i can recommend the opticron IF 60 for sale at mmere as it used to belong to my wife who decided to trade it in for a decent pair of binoculars optics very good and has a good wide angled eyepiece with it.
I started with an Opticron IS 60 which I had for about 2 years and was great at about £140 before swapping for a secondhand Leica. Currently In Focus at Martin Mere has an IF 60 (sic) listed at £129. Worth checking out and what a great place to shop for gear.
http://www.at-infocus.co.uk/usedequipment.html
Always ask there anyway. Secondhand is a good bet from a reputable place like In Focus as they have kit in very good nick that you'd never know was used and they drive a hard bargain if your selling!
Opticron's web site lists the IS 50 at rrp £99 and the IS 60 at £149
Tim
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 12:51:52 AM
a birder I met at Spurn a couple of years ago raved about the Opticron IS scopes. The 50mm version is less than £100 at Warehouse express, but you'd need an eyepiece as well - they seem to start around the £40 mark. Havent looked through one myself so cant comment on their performance. Theres also another Opticron scope on the site with a zoom for less than £100
I was also told a while ago that the Delta scope's Ian mentioned are basically the same as Opticron. Dont know how true it is. It used to be you could only buy the delta stuff from In Focus and I've always found them a little on the expensive side, but it was a while ago when I last purchased optics so that might have changed now.
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
We have an Acuter 80mm with 16-48 zoom (which equates to 20-60 on this scope. We bought a Leica a couple of years ago, so the Acuter is rarely used nowadays. Can't remember how much it cost new, but if you are interested you can take it off our hands for £50. I think it's the previous version of the ST20-60x80 scope and isn't nitrogen purged.
It's a reasonable scope for the price - we used it for a year or so and were more than satisfied - for the price.
I've used one of these for 25 years!! I picked up a replacement zoom eyepiece for it about 3 years ago when the original fell apart internally. It's like an old pair of trainers that you just don't want to throw out. I've certainly been happy with it and it's had a hell of a lot of use. they're a decent size for carrying about and can even go in to a large inside pocket.
DELTA 70 ANGLED TELESCOPE An ideal starter scope with a 70mm objective lens for a bright image, angled body for ease of use. Available with a choice of 20-45x zoom eyepiece or HR30x eyepieces at £159.00
Available from In-Focus so a trip to Martin Mere would atleast allow you to check it out fully and the guys there are very accomodating and know their stuff. The 70mm objective lens should allow more light through which will make the scope more useable, I know it's a little more than your budget but it could be very well worth it.
I've used an Opticron Piccolo ED with 30x W eyepiece for about 15 years. Optically brilliant for it's size, so I'm sure the newer Opticron gear is just as good.
I'd get down to Focalpoint http://www.focalpointoptics.com/index.php or In Focus at Martin Mere and try a few out
4000% magnification and now for something altogether more realistic
Bushnell 15-45x60 £96.89 Acuter 16-48x65 £129.00
I don't know what either scope is like optically and Mike is quite right that you get what you pay for by and large (£2500 for the new Leica) but if you're budget is your budget then the above two represent possibly the best out there for that money. The acuter is even nitrogen filled making it waterproof!
Both scopes can be found on the Warehouse Express website
Seen in the press today "FOR A GREAT VIEW" "High Powered Zoom Telscope with up to 4000% magnification. Comes with lens cover, tripod and padded case" a snip at £34.99 plus P&P
Address www.mailshop.co.uk, tel 0845 155 0300. Probably junk for birding but it's within budget!!!!!!
Jake, Have a look at scopesnskies for cheaper scopes but remember you get what you pay for. saving up for opticron is good advice in my opinion. http://www.scopesnskies.com/cat/spotting-scopes/bresser-spotting-scopes.html
Jake,it.s a minefield out there in scope land the £120 range is limited ,you might be better off with one of the aldi £25/30 scope,s(see other threads) to use untill the bank balance gets you into the optricon range.
well im back from a wonderful birding weekend in anglesy was really good apart from, me falling smashing my scope and splitting my knee open resulting in a long stay in casulty !! aghh !!
anyeays was a good weekend adding a few birds to my life list !
now as i said my scope broke so a new one is deffo needed soon so i wanted you good people to advise me on what to purchase working on a budget of say £120 ?
and now for something altogether more realistic 
) but if you're budget is your budget then the above two represent possibly the best out there for that money. The acuter is even nitrogen filled making it waterproof!