Swarovski Spotting Scope

I am ready to shell out the bucks for a new Swarovski Spotting Scope and was wondering if it is really worth the extra money to go with the "HD" model, rather than the standard model.

I am also wondering if anyone has any input / advice for straight versus angled and 65mm verses 80mm.

Any advice and information would be greatly appreciated.

I really suggest you find some place to compare the HD to standard. Some people, a lot of people will tell you that with the naked eye you can't tell the difference. Other people (like me) will say the difference is like night and day. If you plan on any serious photography through it, get the HD.

If you're going to spend that kind of money go with the HD. I prefer the angled 80mm. There is a difference.

Everyone's eyes are different. Some people will see the difference and others will not. If you are planning on using it for Digiscoping than for sure go with the HD. If you are the type of person who can possibly suffer from buyers remorse if you do not get the HD than save the money loss of buying it twice and just get the HD first, you will not be disappointed.

If you plan on, or intend to use the spotter with a window mount than the straight is a must. For photography I think the straight is also a bit more user friendly.

Please feel free to give me a call to discuss it if you would like.

If there is anything else that I can assist you with please let me know.
Doug
Camera Land
212-753-5128
[email protected]
www.cameralandny.com

Thanks for all the information. I plan on using mostly for hunting, and do use it with a window mount from time to time, so that information was extremely useful. Since I will be packing it around, I am leaning towards the 65mm, but it is hard to pass up on that 80mm as well. Tough decisions. If they were %500, it would be a much simpler decision. Thanks for all the information.

I take pictures through my Swarovski and am VERY glad that I went with the HD. It definitely makes better pictures but if you don't ever plan to use it for digiscoping then I wouldn't worry about the HD option. Mine is also the straight in 65mm. I admit there are times that I'm sitting in my truck and I wish it was an 80mm but they definitely don't outweigh the times that I'm hiking in the hills and am glad that it's smaller and lighter. I personally wouldn't have the angled scope, period. I've used my little brother's and am finally getting to where I can locate things with it. My brother has had it for a couple of years now and he still has trouble now and then locating game, even when he knows with the naked eye right where it is! To me it just seems unnatural to be looking in one direction while the critters are in another. I figure why bother getting used to an angled scope when you can just go with the straight and not have to worry about it. Like was mentioned above, try using the angled scope while sitting in your truck and you'll need a neck brace. Junk in my opinion...

Good luck with your decision.

NvrEnuf

For what it's worth, I've owned the ATS 80mm non-HD model for about seven years. I cannot honestly say whether the HD is worth the extra cost or not. To be honest, at the time I bought it, I don't even think I was aware of the HD model (if it was truly available then). At the time, I owned a Leupold 12-40x60 and the difference was substantial to say the least. Don?t get me wrong, I like my Leupold for those backpack type hunts when weight's critical but you put the two side by side at dawn, midday or dusk and you literally shake your head.

I have taken digital pictures free hand thru the scope and admit it's a bit of a trick (take lots of pics and sort thru after words). However, my main objective is to locate and judge game at very long distances and typically I'm sitting for long periods of time, which I think the angled, eyepiece works to your necks advantage. I don't know why but it just seems more natural to have your head angled down for long periods of time. As for locating an object with the side tube it's a general area locator. Don?t bank on it being exact. Once you use it a few times it becomes fairly natural.

As for it's size, I'm always using a fairly good sized day pack for my daily deer and elk hunts out of camp. It does take up a bit of room but is manageable. When antelope hunting we're typically using a Diesel pickup to cover so much area and usually it's just as quick to jump out and open the tripod. Besides, the Diesel rattles too much to get a good view and we're always looking over dozens of goats each day. Keep in mind that the scope has the capability to rotate the body mount about it's axis so the angled eyepiece can become a bit easier to look thru mounted to a window once rotated but I would have to agree, once the rig is shut off the straight eyepiece would be more comfortable.

I guess if I had to do it from scratch I would probably lean towards the HD since all the digital camera equipment has improved so much and if I were to only limit myself to one scope knowing I was going to backpack hunt I would probably lean towards the ATS65mm.

I guess the last item I would suggest is to also get a quality tripod and head. A person could probably get away with a mid range tripod but a cheap head will be jerky and wear you down when looking for long periods of time trying to locate game you don't know is there.

You?ll know you've made the right decision when your buddy?s looking through his cheap scope and can't locate what you're looking at and ends up looking thru yours and says dammmm???..


Hope this helps. Any further questions feel free to pm me.

Well, I'm like a kid on Christmas eve. I just ordered the 20x60x80 HD straight lens swarovsky. I tried other scopes but just didn't like them. I even bought a nikon but was very disapointed when I took it to the field, so I took it back to Bass Pro.
It should come in next week. After I take it out I will post a review.

What Nikon did you get? I have the prostaff and love it, hard to beat for 500 bucks. The swarovski scopes are nice though. Good Luck and have fun with it. Still looking for the scope with the built in buck finder!!!

Acorn

>What Nikon did you get?
>I have the prostaff and
>love it, hard to
>beat for 500 bucks.
>The swarovski scopes are nice
>though. Good Luck and
>have fun with it.
>Still looking for the scope
>with the built in buck
>finder!!!
>
>Acorn


It was the Prostaff. It just wasn't that crisp and clear around the edges like I was looking for.
My wife said for that price it should shoot the deer for you.

The key phrase is, "if your into photography", otherwise I wouldn't. Also straight verus angled. I have had both and I liked the angle better. I currently have the straight and I wish they had a trade in program that wouldn't cost all that much to exchange. Also you have to figure out if you want the 65 or 80mm. For the back packing that I do I wish that I would have gotten the 65mm. The 80 is a liitle more bulkier. But, if you got the cash, buy the best. Good luck in what you choose.

LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-07 AT 00:48AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-01-07 AT 00:40?AM (MST)

I would say that the angled eye is MUCH better with a window mount as you can sit in your seat and face forward (not needing to get into a starnge position to look threw a straight eye piece..That is why they have a angled so you can twist it down to a angle you dont always need to look straight down into itit will turn down so you can look forward and still see to the side its hard to explane but it works MUCH better. Thats My 2 cents worth Also go with the HD you will not be sorry one way or the other but the HD is a better scope and if you ever need to re-sale it it will bring the extra money you paid for it plus some...
(P.S I paid about $2200 for my scope and 250 for a tripod 3 years ago and just sold it on ebay for $2589 last week the value is there and they hold a GREAT re-sale value)

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

Clynt took the words out of my mouth. Angled eyepeice is much much better. I try a straight every now and again and cant stand it. Your neck muscles will thank you later.

I have the straight 80mm and I am very impressed with it. True the angled eye piece will save your neck muscles a bit but I chose the straght because that's what I have been used too in the past.

The 65mm is great too and is better (off course smaller and lighter) if you plan on packing it on long hikes.

You won't be disappointed with either.