Opticron IS 16-48x60 ED WP Spotting Scope Angled - HR2 Eyepiece

Opticron IS 16-48x60 ED WP Spotting Scope Review

The Opticron IS 60 ED WP is nearly identical to its brother, the IS 60 WP, with the same lightweight body and mechanism, but upgraded ED glass throughout.  The IS 60 ED maintains the light weight and compact aspect of its sibling, making this scope an excellent performer in a small package.

At just over 26 ounces, the IS 60 ED is just over a pound lighter than the comparable Celestron Regal M2 65 ED, and several inches shorter.  This makes it an excellent option for somebody looking for ED glass performance as possible in a compact, lightweight scope.  

In a side by side comparison, we noticed several differences between the IS 60 ED and its non-ed sibling.  Paired with the Opticron HR2 16-48x eyepiece, the lower magnification of 16x offers a slightly wider field of view than the IS 60 with IS eyepiece (18x).  We found this preferable.  The noticeable increase in clarity and sharpness adds to the experience, and we found the color bias to be more true-to-life and warmer on the ED version than with the vanilla IS 60.  

As we crank the magnification up, the image still darkens and eye relief becomes shorter, but it still remains brighter on the IS 60 ED than the IS 60.  The high magnification of 48x seems more usable than the highest magnification on the IS eyepiece (54x).  

The Opticron IS 60 ED is another spotter that we'll wholeheartedly recommend to hunters and birdwatchers, and we'll stand behind this scope 100%.  

IS WP fieldscopes are designed for the first-time user, frequent traveler and those on a budget. Available in 60mm and 60mm ED objectives with the option of straight-through and 45° angled viewing, these interchangeable eyepiece spottingscopes offer excellent value for money with high levels of performance and versatility in a compact, lightweight body.

Features and options include; nitrogen waterproof construction, 4 element fully multi-coated optical system with internal focusing, rotating tripod sleeve for use with photo/video tripods and bipods, retractable lens hood to protect against glare, accessories for SLR telephotography plus a comprehensive five year warranty.

IS 60 WP
An excellent all-rounder delivering good resolution and depth of field, the IS 60 WP fieldscope is easy to use and transport either on a lightweight tripod or bipod. Matched to the IS long eyerelief 18-54x eyepiece the model is the perfect choice for the first-time birdwatcher moving up from 'binocular-only' birding as well as the shooter or archer looking for accuracy at greater distances.

IS 60 ED WP
The IS 60 ED WP offers the opportunity to upgrade to significantly brighter and sharper images while retaining the core features of the IS 60 WP. Featuring a modified optical system with new components and a more rigorous quality control procedure this mini-60mm ED fieldscope is optically matched to the 40933S HR2 16-48x zoom eyepiece for premium performance in a very portable package.