Cumbrian Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I have just ordered from Nigel O'Hara (not a name well known in shooting circles, I'll admit) a new Celestron Regal 80 ED angled spotting scope for £80 to £100 less than available anywhere else that I could find (best price usually about £550 for the zoom lens version and often much higher prices are quoted). I have been looking at a great variety of spotting scopes, new and used, incl. Kowas, Svarowskis, Nikons, etc. I got fed up with the limited second hand range on offer, high new prices and fairly high prices for used, even 10 years old, no guarantee etc. The Celestron Regals get very good reviews on all sides. I need a pretty good scope for spotting bullet holes at 50 metres and beyond when I shoot small bore targets outdoors. The one from Mr. O'Hara has the added advantage of coming with the 27x eye piece, with long eye relief especially valued by target shooters. That makes it cheaper than the 20-60 zoom (available for £30 more from the same source), and this eye piece is not offered as an alternative elswhere. If I don't get on with it, I will buy one of the Baader Hyperion eye pieces, which get good reviews and fit these Celestrons. All of this is worth checking out if you are looking for a spotting scope and want something above average. I have spent literally hours recently looking at all the possibilities on the internet. The Celestrons are made in China, but with Japanese glass I believe, for an American company now in Chinese ownership. Limited lifetime garantee. Sorry to sound like an advertisement. Hope someone finds the information of use or interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 What was the actual cost you paid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Just been through the exact same process of looking around for a decent spotting scope and looked at loads. Only advice I can give to anyone looking for a spotting scope is try before you buy, that's an absolute must, do not rely on reviews, whatever the source. You can pay an awful lot of money for mediocrity! The mid priced scopes are especially a gamble. I looked at some Nikon Prostaff scopes and was left underwhelmed. Best value seemed to be the Hawke endurance 16-48 x 68 which for the money was nigh on unbeatable up to around 30x mag. After that, optical quality drops off a bit, especially image brightness and contrast. Betters the Nikon by some margin though. Tried Opticrons to £800 and was deeply unimpressed by their lack-lustre performance. Not much better than the Hawkes at half that price. best of the lot in mid-priced territory was a Hawke 20-60 x85 ED (new version). For that money, it boasts BAK4 prisms, dielectric coatings, water proofing, eyepiece thrown in, ED glass, Full weatherproof protective cover and dual speed focussing. Image is incredibly sharp and bright, far better than anything else I tried in its price bracket by some margin. It's the one I ended up buying (you can get these for around £550 to £600). It will pick out rimfire bullet holes at 200m with great clarity. Should be good to 400m on a good clear day without too much heat haze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I paid £444. It has pretty well all the desirable features of the Hawke, so far as I can remember. What I liked was the suitability for it of the Baader Hyperion eye pieces, which cost a bit over £100 each, compared to three or four hundred pounds for the Nikon or Svarowski ones. It also has a magnesium alloy body and looks quite attractive, if that counts. I was drawn to it by the recommendation of another target shooter on Targettalk.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) Always a risk though to buy optics without trying out first . Hope it works out ok for you. Edited October 14, 2015 by Savhmr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Always a risk though to buy optics without trying out first . Hope it works out ok for you. Thank you. Yes, I am sure that you are right, but I don't have easy access to any scopes (Celestron or otherwise) in shops for comparison. I can always return the scope under the distance selling regulations, at some cost in postage doubtless. My existing Opticron, a top version in its day, is perfectly o.k. at 25 yards but not so good further out for shooting purposes (though surprisingly good for general views even out to 2 miles), so I can compare that with the Celestron in due course. Also, I would like to have two scopes to save lugging just the one between the two ranges, 20 miles apart, where I currently shoot. If I am impressed by the Celestron, I'll report back; likewise if I am not so impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les*1066 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I'm not familiar with Celestron spotting scopes, but I've had a few of their astronomical telescopes and they have always been very good, so hopefully you won't have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I'm not familiar with Celestron spotting scopes, but I've had a few of their astronomical telescopes and they have always been very good, so hopefully you won't have a problem. Thank you for this encouraging report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabbers Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 my pracktika is mince Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Well, I can safely report that O'Hara is a complete waste of time for ordering this scope. I was informed today that they cannot obtain stock. Back to the drawing board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Try the Hawke Endurance ED. You wont be disappointed. Plenty of stock nationwide too. If budget wont stretch, the smaller 16-48 x 68 is a cracking good deal and image is very good on that one too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Posted October 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 Try the Hawke Endurance ED. You wont be disappointed. Plenty of stock nationwide too. If budget wont stretch, the smaller 16-48 x 68 is a cracking good deal and image is very good on that one too. Thank you for the recommendation. I have now read the reviews and spec and it seems like a very good scope, probably the equal of the Celestron optically, and is slightly wider at 85 too. It doesn't, however, seem to come as standard with the 27 x long eye relief eye piece, so I may go with the Celestron, which does offer that option as an alternative to the 20-60 zoom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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