The 80mm objective lens of the PF-80 ED gathers a considerable amount of light to provide you with details of shorebirds or big game. Pentax spotting scopes offer high performance at an affordable price. Housed in a strong magnesium alloy body, the Pentax ED offers optimum optical resolution by incorporating extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. With fully multi-coated lenses, light transmission is maximized for clarity and contrast of details. Packaged with a 20-60x zoom eyepiece, this scope accepts a variety of 1/4 inch astronomical eyepieces (not available from Eagle Optics). This scope comes with the Pentax Worry-Free warranty.
Optical Features
Extra-low Dispersion (ED) Glass
Enhances resolution, color, and contrast.
Fully Multi-coated Lenses
Increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces.
BaK-4 Prisms
Optimize light transmission through the prisms.
Construction Features
Porro Prism
Offer maximum image quality and durability in a traditional design.
Straight Body Design
Is favored by users because it works well for viewing downward from elevated platforms, such as decks and patios.
Magnesium Alloy Body
Is sturdy and resistant to corrosion.
Sunshade
Reduces glare and shields the objective lens from raindrops.
Rotating Tripod Ring
Allows greater flexibility when positioning the spotting scope.
Design Features
Waterproof
Optics are sealed with O-rings to prevent moisture, dust, and debris from getting inside the spotting scope.
Fogproof
Barrel is filled with nitrogen gas to inhibit internal fogging.
Pentax PF-80 ED is well built and there is a nice "feel" to it. I only tried it a couple of times. It's clear and sharp through 60x. Made in Japan is definitely better than made in China and the extra money is well justified.
Extremely Pleased
-
08/30/2011
by
Ranny from Greeley CO
Two weeks ago we took our new Pentax PF-80 ED scope to Yellowstone for several days of critter watching . Both my wife and I were extremely pleased with the overall performance of the scope. No complaints at all. The sharpness in low light conditions was especially impressive. We let several bystanders get behind the scope to watch a feeding grizzly in the Lamar Valley and they kept saying "Wow, what a scope!"
Great Value
-
08/11/2011
by
Marcy from United States
About 7-8 years ago I bought a 65mm Pentax spotting scope for wildlife watching in Yellowstone. I bought it because in comparison to other scopes I tried it seemed very nearly as good and less than half the price. I already owned Pentax cameras so I trusted the brand.
During this year's vacation I used the scope so much that I decided to upgrade before next years trip. I was looking for something with a bigger objective lens to improve brightness at high magnification. I had the opportunity to try a lot of other people's scopes while in Yellowstone including this scope. This time I found the PF-80ED on par with every scope I tried, again at a lesser price. I decided to try a straight scope this time as it seems it might be more comfortable for seated observation.
My copy seems as sharp and bright as the ones I tried while on my vacation. I took a trip to the rifle range last week to spot for a friend who was working of gathering ballistic data out to 1000 yards. I was able to spot both bullet trace and strikes out to 1000 yards without difficulty which is a fairly demanding task.
Overall I think this scope is one of the best values available on the market. Marcy
PS I also bought the Pentax digi-scoping camera bracket for the scope. I think with some experience and a cable release adapter I can make it work, but I'm going to look for a better solution as it is not in the same quality class as either the 80mm or 65mm Pentax scopes. I can't seem to get it aligned in a stable configuration.
Hard to beat at any price!
-
02/21/2010
by
Ronald Grotovsky from NJ
I purchased this scope about 6 years ago and being a retired microscopist I am very critical when it comes to picking optics for my personal use. Since I purchased this scope, I have added the Pentax XW SMC Series of eyepieces to enhance and widen the image. Don't get me wrong, the 20-60 Zoom that comes with the scope is very good but there is nothing like a wide angle single focal length astronomical eyepiece to get the most out of a spotting scope. Needless to say I am very pleased with my scope and use it exclusively for birding, target shooting and hunting needs. Since I am not as young as I use to be, I am now considering buying the Pentax 60mm spotting scope to complement my Pentax 80mm and to make it a little easier to carry when I am in the field. Before I bought this scope I spent a lot of time in checking out as many scopes as I could and came to the conclusion that this scope offers the best bang for the buck bar none. The scopes that I checked out were all the top of the line scopes from the following manufactures:; Nikon, Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski and Televue. During my search, I was also able to make some direct comparisons between the Pentax, Televue and Swarovski and the Pentax beat them in resolving power which is not an easy feat considering the competition. To me, resolving power is the most important quality when comparing optics. The more detail that you can discern, the more information you receive about the item you are viewing. To end, the Pentax is a real sleeper in scope and binocular quality and Pentax will show you that you do not have to spend a fortune in order to have a superior product. I know that you will be pleased and no, I do not work for Pentax.
A Bird's Eye in View!
-
07/15/2009
by
A. W. G. from Mount Kisco, NY
I purchased this scope for watching hawks. I wasn't quite ready to pony up for a full-sized Zeiss or TeleVue scope, but I was hoping I could find something I'd be happy with in the interim. I was in for a pleasant surprise! With a fixed eyepiece, the Pentax PF-80ED competes more than favorably with many top grade scopes at literally half the price. I'm continually amazed by its bright, sharp image. My "compromise" was anything but! After several hundred hours use for hawk counts, pelagic trips, eagle surveys, and weekday jaunts, I remain very satisfied with this scope's performance. If you can afford the best Kowa, Zeiss, or Swarovski scopes, Pentax probably wouldn't be your first choice; but their line is worthy of consideration. Faced with buying another scope at any price, I would strongly consider another Pentax.
Outstanding Pentax Scope
-
07/06/2009
by
Erik Bruhnke from Wisconsin
This scope setup is absolutely amazing! I really recommend this scope & eyepiece setup for anybody who wants a vivid, bright, clear and crisp image, without having to pay for the highest-end scope. The colors seen through the scope are true-to-life. This scope has been through blizzards, downpours and intense heat during my birdwatching experiences, and it has held up wonderfully. Another pro of this scope is the eyepiece and scope body being fully waterproof. The setup has a sturdy and well-constructed feel. Works excellent for digiscoping.
Email
Print
