65mm Spotting Scope review

[Rent Outdoor Gear]

I can drop the Vanguard and my tripod off to you tomorrow Steve. I think it will compare well in this class of spotters from the testing I did. I just didn't have access to any other 65's to compare against.

 

[COSA]

I would also like to see your opinions about the lens covers or protective cases they come with. Poorly designed lens covers can be very annoyiny. Wouldn't mind seeing the KOWA 66mm included in the review as well.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

I would also like to see your opinions about the lens covers or protective cases they come with. Poorly designed lens covers can be very annoyiny. Wouldn't mind seeing the KOWA 66mm included in the review as well.

Kowa is a good one as well, I will check to see if I can add that to the list.

Steve

 

[Patch]

Lookin forward to seeing the results. I want to get the Vortex HD50.

 

[boom]

if you do a mid level review..i can send my viper HD for the test. i only use mine in january.

i agree with the poster above. eye relief is a moving target, dependent on zoom. but i have decent eyes..i can adjust. with a better tripod and panhead..my system will kickbutt for me.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

if you do a mid level review..i can send my viper HD for the test. i only use mine in january.

i agree with the poster above. eye relief is a moving target, dependent on zoom. but i have decent eyes..i can adjust. with a better tripod and panhead..my system will kickbutt for me.

I did a review of the Viper HD last year, its a really good scope for the money. We were going to do the review yesterday but we have a Swaro ATX on the way and are waiting for that to get here. As soon as we can we'll get the results posted up.

Steve

 

[solo06]

I did a review of the Viper HD last year, its a really good scope for the money.

Where can we find this review? I'm interested in that scope and also wondering how the Viper HD compares to their Razor.

Thanks

 

[dotman]

???

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Where can we find this review? I'm interested in that scope and also wondering how the Viper HD compares to their Razor.

Thanks

Hey guys almost done with it, hopefully we have it posted up by the end of the day today. Sorry for the delay but this speaks well of all the spotters in the test in that we are having a heck of a time picking out a clear winner. One day under certain lighting conditions we favor one and the next day another. We keep having other guys look through them as well to verify the results we are getting. The Leica and Swaro are battling for top place and the Vortex continues to impress us when you consider it's 1/2-1/3 the price.

Steve

 

[Matt Cashell]

Looking forward to it, Steve.

I bet that digiscoped image comparison turned out to be a real challenge.

 

[simpy16]

Hey guys almost done with it, hopefully we have it posted up by the end of the day today. Sorry for the delay but this speaks well of all the spotters in the test in that we are having a heck of a time picking out a clear winner. One day under certain lighting conditions we favor one and the next day another. We keep having other guys look through them as well to verify the results we are getting. The Leica and Swaro are battling for top place and the Vortex continues to impress us when you consider it's 1/2-1/3 the price.

Steve

Any chance the review is ready? Dying to read what your analysis of the scopes are.

 

[JustOneMoreShot]

I'm looking forward to the review as well. Thanks for putting it together.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Looking forward to it, Steve.

I bet that digiscoped image comparison turned out to be a real challenge.

Sorry for the delay guys, we pretty much have the review done but gave one last attempt on Thursday to do the digiscoping image. We started taking pictures through each spotter of a resolution chart at 100 yards and it was giving us very promising results that reflected what our opinions are. Problem was getting a good and consistent image from scope to scope was proving to be a pain in the ass so we contacted the guys at Tines Up and they are sending out some brackets so we have a consistent mounting system.

They are supposed to be here Monday and we'll get that finished up and posted asap. I can say again that all of these scopes are outstanding and picking a clear winner out of this review is proving to be incredibly hard.

Steve

 

[Matt Cashell]

The digiscoping comparison has been attempted many times. The problem is the camera's sensor will never be able to provide an image that equals the quality of the image the scope is capable of providing to the eye.

No matter how great the image getting to the camera lens, the camera's lens itself is altering the image. Then you have the issue with the camera's meter reading each scene individually.

Next the camera's processor is processing the image separately for every exposure, especially if you are outputting compressed images like JPEGs. This will play a huge role in how sharp or soft the image looks.

There are just a lot of factors that make it hard to compare digiscoped images. It is really more of an art than a science.

 

[Shane]

If you can set the camera to manual mode and use the same settings for all the pics, that would help. But the camera lens will still affect the image. As long as you use the same camera with the same settings in the same light, then it would be a good comparison. Not real world images you'd get with just your eye instead of digiscoping, but interesting to see still.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Not real world images you'd get with just your eye instead of digiscoping, but interesting to see still.

Oh interesting for sure. I am really looking forward to it, and I am thankful to Steve for taking it on.

I would just really caution against making any definitive statements about a scopes performance (especially resolution) base upon digiscoped images.

 

[S&S ARCHERY]

Oh interesting for sure. I am really looking forward to it, and I am thankful to Steve for taking it on.

I would just really caution against making any definitive statements about a scopes performance (especially resolution) base upon digiscoped images.

Yeah we are running the camera on full manual mode keeping the settings the exact same and take the pics minutes apart from each other so the lighting is the same. We tried this a handful of times but it just didn't give anything definitive until we started taking pics of the resolution chart. When we put the images on the computer and zoomed up on them they all corresponded exactly with what our impression had been with our eyes.

We were able to get pretty impressive resolution out of all of them as well. Problem was just getting a consistent picture from one scope to the next, that is what we are hoping the adapters will let us do.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Sounds good Steve.

Are you shooting in RAW?

Are you using autofocus?

I tried something similar and ran into trouble with not getting identical images even with the exact same settings, and shooting multiple shots with the same scope. So are you choosing the best shot you get for that particular scope, and comparing it to the best shot with another scope?

I could always resolve a smaller element in the resolution chart with my eye than I could with the digiscoped image.

I hope to hear you found a good reliable technique.

 

[stephen b]

Sounds like it is going to be a very good review.

Would love to see the Nikon Fieldscope ED III 60 mm in a review like this. I know they have been discontinued; ( and that is too bad) but they are an awesome scope in this size.

 

[5MilesBack]

When we put the images on the computer and zoomed up on them they all corresponded exactly with what our impression had been with our eyes.

I'm more interested in your eyes perception of a chart through each scope than a camera's anyway. That takes the possibility of each and every camera difference out of the equation and should just give a clarity performance of each scope........provided all your eyes agree on what you're seeing.

I took some pics through a Swaro one time at a chart I had attached to a target, just holding the camera up to the lens. I was actually amazed at the clarity of the picture, could read every line on the chart very clearly. This was at 100 yards, are you trying it at further distances and at max power as well?