What is the main advantage of the Regal M2 100ED's ED glass?
The Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass in the 100mm objective lens corrects for chromatic aberration, also known as color fringing. This means you get sharper, higher-contrast images with true-to-life colors, which is especially critical when observing high-contrast subjects like birds, wildlife, or the limb of the Moon.
How do I connect a camera to the Regal M2 100ED for photography?
The Regal M2 100ED is designed for digiscoping and includes the necessary T-Adapter ring. To attach your camera, you will need a T-Ring specific to your camera's lens mount (e.g., Canon, Nikon, Sony). Simply thread the T-Ring onto your camera body, then connect it to the included T-Adapter on the spotting scope's eyepiece mount.
Is the 22-67x magnification on the Regal M2 100ED suitable for casual astronomy?
Yes, absolutely. While primarily a terrestrial scope, the 100mm aperture gathers a significant amount of light. At 22x, you can frame the entirety of the Pleiades (M45) or the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). At 67x, you can easily resolve the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and detailed craters along the Moon's terminator. Its limiting stellar magnitude is 12.5, making it capable for observing brighter deep-sky objects.
What kind of tripod is recommended for the Regal M2 100ED?
Given its weight of 85.3 oz (2417 g) with the eyepiece, a sturdy, full-size tripod with a fluid or pan-tilt head is essential to prevent vibrations, especially at higher magnifications. A tripod rated to hold at least 10-15 pounds is recommended to ensure stability for both visual use and digiscoping.
Does the 20mm eye relief on the Regal M2 100ED work well with eyeglasses?
Yes, the 20mm eye relief at the lowest 22x magnification is generous and allows most eyeglass wearers to see the full 1.9° field of view comfortably. As with most zoom eyepieces, the eye relief will decrease as you increase magnification, so you may need to press your glasses closer to the eyepiece at 67x.
How does the Regal M2 100ED perform in low-light conditions like dawn or dusk?
The scope excels in low light thanks to its large 100mm objective lens and XLT fully multi-coated optics. At 22x magnification, it produces a bright 4.5mm exit pupil, which transmits a large column of light to your eye, making it ideal for spotting wildlife during the "magic hours" of early morning and late evening. The twilight factor ranges from a high 46.9 to 81.9.
