Best Spotting Scope under $1,000.

[TheWildJim]

I will be buying a spotting scope within the next few weeks for an elk hunt in Wyoming this year. My goal is to purchase something under a grand but not miss on quality. Through research and trying out a few friends glass pieces, I am a big fan of the Maven CS.1. It costs $650 and seems to be comparable to everything within the price range. Also, what is everyone running for a phone scope adapter? Thoughts?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Give Doug (CameraLand) a call.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

As a long standing supporting vendor here on the forum it is our pleasure to discuss this with you to assist you in deciding which is the correct option. Please feel free to give us a call, 516-217-1000

 

[Geewhiz]

See if you can find a used 85mm razor HD. That's what I'd do.

 

[Blue72]

Televue 60 for $850

it outperforms Swarovski/Kowa and you can fit it with crazy wide AFOV eyepieces

as long as your ok with the scope not being waterproof

another option with tons of great reviews is the Nikon ED50

 

[Hatchet Jack]

kowa 664/663 is a great scope, and mine has taken a pretty good beating. the 20-60x eyepiece is a bit of a narrow view, the 30x fixed is amazing. I owned a 85mm razor and preferred the smaller kowa even in low light.

as far as adapters i just use phoneskope. Although my next one will probably be the Tines up adaptor.

 

[shoeshineman]

Swaro CTC

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Take a look here: https://backwoodspursuit.com/best-spotting-scope-for-hunting/

While it does not include 100% of all spotting scopes, it is a starting point.

Would not take their rankings as gospel, due to individual preferences and eyes and not anything negative about the reviewers, but it can be helpful.

 

[eric1115]

Kowa 66 series (663/664 may push the upper end of the budget depending on how long you can afford to wait for a good deal to come along, 661/662 should be comfortably doable) is great. Compact, reasonably light, and the fixed 30x wide angle makes such a difference in how enjoyable they are to look through. Wider FOV than the variable has at 20x, and to me enough difference in clarity that I think it is better at seeing detail until you get above 40x on the variable.

Was not super impressed with the Maven S2, but have not looked through the cs1.

Pentax pf65 and Nikon ED scopes can be had in your price range and will be optically much better than comparably priced options from vortex, etc. I believe both of these options are made in Japan as well. I don't know if you have strong feelings about buying Chinese made products, but anything new in that price range is almost certainly made in China.

You might be able to stag a Leica 62 mm APO at the very upper end of your price range which would be a fantastic option as well.

All of these are a good balance of performance, size, and weight for a spotter that goes in the truck and the backpack. For elk especially, it's hard for me to justify an 80 or 85 mm objective if it's going in a backpack. They're just not that hard to see.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Our top selling scope, under $1,000.00, is the Athlon Ares 15-45x65 UHD Spotters.
The Ares 15-45 family of spotting scopes were designed with advanced optical quality and ease of use in mind. Designed with bright, razor-sharp imagery and a rugged, weatherproof design, the Ares is ready for any condition. The interchangeable eyepiece allows you to swap the standard variable power eyepiece with a fixed 24 power eyepiece (sold separately) with a MIL ranging reticle in it for your long range shooting/tactical application. They have Extra-Low Dispersion glass lenses for color resolution and contrast, our AFMC (advance fully multi-coatings), and feature BaK4 prisms with the new ESP Dielectric Coating. They bring clarity and brightness within the reach of most enthusiasts. The tough full metal chassis is fog proof and waterproof and filled with Argon gas to prevent internal fogging and better thermal stability. The lenses are then treated externally with our XPL coating to withstand dirt, oil, and grime of constant use. Choose from three different models – each distinctly different in size so you have a scope tailor-made for your specific activity.

• UHD Glass: Extra-low dispersion glass gives you an image with little or no chromatic fringe so the final result brings an ultimate clearest and sharpest image to your eyes
• Interchangeable: Eyepiece Interchangeable Eyepiece allows you to swap the standard variable power eyepiece with a fixed 24 power eyepiece with a MIL ranging reticle in it.
• ESP Dielectric Coating: ESP Dielectric Coating is a multi layer prism coating that reflects over 99% of the light to your eyes bringing you a clear, bright image that displays accurate color reproduction.
• Aluminum Alloy Chassis: Aluminum alloy chassis offers you the strength of a metal chassis and the life time durability.
• XPL Coating: XPL Coating gives you an extra protection on the exterior lenses from dirt, oil and scratches
• Bak4 Prism: Bak-4 glass prisms reflect more light to your eyes thus will give you brighter and sharper image.
• Advanced Fully Multi-Coated: Advanced Fully Multi-Coated lenses bring you better light transmission to bring optimum brightness and true color across the entire light spectrum.
• Argon Purged: Argon Purging uses the inertia gas with bigger size molecules to purge any moisture out of the tube giving you better waterproofing and thermal stability .
• Waterproof: Waterproof to protect the binocular in the harshest weather conditions or if accidently submerged underwater
• Rotating Ring: Rotating Ring allows you to rotate the scope around tripod supporting ring into the most comfortable and convenient angle for observation

 

[RWA13]

Hi Doug,

How would you rate the Ares vs the Kowa 553? It doesn't seem like there would be much comparison based on the price tag, but the Backwoods Pursuit review puts them at least in the same ball park.

 

[Dos Perros]

OP, do you want a little backpacking spotter, or a bigger truck kinda spotter? Makes a difference, IMO, you should specify the application.

 

[manitou1]

Have been very pleased with my Athlon Ares.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

The Athlon is great but it's not the 553.

A Corvette is great but it's not a Ferrari

 

[eric1115]

Did you find one yet? Not mine, don't know the seller, but I thought of this thread when I saw it listed.

WTS - Zeiss Diascope 65mm T* FL (Straight) 15-45 Vario Eyepiece

Straight bodied Zeiss Diascope with a 14-45 Vario Eyepiece. Includes the factory objective cover and Zeiss canvas carrying case. $1000 + shipping email me for more photos: [email protected] Scotty

www.rokslide.com

This should smoke any of the Athlon, Vortex, or lower end Maven options. Better optically (though maybe closer than one would expect), and much better built and not made in China.

 

[tdhanses]

Did you find one yet? Not mine, don't know the seller, but I thought of this thread when I saw it listed.

WTS - Zeiss Diascope 65mm T* FL (Straight) 15-45 Vario Eyepiece

Straight bodied Zeiss Diascope with a 14-45 Vario Eyepiece. Includes the factory objective cover and Zeiss canvas carrying case. $1000 + shipping email me for more photos: [email protected] Scotty

www.rokslide.com

This should smoke any of the Athlon, Vortex, or lower end Maven options. Better optically (though maybe closer than one would expect), and much better built and not made in China.

That is a great spotter and will be better then any of the new current $1k spotters, great deal at $900 as well. This competes with the swaro ATS/STS.

 

[Cperea]

Diamondback 20-60-85 has been impressive for me.

 

[longjoshr]

I just picked up the Razor HD Gen 1 at Sportsman's Warehouse in Loveland, CO for $750(display price didn't match computer price). Screaming deal in my opinion. It is still on the site for $900. Hard to beat in that sub $1000 range you're looking for.

https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-...hd-20-60-x-85-spotting-scope-angled/p/1232811

 

[Katera94]

What did you end up with? I was just going to type up the same question...

 

[BirdPoop]

Have you considered the Nikon Fieldscope 82mm?