Re: Leica Scope -- Jack L. and others

Harry Fisher (fish8553@dpnet.net)
Thu, 19 Nov 1998 10:58:23 -0500


Fran and All:
Fran and Norm, congrats on reaching the 600 club, a great
accomplishment.
Yes, our bank account was seriously compromised when I made the recent
purchase of a Leica televid APO scope.  There were any number of places
that money could have been used.  It was one of those now or never
things.  Anyways, I am delighted with the scope ( what`s not to Leic ) -
very bad, I know. Only drawback, it is heavy.  I will be getting a
tri-pack scope carrier.   Like Fran, I was able to use one in the field
( I too drooled )  at Cape May, during a crucial decision making
process.  I read all the literature I could find( there are some good
Optics links via the MOS homepage- thanks Fran ) on 60mm vs 80 mm,
standard vs flourite glass, straight through vs angled eye pieces, zoom
vs fixed. I also compared the Leica side by side with a Kowa TSN-4, just
so I could tell myself ( and my husband ) I`d actually considered a 60
mm scope.   I ended up with the above, straight through, 32 WA.  I will
be using this scope `til old and decrepit. Also, my husband, being a
semi-birder at best, had a little difficulty
( understatement ) in seeing the necessity for a purchase of this
magnitude.  There was some ( another understatement ) in the Fisher
household, but all is well.  On a recent trip to Conowingo, I came out
of the restroom to see my husband surrounded by people as he showed them
eagles with the new scope.  On a final note, the new Kowa with the
plastic casing, WILL split in half if dropped in just the right way.
Talked to several birders who had first hand knowledge of this.  You
could probably get one at cost from Cape May Bird Observatory in Goshen
NJ if you want to take the risk, such as was offered to myself.  ( This
is where I bought the scope, at CMBO member price ).
This got to be a little long winded, sorry.
Leslie Fisher
North East, MD