#2290093 - 07/03/08 11:41 AM
Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
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shatodavis
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Registered: 03/11/08
Posts: 77
Loc: Southcentral Missouri
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Okay,
So I'm getting closer to making a decision on my Spotting scope dilema. I've decided to rule out the Big Three mostly due to Money constraints. So I've narrowed my choices to The Nikon and the Pentax.
Which would you choose. I've looked throught the Nikon but have not tested a Pentax. I can save quite a bit of money buying a demo Pentax from Doug.
In some tests the Nikon is ranked very close to the big three. Is the pentax compareable? I know that the Zeiss,Leica,& Swaro's are top of the line. But, how close does the Pentax and Nikon come to their quality?
Someone talk me into this pentax because I can afford it now! Even the Nikon would be a month or two down the road.
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#2290114 - 07/03/08 11:54 AM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: shatodavis]
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GreatWaputi
Campfire Guide
Registered: 11/07/02
Posts: 2723
Loc: Utah
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The Nikon Fieldscope III ED is every bit as good, if not better than the likes of Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica. I have no personal experience with the Pentax.
_________________________
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#2290144 - 07/03/08 12:08 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: shatodavis]
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Glock2240
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Registered: 10/01/05
Posts: 245
Loc: Central Montana
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I just talked with Doug Tuesday morning about a spotting scope, after telling him how it would be used he suggested the Pentax PF80ED. And since I was a Campfire regular he is shipping a new one at the Demo price. I checked with DHL today and it will be delivered next week. I will be sure to report my likes or dislikes when it arrives.
Tim
_________________________
"I hate rude behaviour in a man.....I won't tolerate it." Capt. Woodrow F. Call (Tommy Lee Jones) in "Lonesome Dove"
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#2290184 - 07/03/08 12:30 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: Glock2240]
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clark98ut
Campfire Regular
Registered: 01/30/06
Posts: 1346
Loc: Austin, TX
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I don't have the ED version of the Fieldscope III, but I absolutely love the one I have. It's relatively light, seems fairly rugged and comes with a very nice little case. Seeing as how I paid $400 for it, I don't think it can be beat by anything sub-$1000.
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#2290378 - 07/03/08 02:16 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: shatodavis]
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Eremicus
Campfire Outfitter
Registered: 03/01/01
Posts: 9661
Loc: Placerville,CA,USA
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As I recall, JJHack, who probably has as much field/hunting time as anyone who posts here just got the Nikon 60mm ED. He rated the Leupold 60mm GR close but not as good. He did say he liked the Leupold tripod better, etc. He's played with lots of spotters over the years, both his own and his clients.
I'm not surprised. Even in the 8X binoculars, the addition of ED glass makes a difference from what I've seen. With spotting scopes, which put alot of demands of the optical quality of the scope due to it's very high magnification, I would expect them to do well.
I wouldn't go for any thing under a 60mm unless weight was a real concern, say for a lone sheep hunter.
If I break down and buy a spotter, it will likely be either the Nikon 60mm ED or the Leupold 60mm GR HD. E
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#2290407 - 07/03/08 02:36 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: Eremicus]
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test1328
Campfire Regular
Registered: 05/18/05
Posts: 340
Loc: Colorado
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I just asked JJ about his spotter over on the Africa forum. He was pretty succinct in his evaluation and seems happy with the Nikon. Here's the link:
Spotter question for JJ
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#2290466 - 07/03/08 03:14 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: shatodavis]
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Sled2live
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Registered: 05/26/06
Posts: 32
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I have a Nikon fieldscope 60 non ed and the Pentax 65 ED I recently purchsed from Doug. Both are fine scopes. I was not blown away by the difference in the image like I'd expected. Each has it's pros and cons. The nikon has a much deeper depth of field and a wider FOV. I changed the eyepiece on the pentax from it's 20 x 60 to a william optics eyepiece 17 x 52 and got a much wider FOV and better eye relief and a super sharp image at maximum power. That said, both give an excellent view.
The Pentax system is compatible with many excellent manufacturers eyepieces whereas the nikon's is proprietary. The pentax has an image more suitable for digiscoping than the nikon if you're leaning that direction at least with my non ED nikon.
Sorry it's not a direct comparison, but my point is that the nikon leaves little to be desired in a hunting scope and the newer Ed version is probably pretty much sixes with the pentax.
Try to find a place you can look thru both side by side before you buy. That is the only way you will be able to determine which image you prefer. Both are great scopes.
Sled2live
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#2295851 - 07/06/08 09:28 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: Sled2live]
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martinbns
Campfire Guide
Registered: 03/21/04
Posts: 3648
Loc: Ft McMurray, Alberta
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I haven't used the Nikon, but have the pentax and like it very much. I pretty much only use mine at the range though.
_________________________
Life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun.
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#2298931 - 07/08/08 03:30 PM
Re: Nikon Fieldscope III ED 20-60x60 vs Pentax PF65ED
[Re: martinbns]
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FrankD
Campfire Regular
Registered: 12/11/06
Posts: 403
Loc: Lehigh Valley, PA
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Not to come off too strong but I would put my Pentax 65 ED with the Pentax fixed XW eyepiece against any scope of similar size on the market...Zeiss, Leica, Swaro and Kowa included. The latter may be slightly newer and possibly a bit better but I have compared the Pentax with the other three and thought it compared quite favorably and in some areas might have actually bettered them.
_________________________
Frank
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