LZOS Turist/Tourist 3 20x50 scope.

[Dodge]

Just picked up one of these little Soviet crackers - it's a little 2 draw spotting scope with a 50mm lens and 20x mag. It gives erect images in the correct sense, so it's good for daytime nature observing but for giggles I thought I point it at Saturn last night - and while I couldn't keep it still enough in my hands, on a photo tripod it was obvious that it was the ringed planet, even at that low mag.

It gives very bright images, and is pinpoint sharp around 85% of the FOV just getting a little soft at the edges. It's got coated optics, and the build quality is superb.

Not bad for £23!

[AndyH]

Hi Dodge.

Lovely scope !

I got a similar one off flea bay a few years back, for a silly price.

Mine is also 20x50, but a single draw scope, with extendable light shield. Mine is designated a 33T20x50.

I'm sure you already know, but both were made by the Russian

LZOS (Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory) .........edit: doh !! It's in your thread title.....Lol at me.

Crisp, sharp, images, with minimal CA, but I agree with the sharpness drop off at around 85%. I think it gives about 2 degrees fov. 0% plastic, made of thick aluminium. Good old fashioned Russian tank build !

I have mine held in a Tal finder bracket(with plastic thumbscrews), on a photo tripod.

Not the widest fov in the world, but makes for a nice spotter, especially if you can get one cheap.

Cheers,

Andy.

ps: I'll get some pics of mine up.

[Dodge]

Hey Andy,

Pleased someone else has one! I've seen a few different ones around, but all seem to come from LZOS. As you say, typical Soviet construction - all metal and glass and pinpoint sharp across most of the FOV. I'm so pleased with mine, I may just have to pick up another one to leave in the car! The upright and correct image is handy for wildlife, and I reckon it might be quite nice to point at the moon.

It's certainly brighter and sharper than my 10x50 Binos.

[AndyH]

As you can see, mine has been well used, but it works well and the optics are excellent. Can't complain as I got it for about £15

This single draw version weighs 0.6kg, is 535mm fully extended and 375mm fully retracted.

[Dodge]

Ooh, I like that!

I may just have to start a collection....

[AndyH]

Does yours fold up to a shorter length?

At the price these go for, a collection wouldn't break the bank, or at least the person holding the purse strings wouldn't break me

I quite fancy a Tourist-3 type like yours.

[Dodge]

Yes, it folds down to ~25 cm (fully extended ~51 cm). It's not quite pocketable, but it's certainly very portable nonetheless.

[matdoodson]

Hello Dodge,

I've just last week picked up the same Tourist-3 scope... unfortunately I think someone's fiddled with this one because it doesn't focus very well!! So I've just been searching the web for a manual... hoping to see if I can find out what the configuration of lenses and spaces should be in the smallest section of the scope. I've tried testing a few different combinations and I can see that changing things around is making a difference but can't quite figure out!!

Just thought I'd drop you a line in case you had a manual or some knowledge of how they should be set up?? I emailed LZOS last week but haven't had a response yet..

Cheers,

Mat

[Dodge]

Hey Mat,

It won't focus much closer than 10-15 metres - try winding the focuser all the way in and point at something a long way away. I've not taken mine apart, so I don't know if there's any adjustment at the focuser end.

Keep me posted.

Dodge

[dragonfly65]

Hey Mat

if you still need to know the lens configuration I've posted it on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93675269@N03/

great bit of kit, works well with a webcam

cheers