Compact Spotter

[EricBender208]

Looking to upgrade my binos and spotting scope this year before i get back to hunting in S. Idaho. Was thinking of getting some Vortex Razor 12x50s and I’m pretty set on them but I’m stuck on a spotting scope. I like the 13-39 Razor, or the 16-48 Razor. Looking for compact since I dreaded packing around my old full size Leupold. (Sticking to compact, will eventually upgrade to full size for less backpacking style hunts).

 

[AkMtnRunner]

There's not a lot a compact spotter will do that a 12x50 on a tripod already does. 12x with both eyes vs 39x with one eye and through a small objective. I wouldn't bother brining the spotter unless I really needed it; and I did, it would be something of at least 65mm but probably larger.

If willing to spend over $2k on optics like the total comes to with the two you mention, I'd suggest saving a little more to get the best binos in the world. Put them on a tripod and you'd likely see just as much useful detail as that 13-39 spotter.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

I got a 11-33 that I don’t use. It’ll be very affordable. I use my 16-48 zeiss so the razor just sits on a shelf.

 

[Brian Fahs]

There's not a lot a compact spotter will do that a 12x50 on a tripod already does. 12x with both eyes vs 39x with one eye and through a small objective. I wouldn't bother brining the spotter unless I really needed it; and I did, it would be something of at least 65mm but probably larger.

If willing to spend over $2k on optics like the total comes to with the two you mention, I'd suggest saving a little more to get the best binos in the world. Put them on a tripod and you'd likely see just as much useful detail as that 13-39 spotter.

Very well said

 

[Tahoe1305]

Doing a comparison between the two mentioned and the higher end models (both 50mm and 65mm) this weekend. Will publish the report when finished.

Crowd Sourced Optics Comparison (CO area) ***Updated 3/9/24***

So I guess I’m bored. But 5 years ago or so I invested a good chunk of $ to purchase (then resell) a dozen or so $1000 binos and then eventually a few of the same in spotters and wrote some bro level, objective as possible, comparisons. I know we see a lot of these online by folks who have way...

rokslide.com

 

[EricBender208]

There's not a lot a compact spotter will do that a 12x50 on a tripod already does. 12x with both eyes vs 39x with one eye and through a small objective. I wouldn't bother brining the spotter unless I really needed it; and I did, it would be something of at least 65mm but probably larger.

If willing to spend over $2k on optics like the total comes to with the two you mention, I'd suggest saving a little more to get the best binos in the world. Put them on a tripod and you'd likely see just as much useful detail as that 13-39 spotter.

That’s where Ive been in Limbo. All the spotter I’ve used in the past were 20-60s so they made a massive differenc, but I never felt I need that big of one. I’ll probably just go with the 16-48 and sacrifice a little bit of weight. Any recommendations on a tripod?

 

[EricBender208]

Doing a comparison between the two mentioned and the higher end models (both 50mm and 65mm) this weekend. Will publish the report when finished.

Crowd Sourced Optics Comparison (CO area) ***Updated 3/9/24***

So I guess I’m bored. But 5 years ago or so I invested a good chunk of $ to purchase (then resell) a dozen or so $1000 binos and then eventually a few of the same in spotters and wrote some bro level, objective as possible, comparisons. I know we see a lot of these online by folks who have way...

rokslide.com

Just added it to my bookmarks. I’ll be looking forward to your finding.

 

[tony]

I had a Hawke spotter I thought I needed. Very small size
There's a review here if you search Hawke. For the money it seemed pretty good the little I played with it.

 

[dirtshooter]

Nikon ed50

 

[rogerthat]

Kowa 553/554 out of your budget?

 

[EricBender208]

Kowa 553/554 out of your budget?

Unfortunately

 

[Tahoe1305]

I personally like the Gen 1 65mm razor over the mini Kowa. 1lb penalty and a tad bigger.

But view is better. Resolution on Kowa maybe a smidge better but not that noticeable. The FOV on it is rough.