Date: 3/31/25 2:41 pm From: pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io <pastorpaultdunbar...> Subject: [NEBirds] Scope question (no sighting)
Hey, friends,I know this forum is for sharing Nebraska bird sightings, so I'll be brief, and if you care to respond, please do so privately so this doesn't become a long, off-topic, public thread.
My adult daughter is getting more into birding -- plus, she's currently doing a 6-mo stint on Cape Hatteras NC with US Fish & Wildlife, so lots of birding opportunities! -- and I'd love to get her a scope, but I haven't shopped for one in years. I know the top scopes (Zeiss, Leica, Swaro) with eyepiece and tripod can run 5 grand or more; I'm thinking more in the $1500 range or less. I've got a Zeiss Diascope 85 with 20-60x zoom that I've had 20+ years and love. What scopes (and tripods) do any of you use and love?
A year or two ago Thane turned me on to the Nikon Monarch HG, a truly excellent pair of binoculars for well under $1000. I guess I'm hoping I can find another great deal like that but with a scope, something surprisingly good but not as wildly expensive as the industry leaders now are. Thoughts?
Paul Dunbar
