Spotters

I have a 65 mm razor and 85 mm razor. Thinking I would pack the 65 mm. But I like the light gathering of the 85 mm better. So I usually always pack it. It's is straight and fits into a side pouch on my backpack great. If it was angled it wouldn't fit.
 
I love my 85mm Vortex and really like knowing that I have their warranty to back me up.

If you don't have a budget you could go with Swaro but I have heard great and not so good things with their warranty.

Those are really the two that I considered when I was looking for a high end spotter.

_______________________________________________
SCOUT. HUNT. HARVEST. ENJOY!
 
I have the Vortex Razor 85mm and it is good. If I were in the market right now with a budget for the glass you listed I'd be buying the Kowa Prominar TSN-883 or -884 depending on whether you like angled or straight.

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If money is not a problem then buy one of the big 3.I can't comment on kowa ,but my son just bought the vortex on camo fire and we put it up against my sworo 80 mm and it was just as good up until 5 minutes before dark.But i don't really care about that if you're looking a mile away your not going to get there before dark.And if in the morning wait 5 or 10 and you will see just as good for about $2000 cheaper
 
I've got the Swarovski 80mm ATS Hd and the Kowa 88mm. Clarity, probably not any difference that I can detect. With the 88mm on the Kowa, it beats the Swarovski with light by a little. I prefer the Kowa myself. So, I'll probably sell the Swarovski.
 
Like some of the others have said, if money isn't a huge factor the Swarovski spotters are amazing. I had the 20-60-80mm spotter and recently went to the new modular 85mm and love it. If you are into digiscoping the clarity is awesome. The 85mm collects more light in low light situations and more field of view. In a pack the angled eye piece will definitely take a little more room instead of a straight which you will have with the other brands as well. As far as weight goes, that's the hard part to begin comparing ounces to dollars.
 
If you are asking which one is the best, then I would not put the Vortex Razor in the same class as Swarovski. I have owned a Razor 65 mm for a few years and compared it side by side with a Swaro sts 65 mm spotter during actual hunting conditions over several days in varied conditions. To me, the Swaro is better, and it gets more obvious as conditions get less favorable. I have since sold my Razor and now own a Swaro sts 65 mm. The Razor is good for the price, but not in the same ball park as the Swaro, in my opinion. I can't comment on the others you listed, since I have no experience with them.

As far as packing an 80 mm spotter, not for me. That's why I have a 65 mm spotter. The 80s are about a pound heavier +/- and a lot bulkier.

good luck
 
I have owned a lot of spotters and have learned that you get what you pay for. If you are on a budget or dont use your spotter a lot the razor is a good way to go. I started out with vortex optics and found I used the warranty way too often, they are built cheaper and when you use them as often as I do, you will use the warranty. They do honor their warranty very well but I hate the wait and cant afford to not have a spotter for a week or two. I would go with Leica or Swaro if i wasnt worried about price. Kowa spotters are great also. I owned a tsn-883 and optically they are as good as any. I prefer the build of the swaro and if you ever need to re-sell they hold their value better than any brand out there. Never had to use their warranty.
 
I own the Vortex Razor 16-48x65x, and I really like it. It has worked great for me. But the comment above about comparing it to Swaro is accurate. It's really not a fair comparison as the Swaro is over double the price, so it's apples to oranges.

If money isn't the deciding factor, get the Swaro. It's a better quality scope when placed side by side with the Vortex. If the money were not an issue, and I was looking for a scope to pack, I think my first choice would be the Swaro STS 20-60x65 scope. If money REALLY were not an issue, I'd go with the ATS (eye piece and lens come separately) and get either the 85 mm or 95 mm lenses in addition to the 65 and just swap the lens out for different uses.

If you have to be concientious of the price, the Vortex is a good way to go. Like I said, I've liked mine.
 
Don't waste your money on the razor if you can afford better, Leica, swaro, etc. I went down that road. And ended up buying a Swarovski. Should have done it from the beginning, would have saved me some money. Vortex warranty is great, but there glass can't compete with the big boys.
 
I've compared the 85mm Razor to a 65mm Swaro at last light amny times, and they are about the same in my eyes. Of course the bigger Swaro is better. The smaller Swaro has the overall advantage of being smaller and ligher.


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When comparing spotting scopes use this test. Put an index card, envelope, magazine, etc. Over the end of the spotter and see how much of it you can cover up and still see. I once compared a Swarovski 65mm to a vortex razor 85mm and the Swarovski spanked the razor easily. What does this test tell you? It tells you how much light gathering ability each scope has. Not putting down vortex, I have owned several vortex optics but it's not fair to compare a much cheaper optic to a more expensive optic. Goodluck, fatrooster.
 
Buy SWARO or be Called a PUSSSSSSY!

Yup!

That's What Homer Told Me!

My Bushnell is getting close to Retirement!









[Font][Font color = "blue"]I Changed My Signature Just for NVB!
Like 6 Damn Times Now!
 
No matter what you get you need to be efficient at using your optics. I've had people using some cheap optics out spot me a time or two. I imagine Ole bessy is pretty good at using the Bushnell. I'm sure you could squeeze another 10 years out of them Bessie. Thanks for chiming in. Good to hear from you. Fatrooster.
 
>
>When comparing spotting scopes use this
>test. Put an index card,
>envelope, magazine, etc. Over the
>end of the spotter and
>see how much of it
>you can cover up and
>still see. I once compared
>a Swarovski 65mm to a
>vortex razor 85mm and the
>Swarovski spanked the razor easily.
>What does this test tell
>you? It tells you how
>much light gathering ability each
>scope has. Not putting down
>vortex, I have owned several
>vortex optics but it's not
>fair to compare a much
>cheaper optic to a more
>expensive optic. Goodluck, fatrooster.

Fatrooster is not looking very fat ? ?? What's up with that Fatrooster.
 
Maybe I should say over weight instead of fat, ha ha.
How I got my name. In high school, graduated in "81", I lifted weights quite a bit. When my working partners were working out I always called them fatboy and told them to get 5 more reps. Well they all started calling ME fatboy and it stuck on me. I kinda like it.
Where does the rooster come in to it? Whenever I would go to a friends house to pick them up to go somewhere, I would sit in my truck and holler cockle-doodle-doo instead of going up and knocking on the door. Hence another nickname being rooster.
When I joined MonsterMuleys the forum nickname fatboy was already taken and so was rooster. So I put the two nicknames together and came up with fatrooster. I've had a lot of fun with it.
fatrooster
 
> Buy SWARO or be Called
>a PUSSSSSSY!
>
>Yup!
>
>That's What Homer Told Me!
>
>My Bushnell is getting close to
>Retirement!
>
>
>
>
>????
>
>
>
>
>[Font][Font color = "blue"]I Changed My
>Signature Just for NVB!
>Like 6 Damn Times Now!
 
In the last few months I purchased a Meopta MeoStar S2 and I can't believe the clarity. I was lucky enough to assist on a hunt where I was able to compare Swarovski, Vortex, and a couple other high end brands out in the field looking over long distances. I will not know exactly how well the Meopta's will do until this hunting season, but after reading all the reviews and searching for the best deal, I decided on the Meopta MeoStar S2 82 with 30-60x WA spotting scope. I live in Cedar Crest and have a clear view of Cedro Peak. It is roughly three miles, as the crow flies, from my house to the lookout station on the top of the mountain. Using the spotting scope I can read the company name on the satellite on top of the lookout station and almost read the words on the signs on the fencing around the building. This is a great spotting scope and I think they are a great fit for glassing long distances without breaking the bank.
 

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