics are great.

Two other birders and myself were looking at the same group of shorebirds with our scopes. I don't want to offend anyone so I won't mention brand names. One other birder was using a scope in the $1100.00 price range. He had a 40X ocular lens on and I had a 53X on my TeleVue. I had more field width, clarity, brightness and color enhancement than he did at 40X. The other birder was curious what scope I had and ask to look through it. He couldn't believe how clear it was at 53X. He made a point of writing down all the details.

I do have one complaint with TeleVue though. You are forced to take a 27X lens with the scope. Don't get me wrong, the optical clarity of the lens is great but the field is not adequate as far as I'm concerned. I purchased two additional lenses. One is a 9mm nagler that equates to 53X with a good field width and the other was a Meade 20X super wide angle lens. I believe the field on the Meade 20X is 175 feet at 1000 yards.

At first glance the price on the TeleVue Ranger with 27X lens ($558.00) looks very good. And, if you are satisfied with 27X at limited field, it is a very good price. But, if you want, as I did, more versatility when it comes to power and field width then you will have to buy extra lens. The final cost total is:

					Ranger     $558.00
					53X lens   $218.00
					20X lens   $186.00

					Total      $962.00
					

I am convinced that if you are willing to sacrifice the convenience of a zoom lens for the optical superiority that comes with interchangeable ocular lenses, then TeleVue is definitely the way to go. It takes me about 30 seconds to change lenses. I am also going to use the scope for astronomical purposes. I was looking at the moon last night with the 53X lens and it was spectacular.

Gary Felton, 21 May 1996

I went on a birding trip over the weekend and stayed with some friends in NJ. The main trip was to Jamaica Bay but while I was there we did a scope comparison which I think you'll find interesting. He bought a Swarovski at about the same time that I bought my Televue. He has been telling me how great the optics on his Swarovski are so I had been very anxious to test his against mine. We set the scopes up side by side and looked at the exact same object at different powers. The optical clarity of both seemed to be equal up to 60 power. From about 55 power and above I felt that mine had a slight edge in optical clarity. Mine also had the advantage of having twice the field width and was able to close focus several feet shorter. His was definitely brighter especially at the higher powers but of course it should have been since it was an 80mm objective as opposed to my 70mm. We had the scopes set up in his back yard so I regret not making a long distance comparison.

But, as far as I'm concerned, it still gets back to the issue of flexibility. He is stuck with an angled eyepiece and a limit of 60 power. He can't go to a straight though, which is what I prefer in almost all cases for birding and he can't get close up looks at the moon which we can. True he has the convenience of a zoom, waterproofing and a little more brightness at the higher powers, but the field widths are half. Our's have every other pertinent advantage.

I will say this about Swarovski, it's a great scope and If I was going to get a scope just for birding I would definitely consider a Swarovski. Anyone who tells you that no one makes a good zoom, doesn't know what they are talking about.

Gary Felton, 27 Sep 1996