Pentax PF-80ED-A Zoom, 80mm ED Angled Body With 20-60x SMC Zoom

Unlike other spotting scopes, which use proprietary bayonet-mount eyepiece holders that accept only the scope manufacturer's eyepieces, the 80mm Pentax uses an American standard 1.25" (31.7mm) diameter eyepiece receptacle. This accepts not only the superb Pentax SMC 20-60x zoom eyepiece supplied as standard equipment, but also more than 150 other 1.25" astronomical eyepieces from other manufacturers that can be found in the eyepiece section on the astronomics side of this website. You can tailor the magnification and field of view precisely to your requirements with this Pentax, something you can't do with other spotting scopes that have a more limited range of eyepieces available.

A review in Birding, the magazine of the American Birding Association said the optically identical but straight-through viewing PF-80ED had "the brightest, sharpest, easiest view of the bird currently available in any conventional spotting scope . . . the astronomical eyepieces are designed for both wide field and long eye-relief. Looking through them is more like looking through a window than it is like squinting through a conventional spotting-scope eyepiece . . . the zoom, which is huge as spotting-scope zooms go, is simply the brightest and sharpest zoom, at all powers, that I have ever tested or used . . . low-power, wide-field views are as good as with any fixed eyepiece that I have ever tried, and the high-power views are breathtaking . . . the Pentax 80-mm ED is noticeably brighter in all conditions, enough brighter so that it might make an identification difference in critical situations . . . and so that it could make a difference in your appreciation of the beauty of the bird in almost any condition . . . it will give you a satisfying, impressive, even astounding view of the bird in any field condition you are ever likely to encounter." The review's comments about the straight-through scope's visual performance are valid for this optically identical angled viewing model, as well.

Features that distinguish this scope from competitive scopes . . .

The 80mm objective gathers over 66% more light than a 62mm scope (and over 51% more than a 65mm scope) for brighter images and markedly better low light performance.Optics are fully multicoated with famous Pentax Super-Multi-Coating (SMC) antireflection coatings to maximize light transmission, clarity, and contrast.The PF-80ED-A is supplied with the Pentax SMC 20-60x zoom eyepiece. The specifications to the left are for the scope with the eyepiece set at 20x. At 40x it has a 60' field and 12mm of usable eye relief. At 60x it has a 49' field and 15mm of usable eye relief. A collet-type knurled ring locks the eyepiece in place, but allows eyepieces to be changed with just a twist of the wrist. A groove in the zoom eyepiece barrel fits a pin in the scope's eyepiece receptacle. This keeps the eyepiece from accidentally loosening as the zoom magnification ring on the eyepiece is turned in cold weather. You can also add other Pentax eyepiece(s) more suited to your observing needs, as well as other brands of 1.25" astronomical eyepieces.
As with any zoom eyepiece, the precise focal length or magnification of the Pentax zoom at any given point in time is not all that important. The experienced observer invariably adjusts the zoom magnification to match the seeing conditions and object size as he looks through the eyepiece, rather than first setting the zoom to an arbitrary focal length value according to the scale on the side of the eyepiece and using it at that power no matter what the seeing conditions. The flexibility of a zoom to instantly match the magnification to changing lighting or seeing conditions is one of the zoom eyepiece's chief advantages.

Other features of this scope . . .

Rugged and lightweight magnesium alloy body is nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed to be fogproof in all temperature extremes and waterproof to a depth of one meter. Nitrogen purging also prevents the internal formation of fungus in high humidity climates, such as rain forests.Rubberized black paint on the scope body and lens shade provides a sure grip in wet weather. The prism housing is clad in black rubber armor to help shock-proof the optics.A little over seven turns of the extra-long ribbed rubber focusing knob located at the upper right side of the scope moves the focus from the horizon to a close focus of 19 feet.Mounts on any photo tripod having a standard 1/4"-20 thread mounting bolt. A second hole is provided for use with those tripods that have a stabilizing video pin, such as the Manfrotto/Bogen tripods we carry. It also has a mounting hole for 3/8" bolt European tripods.Self-storing retractable lens shade improves visual and photographic contrast.Camera-type snap-in objective lens cover.The scope's 45-degree viewing angle is generally more comfortable than a straight-through scope for watching treetop activity or for extended observing from a blind or back porch. It is also more convenient for observing couples of varying heights who must share a single scope, as there's little need to constantly raise and lower the tripod to a comfortable height for each observer. If photography is a major concern, however, the straight-through viewing PF-80ED might be more useful than this angled-viewing model, as a straight-through scope generally handles more instinctively like a camera/telephoto lens combination.A sight line molded into the right side of the scope aids in acquiring targets quickly.An optional camera adapter allows the PF-80ED-A to be converted into a high quality 1000mm f/12.5 telephoto lens for use with cameras utilizing a Pentax K-mount bayonet lens mount only. Unlike lesser spotting scopes, which usually compromise performance by using an eyepiece as part of the photo system, the Pentax camera adapter is a five-lens four-group no-eyepiece system that produces photos visibly sharper than those taken through ordinary spotting scopes. A straight-through scope will generally be more usable for photography than this angled-viewing scope, however, as a straight-through scope handles more instinctively like a camera/telephoto lens combination.A knob at the side of the body allows the barrel to be rotated left or right from a horizontal to a vertical photographic orientation, with clickstops every 45 degrees.The supplied water-shedding Cordura-style nylon soft case has Velcro-fastened fold-back flaps that allow the scope to be mounted on a tripod and used while still in the case. Carrying handles are provided on the case. One of the handles is adjustable in length so it can be converted into a shoulder strap.This Pentax spotting scope is protected by the Pentax "Worry-Free" lifetime warranty that will repair or replace (at Pentax's option) any defective product (even if damaged by you) for the life of the original owner for a cost of only $19.95 to cover shipping and handling.