Leica Televid 77

Pros: Excellent optics, excellent build quality, attractive, portable and waterproof.

Cons: Pricey, but reasonable value. Heavier than some competing products.

The Bottom Line: Highly recommended for birding and wide field astronomy if portability is required.

Review: Overview Leica APO Televid 77 Angled Overview The Leica APO Televid 77 is a modest sized, robust and portable waterproof spotting scope with superb optics, and superb mechanics. In the UK it is reasonable value compared to competing ...

Pros: Superb image quality and a huge field of view.

Cons: None really though a screw in screw out eye tube would be better.

The Bottom Line: A first rate second eyepiece for bird watching and ideal for wide field astronomy.

Review: The Leica 20xw eyepiece is manufactured by Leica for use on their Televid scopes. It magnifies 16x and 20x on the 62mm and 77mm scopes respectively. However, it may be used on any telescope with a standard 1.25" focus tube with the aid of a simple and ...

Pros: Ultimate performance, elegant design, "it's a Leica"

Cons: "it's a Leica" so it's REALLY expensive.

Review: The Televid line of spotting scopes hit the U.S. market in 1995, with the achromat Televid 77 and the apochromatic APO-Televid 77 available in both straight and 45 angled models.

I recently upgraded from a Televid 77 to the APO-Televid. The...

Pros: APO Fluorite Objective superb. Better for photographs than non-APO version, sharper, brighter.

Cons: Cost, cost, cost.

The Bottom Line: I'd give it my best rating among elite traditional scopes... but I'm still not sure I'd pay for it.

Review: The APO version of the Televid claims to be truly "apochromatic." That is, it says it introduces no false color at all to the image you see through it. I don't know if that's really true, but dang is it sharp and clear.

Aside from the...

Pros: Ease of use, bright and clear.

Cons: My wife will not carry it. Says it is too heavy.

Review: I have had no faults with the non APO Televid 77 which I set up with the 40X wide angle eyepiece. The images are crisp, clear and in focus edge to edge. Even in low light conditions I have had no problems with the ID on any bird I put this scope on. ...

Pros: As good as any non-APO scope.

Cons: Tripod mount is not balanced!! Just don't look through an APO version

The Bottom Line: The Televid 77 is a great scope at lower magnifications but go for the APO version if you want the best results under any conditions.

Review: I have written this review from a birder’s perspective. The Televid scope is a popular choice with birders and hunters. I have the angled non-APO version with the wide-angle 32x eyepiece. Combined with a lightweight tripod (the Bogen Junior) and a custom...

Pros: Cost-effective, slightly lighter

Cons: Not an APO-Televid !

Review: The Televid 77 is the achromatic (and much lower-cost) half of the Leica spotting scope line, which is topped out by the APO-Televid (Apochromatic, fully color-corrected) model. Like its more expensive sibling the Televid has a cast aluminum alloy body,...

Pros: Physical construction is of highest caliber. Big, satisfyingly made eyepieces. Durability.

Cons: Limited eyepieces available.

The Bottom Line: Best, most durable-feeling, design among the elite traditional birding scopes. Limited, but satisfyingly made, range of eyepieces.

Review: Televid scopes, like Leica binoculars, are extremely thoughtfully designed. That's the first thing that'll strike you as you look at a row of spotting scopes in a store somewhere; the Televids, with their dual focus knobs, graciously big eyepieces, and...