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Wednesday, August 08, 2007Spotting scope eyepieces
Now and then a customer asks why eyepieces on spotting scopes (see my article What is a spotting scope? ) don't typically interchange from one brand or even one model to the next. Is it because manufacturers want to make you spend more money for their spotting scope eyepieces?
It might seem that way, given the price of eyepieces for premium grade spotting scopes, but there is an optical reason for this. Spotting scopes are, for the most part, very short focal length optical systems. This is by design, since portability is important (spotting scopes are small telescopes designed to be used by day). The problem comes when we try to match an eyepiece to such short focal length systems. The shorter the focal length of an optical system, the fussier it gets about eyepieces. That spotting scope eyepiece on your scope was designed as an exact match. Using an eyepiece not made for that exact model of spotting scope is risky as far as performance. Manufacturers of premium grade spotting scopes are aware of this and are rightfully hesitant about allowing the use of some other brand of eyepiece in their spotting scopes. It might hurt the pocket book, but when you pay for an expensive eyepiece, you are assured of getting an eyepiece that is designed specifically for your spotting scope. Comments: |
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