Orion DAKOTA User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Orion® Dakota

#9379 20-60x62mm Zoom Spotting Scope

™

Eyepiece

Zoom ring

Altitude lock knob

Slow motion altitude knob

Figure. The Dakota zoom spotting scope.

Focus knob

Congratulations on your purchase of a quality Orion spot-

ting scope. Your Dakota zoom spotting scope is a

high-quality optical instrument for viewing birds, wildlife,
sports events, or anything else you want to see more
closely. It will provide many years of superb, enjoyable
viewing. Before using your Dakota spotting scope, we rec­ommend that you read through the following instructions.

Mounting the Dakota Spotting Scope to the
Mini-Tripod

The Dakota Zoom Spotting scope comes complete with a mini­tripod. This tripod will allow you to immediately enjoy using your
spotting scope. Attach the spotting scope to the mini-tripod by
threading the 1/4"-20 stud on the tripod into the 1/4"-20 threaded
hole on the spotting scope’s mounting ring.

Using the Mini-Tripod

Once the spotting scope has been mounted to the mini-tripod,
it can be precisely aimed in altitude (up/down) by the use of
the slow motion altitude knob. For large movements in alti-

Mounting ring

Objective lens

Mini tripod

Elevator

lock ring

Azimuth

tension ring

Elevator shaft

tude, loosen the altitude lock knob and raise or lower the
spotting scope to the desired level. Retighten the altitude lock
knob. To move the tripod in azimuth (left/right), simply take
hold of the tripod with one hand and turn the body of the tele­scope with your other hand. If you find that there is too much
or too little resistance to the azimuth movement, then loosen
or tighten the knurled azimuth tension ring until you reach the
desired tension level.

The spotting scope can also be raised using its elevator shaft.
Loosen the azimuth tension ring all the way to allow height
adjustment with the elevator shaft. When you reach the desired
height, slide the elevator lock ring down to meet the azimuth
tension ring. Then tighten the azimuth tension ring. Note that
when you change the height of the elevator shaft, you may
need to slide the elevator lock ring to make the adjustment.

Mounting the Dakota to a Tripod (optional)

Your Dakota spotting scope can be attached to a sturdy camera
tripod by use of the 1/4"-20 threaded hole located in the mount­ing ring on the spotting scope’s body. This hole accepts 1/4"-20
mounting studs that are standard on most camera tripods.

Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975

Customer Support [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Corporate Offices [phone]

89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

IN 235 Rev. B 02/09

Rotating the Scope in the Mounting Ring

The spotting scope can be rotated relative to the mounting ring,
should you wish to change the orientation of the eyepiece for
more comfortable viewing. With the mounting ring attached to the
tripod, just grasp the body of the spotting scope and rotate it to
the desired position.

Focusing the Spotting Scope

Point the spotting scope in the general direction of an object at
least 24 feet away. Turn the focus knob with your fingers until the
object comes into sharp focus. Make certain that you are turning
the focus knob and not turning the zoom eyepiece. Go a little bit
beyond sharp focus until the image just starts to blur again, the
reverse the rotation of the knob, just to make sure you’ve hit the
exact focus point.

Using the Zoom Eyepiece

The Dakota spotting scope provides continuous zoom magnifica­tion from 20x to 60x. The magnification is adjusted to the desired
level by rotating the zoom ring on the eyepiece. The arrow indica­tor and magnification scale show the magnification setting.
Changing the magnification may also require a slight refocusing
to achieve the sharpest image.

For general use, it’s a good idea to start viewing at the lowest
magnification (20x) until you’ve acquired your viewing target.
Then you can zoom in to a higher magnification to see more
detail. Note that as magnification increases, the images will not
be as bright as they are at lower powers.

Roll-Down Eyecups

Your spotting scope features a roll-down eyecup on the zoom
eyepiece. This eyecup is usually left in the up position for use
without eyeglasses. To use the spotting scope with eyeglasses,
simply roll down the eyeguard by folding it down on one side,
then sliding your fingers around the eyeguard’s rim.

Care and Maintenance

Although the Dakota spotting scope is durable, it should avoid
prolonged exposure to the elements. Keep the Dakota in its hard
case and indoors when not in use.

All optics, when exposed to excessive temperature changes or
high humidity, have the potential to fog up. In cold weather, allow
the optics to adjust slowly to the outdoor temperature prior to use
by storing the spotting scope (in its case) in a cool area, such as
an unheated garage or the trunk of a car. Before bringing the
spotting scope back inside a warm house after use, again store it
in a cool area for an hour or two, then open the case, remove the
spotting scope, take off the dust caps, and let everything dry
overnight. Store the instrument in a cool, dry place; storage in a
humid environment will result in mold growth that destroys the
optical coatings. This is not covered by the warranty.

Cleaning the Lenses

The lens surfaces of the Dakota are coated with anti-reflection
coatings, which can be damaged with careless handling. Avoid
touching lens surfaces with your fingers or any coarse material.
Clean the lenses if they get noticeably dirty. The dust that builds
up on them promotes mold growth, which etches the glass and
destroys the coatings. Always use lens cleaning tissue and fluid
designed specifically for telescope optical coatings. Do not use

regular tissue or fluids made for eyeglasses or household use.
Do not disassemble the spotting scope to clean it.

To clean the lenses, first blow air on the lens with a blower bulb or
compressed air to remove any large particles. The brush the lens
with a soft lens brush and blow air again to remove any dislodged
particles. Put two drops of lens cleaning fluid on a sheet of lens
tissue (never directly on the lens). Wipe the lens gently with a
circular motion, taking care to avoid undue pressure or rubbing.
Quickly remove the excess fluid by wiping with a clean, dry lens
tissue. On the objective lens, clean only a small area at a time,
using a fresh lens tissue on each area.

Using an Optional Camera Adapter

An optional camera adapter (#5223) is available for the Dakota
zoom spotting scope. This adapter, along with an optional, brand­specific T-ring and 35mm SLR camera, can be used to take
pictures through your spotting scope. To properly use the spot­ting scope and camera adapter, you must remove the lens from
the camera and thread the T-ring in place of the lens. Remove the
zoom eyepiece from the body of the spotting scope and replace
it with the camera adapter. Then thread the camera and T-ring
onto the camera adapter. When photographing, center the image
in the camera’s viewfinder, and focus using the spotting scope’s
focusing knob.

Specifications

Objective lens diameter: 62mm

Coatings: Fully coated with multi-coatings on objective lens

Magnification range: 20x to 60x continuous zoom

Field of view: 1.6° to .8°

Eye relief: 28.4mm - 19mm

Exit pupil: 3.1mm - 1.03mm

Close focus: 24 ft.

Tripod attachment: Mounting ring accepts 1/4"-20 mounting
studs, spotting scope can rotate within mounting ring

Weight: 3 lbs. 3 oz.

Length: 16"

Tripod: Mini-tripod included

Case: Hard carry case included

Camera adapter: optional (#5223)

This Dakota spotting scope is warranted against defects in materi­als or workma nship for a period of one year from the date of
purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail pur­chaser only. During this warranty period Orion Te lescopes &
Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted
instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned post­age paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville,
CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such
as a copy of the original invoice) is required.

This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument
has been abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to
normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights,
and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state.
For further warranty service information, contact: Customer Service
Department, Orion Telescopes & Binocul ars, 89 Hangar Way,
Watsonville, CA 95076; [phone].

One-Year Limited Warranty

Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

Customer Support Help Line [phone] • Day or Evening

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