The Leica Televid 62 mm is a high-quality spotting scope designed for detailed observation, offering both straight and angled viewing options. It is built with robust materials and features advanced optical and mechanical components, making it suitable for various outdoor and professional applications.
Function Description:
The Leica Televid 62 mm serves as a powerful optical instrument for long-distance viewing. Its primary function is to magnify distant objects, providing clear and detailed images for activities such as birdwatching, nature observation, target shooting, and surveillance. The availability of both straight and angled viewing models caters to different user preferences and observational scenarios, enhancing comfort and versatility during extended use. The internal focusing system, coupled with a patented dual focusing device, allows for precise and rapid adjustment to achieve sharp images, even at varying distances. The scope is designed to be watertight and nitrogen-filled, preventing internal fogging and ensuring reliable performance in diverse environmental conditions.
Important Technical Specifications:
Optical System:
- Spotting scope model: LEICA TELEVID 62
- Front lens diameter: 62 mm, indicating a good light-gathering capability for bright images.
- Focal length of the lens: 352 mm, contributing to the scope's magnification power.
- Close focusing distance: Approximately 3.5 meters (11.5 feet), allowing for observation of nearby subjects as well.
- Exit pupil, twilight factor, and field of view: These specifications are detailed in an accompanying eyepiece chart, indicating that performance metrics vary depending on the chosen eyepiece.
- No. of lens elements (excluding the eyepiece): 2, all multi-coated. Multi-coating enhances light transmission, reduces reflections, and improves image contrast and brightness.
- Prism system: Porro prism system, known for providing bright, high-contrast images with good depth perception.
Construction and Durability:
- Housing: Made from die-cast aluminum and fiberglass-reinforced plastic material, ensuring a balance of durability and relatively light weight. The nitrogen-filled interior prevents internal fogging.
- Watertightness: Watertight to a depth of 3 meters (10 feet), making it highly resistant to water ingress and suitable for use in wet environments.
Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth):
- Partially armored, angled: 295 x 95 x 87 mm (11⅝ x 3¾ x 3⅜ inches).
- Partially armored, straight: 305 x 94 x 87 mm (12 x 3¾ x 3⅜ inches).
- Fully armored, straight: 305 x 94 x 89 mm (12 x 3¾ x 3½ inches).
Weight:
- Partially armored, angled: Approximately 980 g (34.6 oz).
- Partially armored, straight: Approximately 910 g (32.1 oz).
- Fully armored, straight: Approximately 980 g (34.6 oz).
The weight variations suggest that the "fully armored" version might include additional protective layers, while the "partially armored, straight" is the lightest configuration.
Mounting and Accessories:
- Eyepiece connection: Rapid-change bayonet, allowing for quick and easy attachment and detachment of various eyepieces.
- Tripod base:
- For straight viewing scope: ¼" thread.
- For angled viewing scope: ¼" thread, rotating with locking screw, providing flexibility in positioning.
- Lens hood: Sliding lens hood with sighting aid, designed to reduce glare and protect the objective lens from rain and dust, while also assisting in quick target acquisition.
- Filter thread: E 62, indicating compatibility with 62mm filters for enhanced viewing in specific conditions (e.g., polarizing filters).
Order Numbers for Product Models:
- Straight viewing:
- Partially armored, black: 40 108
- Fully armored, grey: 40 113
- Angled viewing (45°): 40 109
Order Numbers for Accessories:
- Eyepieces:
- Eyepiece 16x: 41 009
- Eyepiece 26x WW: 41 011 (WW likely denotes Wide-Angle)
- Eyepiece 32x WW: 41 007 (WW likely denotes Wide-Angle)
- Zoom eyepiece 16-48x: 41 012 (offers variable magnification)
- Adapters:
- Digital adapter 2: 42 303 (for connecting digital cameras for digiscoping)
- Photo adapter (1:12.9/800mm): 42 301 (for connecting SLR cameras for photography)
- T2 adapter for Leica R system: 42 305 (specific adapter for Leica R series cameras)
- Carrying Cases:
- Cordura ever-ready case for straight viewing scope: 42 319
- Cordura ever-ready case for angled viewing scope: 42 318 (Cordura is a durable fabric, and "ever-ready" implies the scope can be used while in the case, offering protection during transport and use).
Usage Features:
The Leica Televid 62 mm is designed for user convenience and adaptability. The choice between straight and angled viewing allows users to select the most comfortable posture for their specific observation needs, whether standing, sitting, or lying down. The angled version, with its rotating tripod base, offers particular flexibility for multiple observers or for viewing at different elevations without repositioning the entire tripod. The rapid-change bayonet system for eyepieces enables quick adaptation to various magnification requirements, from wide-field scanning with lower power to detailed examination with higher power. The sliding lens hood is a practical feature for maintaining image quality in bright conditions and for protecting the lens. The dual focusing device ensures precise focus adjustments, critical for sharp images at high magnifications. The robust construction and watertight design mean the scope can be confidently used in challenging outdoor environments, from dusty plains to damp forests. The availability of various adapters extends its utility to digiscoping and photography, transforming it into a versatile tool for capturing images and videos through the scope.
Maintenance Features:
The Leica Televid 62 mm is built for durability and minimal maintenance, primarily due to its robust construction and sealed design.
- Watertightness and Nitrogen Filling: These features are crucial for internal maintenance, as they prevent dust, moisture, and internal fogging from affecting the optical components. This significantly reduces the need for internal cleaning or servicing.
- Multi-coated Lenses: While enhancing optical performance, multi-coatings also make the lens surfaces easier to clean. Regular external cleaning with a soft lens brush and a micro-fiber cloth, along with a suitable lens cleaning solution, is recommended to remove dust, fingerprints, and smudges without damaging the coatings.
- Armored Housing: The die-cast aluminum and fiberglass-reinforced plastic housing, especially the armored versions, provides excellent protection against physical impacts and abrasions, reducing the likelihood of damage that would require repair.
- Sliding Lens Hood: This feature not only improves viewing but also acts as a physical barrier, protecting the objective lens from environmental elements like rain, snow, and dust, thus reducing the frequency of lens cleaning.
- Delivery Scope: The inclusion of front and rear caps in the delivery scope is essential for protecting the objective and eyepiece lenses when the scope is not in use or during transport.
- Cordura Ever-Ready Cases: The optional Cordura ever-ready cases offer continuous protection for the scope, even during use, safeguarding it from scratches, bumps, and dirt, thereby extending its lifespan and reducing maintenance needs.
Overall, the Leica Televid 62 mm is a professional-grade spotting scope designed for demanding users who require high optical performance, robust construction, and versatile functionality in various outdoor and observational settings. Its comprehensive range of accessories further enhances its adaptability for specialized tasks like photography and digiscoping.