15-45 Spotters

[JollyRogers]

Looking to purchase my first spotter; primary use right now is range use and the occasional open field whitetail or hog. Targeting the 15-45x65 spotters such as:
Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide
Athlon Ares G2 UHD
Vortex Diamondback HD
These all fall into about the same price range with discounts.

The Maven CS.1A and the Vortex Viper HD are about $150; not sure if it's worth that jump.

What are your thoughts amongst these options? I've got Athlon binos, and 2 scopes that I've been pleased with.

 

[SUD1988]

I think the Athlon is a great option. I just sold one to upgrade to the Cronus. Check out the backwoods pursuit website. They did some reviews on the Athlon.

 

[SUD1988]

Athlon Ares 65mm & 85MM Spotting Scope Review

Over the past year I have been testing both the Athlon Ares G2 UHD 20-60x85mm Angled Spotting Scope and the Athlon Ares G2 UHD 15-45x65mm Angled Spotting

backwoodspursuit.com

19 Best Spotting Scopes For Hunting | Backwoods Pursuit

Looking for the best spotting scope for hunting? Maybe you are looking for the overall best spotting scope on the planet or maybe the best spotting scope for

backwoodspursuit.com

 

[Alpine4x4]

Out of those the Athlon for sure.

 

[Danger23]

Not too familiar with the athlon but in low end vortex vs leupold I’d go with the leupold every time. I’ve liked my Maven stuff but don’t have any experience with the C series

 

[nobody]

Of those 3, the Athlon. But I would personally save another $150 and buy the Maven. It’ll eat all 3 of your other options alive.

 

[tracker12]

Leupold ent me the one you have listed as a replace for and old one I sent in for repair. I looked through it once and sold it the next day. I like there scopes but will pass on any of the new spotters they are making.

 

[mrchomponthis2.0]

I’d go with a Maven, their lower end glass is much better than lower end vortex glass.

 

[eric1115]

If you're patient you might be able to get into a used Kowa 663/664 and 30x fixed eyepiece in that price ballpark, and I would absolutely take it over anything on your list.

 

[kaleb.nosack]

This is a pic through my leupold sx-4 65mm at 45x roughly 3:30 facing sun 1.3 miles away with a iPhone 15 plus and no digiscoping adapter. Hope this helps the next person decide

 

[WyoKid]

Also, check out Kowa 55 - not best field if view but clarity is phenomenal and compact light weight.

 

[white cap bay]

I've used the Mk4 12-40x and Hendsholt Spotter 45 pretty exclusively over the past 15 years and never really needed more. I tend to work between 18x and 30x mostly. At Ko2M I used the Hendsholt Spotter 45 and a Kowa 32x82mm bino.

I'm also very weight conscious and love the Leupold for paving a lot into a light scope. I recently picked up a Vortex Razor HD 22-48x that I haven't even opened because I'm not sure I'll keep it based on weight. I'm certain the Vortex glass is better than my old Leupold but it weighs 53% more. For a range optic it would be great but when I'm packing it, I'm not sure it's worth it. I ought to pull it out and compare but I really just don't have an issue with the Leupold and I like having a reticle.

 

[Terrapin]

I have a Leupold 12-40 spotting scope that I absolutely love. They sent it to me to use when I was doing some design work for them, so it’s probably a prototype with unknown lenses.

Absolutely my favorite spotting scope. I definitely prefer it to my Swarovski for size, weight and usability.


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