Meopta vs Vortex Spotter

Ltsheets · Feb 25, 2014

So I think I've pretty much narrowed my Spotter search down to 2 (assuming I get the blessing from the wife!). Through military discounts, the price difference between these 2 is only about $350 with the Meopta being the more expensive.

My first choice, and the one I was about to buy before seeing the new mil discount on the Meopta, is the Vortex Razor HD 16-48x65mm. I really like the fact that it's not the heaviest scope but still has a lot to offer as whatever scope I buy will be going with me on all of my DIY backpacking hunts.

The Meopta is the Meostar S2 HD 30-60x82mm WA. I don't think I've found a bad review of this or the Cabela's Euro which I believe are essentially the same. My biggest concern with this scope is size and weight as it weighs almost a pound more than the Razor and is obviously larger.

I'm curious what experience everyone has had with these 2 and whether or not you think packing the extra pound is worth the benefits of the bigger OBJ scope.

Any and all opinions will be greatly appreciated!

alaska_bou · Feb 25, 2014

I have owned the 85 vortex razor and the 82 meopta S2 and I can say, without question, the meopta S2 is a superior scope in every aspect and worth any premium in price. I say this from first hand experience with both. The razor had good daytime resolution but was very poor in low light despite the 85mm lens and the build quality was crap. Had I not picked up the new STX swarovski scopes I would have kept the meopta.

Ltsheets · Feb 26, 2014

Dd you backpack with that Meopta?

grizzly · Feb 26, 2014

The new Eastmans review put the Leupold Gold Ring HD above the Vortex. I'd compare it to the Meopta and go from there.

Grizzly

Ltsheets · Feb 26, 2014

Can you digiscope with the leupold GR? I don't think you can and that's something I plan on doing on scouting and camping trips.

SHEDYGAGA · Feb 27, 2014

No question about it.
The Meopta Meostar S2 is the one I would go with.

I am considering buying my daughter a spotter and this was the same price range I have.

After doing some field glassing with a Vortex razor 85mm I decided that was not the scope for my daughter.
Its not a bad scope.
But, for an extra $400. you can get the Meopta and its a much better scope.

I decided that I would go with the Meopta, rather than the Vortex.

Its just an opinion.
Lots of guys swear by the Vortex stuff. I have not been impressed by it.

What I can tell you about Vortex is that not all Vortex optics are equal.

Dan and Margie Hamilton don't build optics. The guy is a Dentist.
Was a Dentist.
They started an optics store called Eagle Optics. That inspired having an optics manufacturer make them their own line of binoculars.
That experience was what started the Vortex line of optics.
But, depending on what line of Vortex optics you buy, they are made by different companies in different countries.
Depending on the line, they could be made and assembled in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China or the Philippines.

The Japanese made stuff is the higher end stuff.

With the Meopta you are going to get optics made in either the Czech Republic or Long island New York.
If you buy online in the USA you will most likely get the Long island manufacturing facility product.
Same if you buy the Cabelas brand Euros.
If you buy online from a store in Europe, you will likely be getting optics made in the Czech Republic.

There are several reviews on the Meopta, you should read them.

rotorhead · Feb 27, 2014

I have the Meopta S2. I love it. I looked through a ton of spotters before I finally decided on the meopta. If you can put them side by side and compare the two and see which one best fits your eye.

alaska_bou · Feb 27, 2014

Ltsheets,

I have a Nikon 50ED fieldscope for backpacking but rarely find myself using it. Vortex does make a similar 50mm spotter that is supposed to be as good if not a little better than the nikon.

Ltsheets · Feb 27, 2014

Do you pack with your S2? If so, how has that been?

