Angled or straight scope and why?
- Thread starter Cantcme
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grizzly
Long Time Member
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I just switched from straight to Swaro ATM 80-HD (that is the angled). I would never go back straight (we're still talking scopes).
Some people have a tough time aligning angles scopes. For me, it was a piece of cake. I don't even use the sight tube.
I picked up the new Swaro 25-50 Wide Angle lens which has a lot more FOV, and that may help. It might be harder to find your target with a narrower FOV.
PS. Cameraland has some pretty good Demo prices right now.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
Some people have a tough time aligning angles scopes. For me, it was a piece of cake. I don't even use the sight tube.
I picked up the new Swaro 25-50 Wide Angle lens which has a lot more FOV, and that may help. It might be harder to find your target with a narrower FOV.
PS. Cameraland has some pretty good Demo prices right now.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
I like the angled. If I were to use one mounted on the window of the truck very much, I could see that straight would have some advantages. If I want to see something while driving, I tend to pull over the truck and generally get out and set up a tripod anyway.
grizzly
Long Time Member
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I do the same thing and use a tripod. Get a good tripod (like $200-$300). Good glass is useless if it is shaky and you can't get comfortable.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
I too just got a angled spotter. Got myself a Minox. Played around with it alittle this winter, I can see I will either love it or hate it once I get in the field on an actual hunt. Not sure on my feelings yet on it from the time Ive spent behind it. But will give it a honest trail.
+1 Griz, spotting scope is only as good as your tripod.
+1 Griz, spotting scope is only as good as your tripod.
C
coolspringoutfitters
Guest
Check out this link, it has been discussed before... I said it then and I will say it now, angled is the ONLY way to go... Read all of the posts, there is a lot of good info there...
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID27/2203.html#.UVNIWlfkdq0
CSO
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http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID27/2203.html#.UVNIWlfkdq0
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J
juniper81
Guest
Most experienced hunters prefer angled. Most inexperienced hunters, especially road hunters, prefer straight.
I'm an experienced hunter(35+ yrs) and I prefer a straight scope. More versital and easier to acquire what I'm looking for. And easier on my back and neck looking down from vantage point. A truck is not a vantage point ,unless your in the bed. I use my binos to pick things out if I'm driving and set up spotter if it peaks my interest. As stated a good sturdy tripod is must. I got nice lightweight one (Manfrotto) for packing,but wished I had gotten slightly more heavier model as we get heavy winds here in NM.
go4steelhd
Active Member
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- 263
I like the straight eye piece. Simply because its quicker for me to pick up an animal with. It has nothing to do with the skill of the hunter, just personal preference.
H
huntazelk
Guest
I think using a straight or angled spotting scope has a lot more to do with the type of spotting you do and from what angle. I do more glassing from the top of mountains and hills into valleys and across canyons than from the bottom looking up. That is why I prefer a straight spotting scope. I also do my glassing with a tripod and high end binos first and then put the spotting scope on the same tripod to get a better view if needed. That means I don't want to have to reset the tripod at a different height in order to use an angled spotting scope. It is already at the correct height needed for a straight spotting scope to slide into the head of your tripod.
I can understand if you glass from a road down low and are looking up at mountains that are higher it could get uncomfortable for long periods of glassing using a straight spotting scope. You need to buy for the type of hunting and glassing you do most. Are you looking up more often or are you looking across canyons straight or down into valleys from up high more often. Also do you glass first with your binos and then use the same tripod to put your spotter on? If so then straight might be better.
Rod
I can understand if you glass from a road down low and are looking up at mountains that are higher it could get uncomfortable for long periods of glassing using a straight spotting scope. You need to buy for the type of hunting and glassing you do most. Are you looking up more often or are you looking across canyons straight or down into valleys from up high more often. Also do you glass first with your binos and then use the same tripod to put your spotter on? If so then straight might be better.
Rod
grizzly
Long Time Member
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Definitely true. Angled spotters are for road hunters only. If you hike (hard-core) then you should get a straight spotter. (insert sarcasm font)
OR... you can get an angled spotter and a good tripod that has multi-position legs to keep it low in front of you and tilt your head down while still aiming the spotter straight across or downhill. (I would recommend the Promaster 525P.)
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
OR... you can get an angled spotter and a good tripod that has multi-position legs to keep it low in front of you and tilt your head down while still aiming the spotter straight across or downhill. (I would recommend the Promaster 525P.)
