Opticron MM3 60 GA/45 Travelscope + HR3 16–48x Eyepiece
Last December I borrowed the Opticron MM3 60 GA/45 Travelscope with the HR3 16–48x eyepiece for a trip to the Isle of Mull. It was my first time using a telescope properly on my own rather than just looking through someone else’s, so I was keen to see how I’d get on with it in real field conditions.
Mull in winter is exposed and often windy, with lots of roadside stopping and scanning across sea lochs. The MM3 60 felt very manageable from the outset. It packed down neatly, didn’t feel cumbersome when moving between locations, and struck a nice balance between portability and performance. For a trip where you are constantly hopping in and out of the car, that really matters.
Much of my time was spent scanning open water and distant shorelines. Red-breasted Mergansers were regularly dotted across the bays, along with Shag and several Great Northern Divers further out. The scope made it straightforward to pick out structure, bill shape and posture at range, particularly on the divers where subtle detail is important. The image was bright and crisp, and focusing felt intuitive even as a first-time solo scope user.
One of the highlights of the trip was watching a White-tailed Eagle across a wide sea loch in clear daylight. It was at considerable distance, but the scope allowed me to properly study its bulk, bill and overall structure rather than just registering it as a distant shape. Being able to settle onto a bird and take time with it is a different experience to quick binocular views, and that was something I really appreciated.
The angled 45 body made longer scanning sessions comfortable and worked well when adjusting tripod height. As someone still getting used to setting up and using a telescope independently, I found the layout straightforward and confidence-building. Nothing felt overly complicated or fiddly, which is exactly what you want when you are learning.
In fading afternoon light the scope continued to perform well, especially on the water where conditions can flatten contrast. It handled cold, damp air without any issues and felt solid throughout the week.
Overall, the MM3 60 GA felt like an excellent introduction to using a scope independently. Compact enough to travel easily, yet more than capable of delivering the detail needed for coastal birding and raptor watching. I’m very grateful to Opticron for the scope loan. It genuinely added another dimension to the trip and has given me the confidence to incorporate a scope into future birding adventures.
(Tested December – February 2026)
Guest Reviewer Blane Watson