>No question about it.
>The Meopta Meostar S2 is the
>one I would go with.
>
>
>I am considering buying my daughter
>a spotter and this was
>the same price range I
>have.
>
>After doing some field glassing with
>a Vortex razor 85mm I
>decided that was not the
>scope for my daughter.
>Its not a bad scope.
>But, for an extra $400. you
>can get the Meopta and
>its a much better scope.
>
>
>I decided that I would go
>with the Meopta, rather than
>the Vortex.
>
>Its just an opinion.
>Lots of guys swear by the
>Vortex stuff. I have not
>been impressed by it.
>
>What I can tell you about
>Vortex is that not all
>Vortex optics are equal.
>
>Dan and Margie Hamilton don't build
>optics. The guy is a
>Dentist.
>Was a Dentist.
>They started an optics store called
>Eagle Optics. That inspired having
>an optics manufacturer make them
>their own line of binoculars.
>
>That experience was what started the
>Vortex line of optics.
>But, depending on what line of
>Vortex optics you buy, they
>are made by different companies
>in different countries.
>Depending on the line, they could
>be made and assembled in
>Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China or
>the Philippines.
>
>The Japanese made stuff is the
>higher end stuff.
>
>With the Meopta you are going
>to get optics made in
>either the Czech Republic or
>Long island New York.
>If you buy online in the
>USA you will most likely
>get the Long island manufacturing
>facility product.
>Same if you buy the Cabelas
>brand Euros.
>If you buy online from a
>store in Europe, you will
>likely be getting optics made
>in the Czech Republic.
>
>There are several reviews on the
>Meopta, you should read them.
>

Fortis · Feb 28, 2014

SHEDYGAGA nailed it...every word of it.

I've had my S2 side by side with a Kowa 884, and Zeiss 85T FL. The S2 more than holds its own amongst these two. It is noticeably better than the Zeiss, and every bit the scope that the Kowa is, with more zoom that you can still get a sharp image with, when the atmosphere is cooperating of course.

Ltsheets · Feb 28, 2014

Guys with the S2s,

Do you guys pack that scope wherever you go and if so, do you ever find yourself wishing for a lighter, smaller scope?

hunt30 · Mar 1, 2014

>Guys with the S2s,
>
>Do you guys pack that scope
>wherever you go and if
>so, do you ever find
>yourself wishing for a lighter,
>smaller scope?

I have never looked through the Meopta in the field, but I'm sure the extra size would be worth the quality in picture. I have a Kowa 88 and a Nikon ED50 and almost always opt for the larger scope. The main thing that I would be worried about with your choice would be the minimum power of 30 on the S2.

Timberbuck · Mar 1, 2014

Any 80mm+ scope is going to be too bulky and heavy to pack very much.

Of the two you listed the Meopta S2 is the better scope.

For the price of a new Meopta S2 you could get yourself into a lightly used Alpha 65mm spotter that would be much better as an overall use spotter.

I would look on the used market for a Swarovski atm/stm hd 65mm,ats/sts 65mm, or a Zeiss Victory FL (most new version with all black armor).

You also have the option of buying a new Kowa 66mm prominar in that price range.

Lastly the Pentax PF65 ED2 65mm with one of their XW series fixed power eyepieces makes a very good scope for the $.

rotorhead · Mar 1, 2014

Check the weight of the swaro 65mm compared to the meopta. Hardly any difference. With hardly any weight difference between the two, I would personally take the higher power. The length between the two is really close also. You are not going to go wrong with the Meopta S2.

Ltsheets · Mar 1, 2014

My hope regarding the min zoom on the meopta would be that the wide angle of the eyepiece would help with the fact that I couldn't back out to 20.

>>Guys with the S2s,
>>
>>Do you guys pack that scope
>>wherever you go and if
>>so, do you ever find
>>yourself wishing for a lighter,
>>smaller scope?
>
>
>I have never looked through the
>Meopta in the field, but
>I'm sure the extra size
>would be worth the quality
>in picture. I have a
>Kowa 88 and a Nikon
>ED50 and almost always opt
>for the larger scope. The
>main thing that I would
>be worried about with your
>choice would be the minimum
>power of 30 on the
>S2.

Ltsheets · Mar 1, 2014

Yeah this is kinda what I'm thinking right now, especially considering that the Meostar will be about 40% off. I would hope that I could make up for the little extra weight with a really good lightweight tripod.

Though there is still a part of me saying that the vortex razor 65 is probably all the scope I'll ever need considering my only experience with a spotter is the vortex nomad, which isn't all that great a scope.

That being said, I already love my meostar HD binos!!

Such a tough decision.

>Check the weight of the swaro
>65mm compared to the meopta.
>Hardly any difference. With hardly
>any weight difference between the
>two, I would personally take
>the higher power. The
>length between the two is
>really close also. You are
>not going to go wrong
>with the Meopta S2.