AZ style, super glassing

[hereinaz]

I know I come from a different perspective when it comes to using glass and glass quality, even for western hunters. Here in AZ, and NM too, some take glassing to the next level for Coues deer.

Get you some “Big Eyes” here. I doubt I will ever go to these or even the BTX, but this is how serious coues hunters can get.

Swaro HD 65mm big eyes

I have a like new set of Swaro big eyes built end of 2023. Twin Swaro 65mm with 25x50xW eyepiece on an Adam’s adapter. Comes with the z sync zoom adapter helps a ton. Also comes with the Ollin digi scoping adapter, have a custom soft case and a custom hard case as well. 6k.

www.coueswhitetail.com

 

[BBob]

but this is how serious coues hunters can get.

Yesir! I've got a set of those but on the Wells mount out of Prescott. I haven't felt the need for the zoom link thing so I've passed on it so far. I do fine without it. They're great on desert sheep hunts too. We finished up a sheep hunt not long ago with several sets of BTX and two sets of Swaro twins. 15's cannot compete with these things

 

[BLJ]

That zoom setup is pretty cool.
I’d like to look through them.

 

[BasicUtahrd95]

These are sweet! Wonder how they compare to the Kowa Highlanders. https://kowaoptics.com/products/pro...DQpA18Ku6fI7lf65qL3d8c9nYXcmNwIq8WLMd-qLS5gk_

 

[BBob]

Highlanders are like double the weight (or more) and no one carried them far. Truck only glass. I don't know anyone that still owns them.

 

[BasicUtahrd95]

Highlanders are like double the weight (or more) and no one carried them far. Truck only glass. I don't know anyone that still owns them.

Oh wow! I didn’t realize they are that much heavier. For the double spotter rigs like this, is it a pain to get/keep them aligned and focused?

 

[hereinaz]

Here’s one in our forum.

@4090Sharps

Vortex (mini) Razor HD 13-39 Big Eyes

With AZ fall and winter deer seasons now upon us, and with two months of at least 10-15 min of daily use as well as multi-hour glassing sessions, I thought I would post some quick notes on the Vortex mini Razor big eyes setup from Adam's Adapters. Haven't seen anyone else here using these yet...

rokslide.com

 

[willfrye027]

The STC big eyes are amazing..weigh the same as a btx 85 so they can be managed with a reasonable sized tripod and actually packed far from the truck. Don’t know how I’ve lived without them..

 

[4090Sharps]

Oh wow! I didn’t realize they are that much heavier. For the double spotter rigs like this, is it a pain to get/keep them aligned and focused?

Once you get them aligned, unless you drop them or really bang them around, you shouldn't have an issue with keeping them aligned. The only time I've knocked mine out of alignment was when I wasn't paying attention to tension on my tripod head and the whole 5lb assembly swung into the leg of my tripod full force. I carry an Allen key in my padded case for such emergencies.

As far as focus, what I've found works for me is zooming in all the way (39x) on the hill/mountainside I'm glassing, focusing, then zooming both eyes to the magnification I would like to be at for scanning an area--generally in the 13-19x range. At that point, unless I need to zoom in on an area substantially closer or further away, I don't need to adjust focus much.

Besides the obvious benefit of being able to quickly zoom in on an item of interest for closer inspection, it's also nice to be able to set your optimal scanning magnification based on light conditions and distance.

 

[BBob]

Oh wow! I didn’t realize they are that much heavier. For the double spotter rigs like this, is it a pain to get/keep them aligned and focused?

It's a little bit of work to collimate them to start with but they seem to stay collimated pretty well.

 

[4090Sharps]

The STC big eyes are amazing..weigh the same as a btx 85 so they can be managed with a reasonable sized tripod and actually packed far from the truck. Don’t know how I’ve lived without them..

View attachment 822922

The wide-set eye crew stunting on us all here I think in time I'll eventually move to the dual mini Kowas.

 

[willfrye027]

The wide-set eye crew stunting on us all here I think in time I'll eventually move to the dual mini Kowas.

The kowas I’m sure will be just as awesome..specs are essentially the same but the dual focus knob and of course ability to get closer IPD will be really nice

 

[Antares]

Here’s my Kowa 884 set. Adapter plate is for sale if anyone is interested.

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/kowa-884-big-eyes-plate-adams-adapters.355336/

 

[hereinaz]

The kowas I’m sure will be just as awesome..specs are essentially the same but the dual focus knob and of course ability to get closer IPD will be really nice

The new 66a would be amazing, but I would love one with the 55s too. The Flourite is amazing.

I have made a couple nice covers for some local guys. They are amazing to look through but out of my budget for now.

 

[hereinaz]

Here’s my Kowa 884 set. Adapter plate is for sale if anyone is interested.

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/kowa-884-big-eyes-plate-adams-adapters.355336/

The 88s gotta be amazing. My buddy has a single 88z

 

[CorbLand]

If I ever move down to Arizona, a set of big eyes will be on the short list of wants.

I would like to look through an STS setup to see if they would work for me.

 

[4090Sharps]

The new 66a would be amazing, but I would love one with the 55s too. The Flourite is amazing.

I have made a couple nice covers for some local guys. They are amazing to look through but out of my budget for now.

View attachment 822932View attachment 822933View attachment 822934View attachment 822935View attachment 822936View attachment 822937View attachment 822938

Veering briefly off topic, there’s no going back to binding by hand or on your main machine once you try out a dedicated binder.

 

[Alpine4x4]

That's funny, I just sent these to my buddy yesterday. Pretty impressive. Not a necessity here in WA, but would be cool to look through a set someday. I could see the use for the little STC combo though...

 

[hereinaz]

Veering briefly off topic, there’s no going back to binding by hand or on your main machine once you try out a dedicated binder.

View attachment 822953

Yeah, that machine is a dedicated binder, it’s swung out of the picture. I never tried binding without.

Why do you have a binding machine?

 

[4090Sharps]

Yeah, that machine is a dedicated binder, it’s swung out of the picture. I never tried binding without.

Why do you have a binding machine?

Yep, I immediately recognized the machine type and saw the plate was swung to the side.

In short, because I've tried binding without one Really though, because I love to sew and don't know how to ease into a hobby.