Nikon ED50-A Grey Fieldscope

I was worried this scope might be too small for serious birding, but the 50mm objective is plenty bright and the ED glass makes a real difference in color fidelity. It's impressively compact for hiking.

Took this on a birding hike and the ED glass really does cut down on color fringing—crisp even in harsh midday light. The whole setup fits in my daypack with room to spare, exactly what I needed for a lightweight rig. Just wish the eyepiece was included, but the sharpness makes it worth the extra pu

I was worried the 50mm lens would be too small for birding, but the ED glass cuts chromatic aberration so well that distant gulls look sharp. Tucked it in my backpack without noticing the weight, though you do have to remember your own eyepiece.