Best Spotting Scope Under $700

[Western Hunter270]

I'm wondering what you guys think is the best spotter you could get for under $700 and I don't mean msrp price, I plan on buying used. So far I'm thinking either a vortex razor gen1 16-48x65, I see guys selling them for about $650 or a Maven CS.1 15-45x65 but completely open to other options. I haven't really looked into Kowa but I hear good things about them. Weight is a factor that's why I like the idea of the maven but not a deal breaker. Obviously I'd sacrifice weight for quality. Let me know what you guys think. I already own a vortex razor 11-33x50 and diamondback 16-48x65. Are the mentioned spotters gonna be enough of an upgrade to justify spending 700 bucks or do I need to jump into the $1,000 range to really notice a difference?
Edit: I also have the opportunity to get a Maven S.2 12-27x56 for 700 bucks locally.

 

[Blue72]

Nikon ed50 with a fixed eyepiece

its been extremely popular for decades for a reason and you can get them for way less then your budget if you buy it from a Japanese dealer

 

[TuckTruck]

I’ve got the maven cs.1 and I’ve been very happy with it. It has good clarity and is very light. I would highly recommend it. I’ve had a lot of issues with all vortex products over the years, the only ones that seem to work good are their top of the line models.

 

[Honyock]

Athlon Ares G2 UHD 15-45X65 Here's a pretty good review on a bunch of scopes.

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

 

[atmat]

What are you using it for? Are you married to 65mm objective lens?

Regardless, I’d pick up a used Kowa and call it a day.

 

[Tylsmith33]

2nd the athlon ares I love mine

 

[Bater]

Yep, Athlon Ares 15-45X65 is the easy choice in that price range IMO

 

[typical_hunter]

i personally didnt like the razor gen one it had a weird blueish hue and at night time it really was apparent.
i thought the viper was better because of that.

i like kowa anything

 

[CO_MTN_GUY]

Another vote for the Ares. I haven't looked through top end glass but I've been impressed with the performance of the Athlon. I will say it does get pretty dark and hard to focus at highest magnification.

 

[SteveALA]

Another vote for Maven CS.1. I really like mine.

 

[manitou1]

They all lose some light when on the highest mag at first and last light IME. Gotta crank them back a bit.

 

[Marble]

Another vote for the Ares. I haven't looked through top end glass but I've been impressed with the performance of the Athlon. I will say it does get pretty dark and hard to focus at highest magnification.

If you are out spotting at a popular spot and see someone with one of the high end spotters, ask them to give it a try. It is like comparing a TV from the 90's to something from today.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[CO_MTN_GUY]

If you are out spotting at a popular spot and see someone with one of the high end spotters, ask them to give it a try. It is like comparing a TV from the 90's to something from today.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

I've got a cousin that has a Swaro 65 he bought for a sheep hunt last year. I'm afraid if I look through it, its gonna cost me $2,500 lol

 

[Fatcamp]

Got a Gen 1 65mm off the EE, pretty happy. Spent another $100 on a WA eyepiece.

Works for me. Waaaay better than binoculars.

 

[Marble]

I've got a cousin that has a Swaro 65 he bought for a sheep hunt last year. I'm afraid if I look through it, its gonna cost me $2,500 lol

So hear me out. If you buy a $700 spotter, you will enjoy it. You will use it a lot. But what happens is a few years from now you'll be making more money and you'll know there is something better. What most guys do is upgrade one step. So say $1000 price range. Then so on until they upgrade to alpha glass. You end up spending more money.

I did this same path and eventually ended up with a swaro 95. What made the difference was looking through heat waves, being able to see~20 minutes before and after everyone else ( that's the critical time) and actually seeing enough detail to be able to really inspect a bull or buck.

Lastly, using my binos or spotters for 8 or 9 hours in a day has no affect on my vision, or balance and doesn't give me a headache.

I would rather have exactly what I want or nothing at all. I can make do with whatever I have if I know I have a plan to get what I want.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[Fatcamp]

So hear me out. If you buy a $700 spotter, you will enjoy it. You will use it a lot. But what happens is a few years from now you'll be making more money and you'll know there is something better. What most guys do is upgrade one step. So say $1000 price range. Then so on until they upgrade to alpha glass. You end up spending more money.

I did this same path and eventually ended up with a swaro 95. What made the difference was looking through heat waves, being able to see~20 minutes before and after everyone else ( that's the critical time) and actually seeing enough detail to be able to really inspect a bull or buck.

Lastly, using my binos or spotters for 8 or 9 hours in a day has no affect on my vision, or balance and doesn't give me a headache.

I would rather have exactly what I want or nothing at all. I can make do with whatever I have if I know I have a plan to get what I want.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

This is a good point. For the $625 I have into this Razor I bought this Fall it was worth that investment to see if I would actually use a mid size spotter, or leave it at the truck. I now know that is something very much worth carrying. This Fall has been quite the education on spotter value for me.

My next step is a Swaro 65mm. I'm saving my rewards from my Scheels cards, and when the time comes can sell the two spotters I have for what I have into them. In the meantime I have a perfectly serviceable spotting scope to use.

 

[CO_MTN_GUY]

So hear me out. If you buy a $700 spotter, you will enjoy it. You will use it a lot. But what happens is a few years from now you'll be making more money and you'll know there is something better. What most guys do is upgrade one step. So say $1000 price range. Then so on until they upgrade to alpha glass. You end up spending more money.

I did this same path and eventually ended up with a swaro 95. What made the difference was looking through heat waves, being able to see~20 minutes before and after everyone else ( that's the critical time) and actually seeing enough detail to be able to really inspect a bull or buck.

Lastly, using my binos or spotters for 8 or 9 hours in a day has no affect on my vision, or balance and doesn't give me a headache.

I would rather have exactly what I want or nothing at all. I can make do with whatever I have if I know I have a plan to get what I want.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

100%. I have only seriously gotten into optics in the past couple of years and haven't done a whole lot of upgrading yet. Went from Vortex Dimondback binos (non HD) to Leupold BX-4s (a worth while upgrade) and purchased said $700 spotter. Looking to get into some alpha binos first (between Leica Noctovid or Swaro EL) then move on to an alpha spotter.

 

[OspreyZB]

I've said it a dozen or more times on here, but my $750 Nikon ED82 leaves nothing to be desired, and I have had it side by side with the Kowa 880. The Nikon ED fieldscopes with fixed power eyepieces are "alpha" all the way.

 

[Gamehearse]

I picked up a Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60HD on here for $650. I’m happy with it so far. It may fit your needs in the weight category as well.

 

[ZackP]

For that price, that Maven S2 has far superior glass to the Razor, Ares, CS1.

Glass quality > Magnification

That ED50 is a fantastic little scope also, but struggles at max magnification, where I felt the S2 did not. Very comfortable viewing experience.