65mm Spotting Scope review

I found and purchased a brand new fieldscope iii last month, and it was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect top tier quality (swarovski or zeiss). I was originally looking at a zeiss dialyt 18x45x60. I was a little skeptical at first of the nikon, so i ended up buying the Zeiss as well to do a side by side comparison. It was a pretty informal review, but to me they were very comparable. The zeiss seemed slightly brighter, but I had them side by side for the last few minutes of daylight along a grassy edge, and I couldn't see much difference between them.
For what i ended up paying for the Nikon (Cabelas bargain cave, brand new with full warranty I spent $449 plus tax) i think it is a great spotter. I'd still like to see it compared to some of the other with a little more critical review than what I did. With that being said, I really liked the Zeiss as well- i liked the front focus (although it is slow) but it performed really well. By the way, that scope was bought for $925 brand new as well, so it was a great deal also. I think that scope is overlooked, and they definitely had hunters in mind, as it is bombproof. I almost kept that one, but the Nikon saved me enough to justify a new leica 1000r rangefinder.

QUOTE=stephen b;211206]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.[/QUOTE]
 
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Just wondering if you've had time to do the review yet I'm getting ready to buy a new spotter and was hoping to use this thread as some good research.
 
The Tines up adapters just got here today so we are headed out tomorrow to take the pics and will have the review posted up right away.
 
Hey guys just finished up and posted the review today.

http://backcountryhunter.net/

If you are purely after the best glass you can buy Leica was the winner followed by the ATX Swaro. Vortex was incredibly impressive throughout the test when you consider its 1/3rd the price of the swaro.

Steve
 

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Nice review, Can I ask why you didn't use the 20x50 swaro eye piece when comparing? I haven't looked through a lieca before, but I have looked through a 65mm swaro with both eye pieces and there is a fairly substantial difference when using the 20x50 and 20x60
 
Nice review, Can I ask why you didn't use the 20x50 swaro eye piece when comparing? I haven't looked through a lieca before, but I have looked through a 65mm swaro with both eye pieces and there is a fairly substantial difference when using the 20x50 and 20x60

Swaro only has the one option on the new ATX scope of the 25-60x eyepiece. The 25-50 they do is in the ATS Model.
 
Great review. I really wish the Vortex wouldn't perform so closely because the price difference vs. performance difference becomes a much bigger decision.
 
Great review. I really wish the Vortex wouldn't perform so closely because the price difference vs. performance difference becomes a much bigger decision.

Yeah the Vortex really throws a wrench in the review. I really do feel that for the average guy who loves to hunt but really only gets out 5-6 weekends a year there just isn't enough difference optically to even come close to justifying the price difference. For the guy who spends 40-50 days a year in the field the others start making more sense.
 
Great review. I have been waiting to read this to try to justify buying the Vortex sooner than trying to save money for a few years and buy one of the top end models. I am one of the guys that will only get minimal time behind a scope every year. Hearing you guys spend so much time behind these four and say the Vortex hangs in that good is reassuring.
 
Yeah the Vortex really throws a wrench in the review. I really do feel that for the average guy who loves to hunt but really only gets out 5-6 weekends a year there just isn't enough difference optically to even come close to justifying the price difference. For the guy who spends 40-50 days a year in the field the others start making more sense.

I plan on picking a razor up as well and it will be perfect. I hunt probably 40-50 days a year but don't spend hours behind my spotter now. I don't hunt sheep or point restrictions so I feel it's perfect for me. Especially when I can afford it plus all my license and tags for the price of the swaro.
 
Lorneparker1, can you elaborate?

Sure, again im not an optics expert by any means but I found the 20x50 seemed brighter and clearer, especially at zoom then the 20x60. IF someone wanted to trade me there 20x50 for my 20x60 I would in a heart beat.
 
Sure, again im not an optics expert by any means but I found the 20x50 seemed brighter and clearer, especially at zoom then the 20x60. IF someone wanted to trade me there 20x50 for my 20x60 I would in a heart beat.

Is this a comparison of their old eyepiece or the new Atx eyepiece that you saw this diff?
 
Is this a comparison of their old eyepiece or the new Atx eyepiece that you saw this diff?

I'm guessing he is talking about the older ATS eyepiece since its not an option on the newer scopes. Jason who did the majority of the review has a ATS HD w/ the 25-50 eyepiece so we had that as a base reference for the review. Both the Leica and ATX Swaro we felt were better than his.
 
I'm guessing he is talking about the older ATS eyepiece since its not an option on the newer scopes. Jason who did the majority of the review has a ATS HD w/ the 25-50 eyepiece so we had that as a base reference for the review. Both the Leica and ATX Swaro we felt were better than his.

And how was the Vortex compared to the ATS HD?
 
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