Cheapest Spotter That's Worth Carrying

[Chico103]

I used to have the big Meopta spotter. Awesome glass but I didn’t pack it all the time. I picked up a used Razor 50mm for $500. It never leaves the pack. It’s so light it would be silly not to carry it. I always have a tripod on me for the binos anyways. It’s perfect for my needs as I’m not real picky on animals.


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[Bruce Culberson]

I hunted for the past 14 years with a B & L Elite 15-45x60 (similar scope to the NIkon SLDMTN referenced). It was used on 3 successful Stone's hunt. In most conditions we had to be under 400 yards to age a ram. The sharpness deteriorated above 40x.

Last year I ordered a 15-45x65 Vanguard. While the picture was brighter and a wider FOV than the B&L it could not pick up as much detail on a pine cone at 200 yards so I sent it back. This winter I tried a Athelon Ares 15-45x65 which is brighter and sharper to my eye, so I kept it (and picked up an extra 1lb of weight).

So to answer the OP - yes I think a scope in the $400 plus range is worth packing.

 

[switchbckxt]

I had a leupold gold ring 15-30x50 compact and Iiked it. You can pick one up second hand for 3-400 and if you don’t like it you can sell it for that. Can’t go wrong with it if you are just getting into spotters....I upgraded to a Swarovski atx 85 but I used my gold ring for years while I saved up. Sold mine for what I paid for it and used it for a couple years....I think that scope weighs in at around 22oz....it won’t be a very last/first light scope but you can only get so much for that price point and I was never disappointed. Good luck with the choice


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[Broomd]

Nikon XL II. Great little socpe, killed several Dall rams with that scope and it takes up very little space in the pack.
$200 all in and decent glass.

 

[tdhanses]

Nikon XL II. Great little socpe, killed several Dall rams with that scope and it takes up very little space in the pack.
$200 all in and decent glass.

Did you bonk them on the head, haha, sorry had to do it.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I want a scope that’ll maintain zero and insure the intersection of POA/POI in field conditions. If I have to pay a weight penalty to tip the odds in my favor, so be it.

 

[realunlucky]

I want a scope that’ll maintain zero and insure the intersection of POA/POI in field conditions. If I have to pay a weight penalty to tip the odds in my favor, so be it.

You should put that in your sig line. If you would have bothered to read any of this thread it's about SPOTTING scopes.

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[amassi]

You should put that in your sig line. If you would have bothered to read any of this thread it's about SPOTTING scopes.

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You dont zero your spotter? Do you just Kentucky windage it

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[TexasCub]

Go vanguard 65 HD you won’t regret it.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Hahahaha. Duh. Sorry about that. Not sure how I screwed that up. Carry on...

 

[timberbuck]

Look for a pre owned Minox MD 62 ED 20x45x62

 

[tgus59]

I want a scope that’ll maintain zero and insure the intersection of POA/POI in field conditions. If I have to pay a weight penalty to tip the odds in my favor, so be it.

What is the best yardage to zero my spotting scope?

 

[JNDEER]

Everyone has an opinion. You are in Iowa and may never use a spotter again for a long time. That is a LOT of coin to dump on something you may only use a couple more times if you head out west. Is your Viper HD binos the most current generation or older generation?

What do you hope to use the spotter for, specifically? How far will you be glassing- not just a guess but actual distance?

Be smart with your purchase. A $500 spotter is just that and a $1000 spotter is just that. There is NO chance a $500 spotter will be on par with a $1000 and NO chance a $1000 will be on par with a $2000.