eric@necntc.NEC.COM (Eric Hanselman) (12/14/87)
While the discussion is still going, I'll put my two cents in. Last year I received a Meade Pathfinder x15-x60 zoom scope for Christmas. I'll admit that it is not quite as good as some of the better fixed power scopes but, it is far superior to any other zoom scope that I have used. I usually use a pair of 7x50 binoculars for general spotting and have the scope on a tripod for use when I've found something. Unlike many zoom scopes, the x60 setting is really usable. Last spring I was able to get a great sighting of a great horned owl and her chick out in the middle of a swamp(SuAsCo) a few hundred yards out. A Swift zoom scope that was also along lost resolution at about x35. I've been quite happy with it, but, as I received it as a gift, I don't really know how expensive it is. As a result, I can't comment on it's value. I do like the versatility that a zoom offers, though. I'm willing to put up with slightly lower resolution for more usability. - Eric Hanselman eric@necntc.nec.com harvard!necntc.nec.com!eric