Grizzly
PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.
fatrooster
Long Time Member
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- 4,187
I'd always used a straight scope until last fall when I picked up a Swaro ATM65 HD. Spent over 36 days glassing sheep daily for several hours a day every day. My friend has a Leica straight scope so I was able to switch it up and compare.
Speaking as a geezer (mid 50's) the angle gave me a lot more options to change position by spinning the eyepiece. Laying on a rock pile all day can be a painful proposition.
The angled scope also allowed me to "see around corners" to some extent. Using the straight scope required me to slide down next to the tripod in order to see hard right or left. Or severely crane my neck.
As far as vehicle spotting it was kind of a tie- If your truck is perpendicular to the direction you want to look the straight scope is quicker and easier. Often on twisty mountain roads the truck had to be parked at oblique angles and my scope worked much better. (Private land issues sometimes prevented tripod use)
The first couple peeks through the scope were a little disorienting but after that I could acquire a target just as fast with the angled model.
The angled scope also seems easier for digiscoping as you can adjust the eyepiece for less glare on the camera viewfinder/screen.
The angled model is a little tougher to get in the compartment of my Badlands 2200 pack. The bigger angled 80 would probably require some minor pack modifications.
Dean
Speaking as a geezer (mid 50's) the angle gave me a lot more options to change position by spinning the eyepiece. Laying on a rock pile all day can be a painful proposition.
The angled scope also allowed me to "see around corners" to some extent. Using the straight scope required me to slide down next to the tripod in order to see hard right or left. Or severely crane my neck.
As far as vehicle spotting it was kind of a tie- If your truck is perpendicular to the direction you want to look the straight scope is quicker and easier. Often on twisty mountain roads the truck had to be parked at oblique angles and my scope worked much better. (Private land issues sometimes prevented tripod use)
The first couple peeks through the scope were a little disorienting but after that I could acquire a target just as fast with the angled model.
The angled scope also seems easier for digiscoping as you can adjust the eyepiece for less glare on the camera viewfinder/screen.
The angled model is a little tougher to get in the compartment of my Badlands 2200 pack. The bigger angled 80 would probably require some minor pack modifications.
Dean
BIGJOHNT
Long Time Member
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I guess I would first say get a quality optic ! Angled or straight you will get use to it ether way.
I have used both but I now use a straight razor hd. I hunt with my two brother in laws a lot and they like angled. Mainly because the are both above 6 ft tail. So being angled they need less tripod. I use a vortex carbon fiber tripod. Set all the way up with the center section down it hits my eye perfect. When I used my phone skope for hunting or targets practice others can see what I see. Here is a picture of us shooting 800 yards at a 18 " steel plate.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/8271skopecam1.jpeg
Without the phone scope you couldn't see the target with your naked eye.
The straight scope fits in my pack better. I have a smaller 65 mm scope I thought I would use for packing. But after getting use to the 85 mm and its better light gathering I never carry it. The little extra weight is worth it for being able to see at first or last light. There is my 2 cents
Good luck
I have used both but I now use a straight razor hd. I hunt with my two brother in laws a lot and they like angled. Mainly because the are both above 6 ft tail. So being angled they need less tripod. I use a vortex carbon fiber tripod. Set all the way up with the center section down it hits my eye perfect. When I used my phone skope for hunting or targets practice others can see what I see. Here is a picture of us shooting 800 yards at a 18 " steel plate.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/8271skopecam1.jpeg
Without the phone scope you couldn't see the target with your naked eye.
The straight scope fits in my pack better. I have a smaller 65 mm scope I thought I would use for packing. But after getting use to the 85 mm and its better light gathering I never carry it. The little extra weight is worth it for being able to see at first or last light. There is my 2 cents
Good luck
highcountryhays
Active Member
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- 129
LAST EDITED ON May-01-13 AT 08:54AM (MST)[p]I used straight spotting scopes for over 25 years. The last 8 years I have been using two angled scopes. One a 15x45 Zeiss, and lately a 20x60 Kowa. I like the angled in most situations, except using it with a window mount from inside the vehicle, or looking extremely steep downhill. The angled is especially handy for you to find something and let someone else take a look at it through your scope. I find less neck strain and glare from the sun.
So if most of your spotting is done from inside a truck or steep downhill, I would go straight. If not, the angled is really nice.
So if most of your spotting is done from inside a truck or steep downhill, I would go straight. If not, the angled is really nice.
P
pirogue
Guest
I agree with huntaz. I like my straight, as mine has been used more for level or looking down. If you are a road hunter or stay close to truck, I could see you looking up more.
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