What Spotting scope
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accubond
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I posted a similar question earlier and the response I got from the guy's on here were to watch the weight if you plan doing alot of hiking. With this advice I researched a bit and purchased the Leupold compact 15-30x50 along with the Nikon compact tripod and together they weigh 2.6 pounds. If your looking for something bigger than that my buddy has the Vortex Nomad and they seem to be really good for the money.
LAST EDITED ON Feb-03-09 AT 09:48PM (MST)[p]+1
Look for used. I just picked up a Swaro 65mm sts for $1300. It didn't have a scratch on it....only a few months old
I found one for my buddy..a 65mm HD with DCA for $1750.
If your hiking, I wouldn't go bigger then the 65mm.
Look for used. I just picked up a Swaro 65mm sts for $1300. It didn't have a scratch on it....only a few months old
I found one for my buddy..a 65mm HD with DCA for $1750.
If your hiking, I wouldn't go bigger then the 65mm.
R
redrabbit
Guest
Another option, rather than a spotter, would be a set of 15x binos on a tripod. I find looking through them more comfortable than with one eye through a spotter.
If you can get a good deal buy it, the kowas are as good or better than the big three. Look on the birdwatchers sites and see which scopes they rate the best in actual side by side comparisons. The kowa 88 is the best. I have had all of these scopes and the kowas are as good as any. Let the swaro guys start teling me how crazy I am. The kowa probably has a better selection of lens than the others.Ihad my kowa 62 side by side with a swaro 65 could see the bullet holes with the kowa not with the swaro. a lot of my friends now have kowas after seeing them side by side.
I have a set of Swaro EL bino's and was all set to snag a Swaro spotter. However, after spending hours at the local sporting good store and at Cabela's looking through various spotters, I was convinced the Leupold 12-40x60 was as good as any of the 65mm objective lense Swaro's. Haven't been disappointed since. Optic's are one area where I won't skimp...
K
ktc
Guest
swarovski or leica.
dont be fooled into buying the garbage or you will be buying again one day. there is a reason the german glass costs more.
dont be fooled into buying the garbage or you will be buying again one day. there is a reason the german glass costs more.
one_dryboot
Long Time Member
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I use a pentex 20-60-80. I got a great deal when my wife worked at inkleys. It is a great scope for a grand less than swarovski. I cant see a difference.
W
westelkman
Guest
I highly agree with the "Intended use" comment- always tradeoffs!
Assuming you aren't packing it a long ways on your back; The big 3 are nice with my preference being the Zeiss. That said, I own 15x zeiss binos for that type of hunt
Backpacking, I like my buddies Nikon compact and it is excellent,inexpensive, light and compact. Not the best low light performance [50mm] and I don't like a scope for all day viewing but fine to check trophy quality.
"In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences"
Robert Green Ingersoll
Assuming you aren't packing it a long ways on your back; The big 3 are nice with my preference being the Zeiss. That said, I own 15x zeiss binos for that type of hunt
Backpacking, I like my buddies Nikon compact and it is excellent,inexpensive, light and compact. Not the best low light performance [50mm] and I don't like a scope for all day viewing but fine to check trophy quality.
"In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences"
Robert Green Ingersoll
N
NeverStopHuntin
Guest
Side by side comparison in the hills looking at deer, Kowa is better than Swaro IMO
P
Prism
Guest
The big Kowa with the prominar lense is better optically than anything that it has been tested against, but it's very spendy.
I have a Swaro 65 HD and my buddy has a Vortex 80mm and let me tell you there is not 1500 worth of difference. Pretty damn impressive glass for the price on the Vortex. I'm getting one for a beater for the truck so I don't have to take the high dollar model everywhere.
R
rumproast
Guest
None.
You'll get more use out of it should you be hunting.
'Nocs you can mount. I find more practical by multiples.
You'll get more use out of it should you be hunting.
'Nocs you can mount. I find more practical by multiples.
Romulus
Active Member
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I purchased a lightweight Kowa for backpacking and I really like it. It is very light and works well. The best spotting scopes for low light and extensive viewing are to heavy if you are not spending a lot of time at the truck. I have the big Leica and it is nice to look through but you find excuses to not pack it because it is so large and heavy.
stealth_archer
Member
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>Another option, rather than a spotter,
>would be a set of
>15x binos on a tripod.
> I find looking through
>them more comfortable than with
>one eye through a spotter.
>
I completely agree. I have a set of EL's and I also had a Swaro 80HD. Dont get me wrong the 80HD was awesome, but I used the EL's CONSIDERABLY more then the spotting scope. I acutally sold it a few months back becuase I did not use is as much as I thought and it strains your eyes after looking through them for 4 or 5 hours. The other problem, or at least I found, was you find animals considerably farther than you think. I was hunting in NM for elk in the Gila and I found some toads that looked like a reasonalbe distance to find out that it was 7 to 8 miles away (one way). Just my 2 cents.....
>would be a set of
>15x binos on a tripod.
> I find looking through
>them more comfortable than with
>one eye through a spotter.
>
I completely agree. I have a set of EL's and I also had a Swaro 80HD. Dont get me wrong the 80HD was awesome, but I used the EL's CONSIDERABLY more then the spotting scope. I acutally sold it a few months back becuase I did not use is as much as I thought and it strains your eyes after looking through them for 4 or 5 hours. The other problem, or at least I found, was you find animals considerably farther than you think. I was hunting in NM for elk in the Gila and I found some toads that looked like a reasonalbe distance to find out that it was 7 to 8 miles away (one way). Just my 2 cents.....
