I hate using my spotter... is it just me?

[1shotgear]

I really struggle with looking through my Razor 65mm. I just really don’t like using a spotter, but I’m not sure if it is me or the equipment. In almost every circumstance, I can break out greater detail and glass more effectively using 15 SLCs than my spotter. Am I the only one who finds the benefits of two eyes (depth perception, etc) outweighs the extra magnification from a spotter? I’m stuck between deciding to sell my spotter and live with my combo of 10/15 SLCs or if I should try to upgrade my spotter to an ATS/X or similar quality. I’m not sure if upgrading will solve my issues or not.

I had the razor 65mm my self and had the same problem. The glass was not a clear as my Swarovski EL's. I ended up getting the Swarovski 65mm ATX. I will say I love that thing. I can look thorough my spotter all day and not get a headache and/or eye strain. The glass is a million times better. I only use my spotter when I am rifle hunting. I do bring it with sometimes on an archery hunt. It just depends on where I am going.

 

[JonnyB]

You're not alone. I have been through 4 spotters and currently have an ATX 85... I used it for a total of 45 mins on an 8 day mule deer trip to SD this month. I did use it more the week I was up on the slope in Alaska hunting caribou but it was not comfortable even then. I have toyed with the idea of a BTX once my wife is able to go back to hunting with me so we can split the Objective and eyepiece between our packs. I think I am asking for too much, but then again, when you buy a $4,000+ optic, you kind of expect it to find game for you haha. In all honesty, for the money I spent on the ATX, I'm really not overly impressed. The eye relief is slightly lacking to me and I think the focus on the ATS is much better (ATX focus is extremely touchy and seems it would benefit with a fine focus wheel addition, possibly). My 10x SLCs were champs on all my trips this year though.

 

[HookUp]

It depends on the country and how far you are glassing. I prefer 12x on a tripod if I'm hunting 1-3 miles from animals. For these hunts I don't need a spotter I have legs. If your glassing 3-6 miles the atx swaro spotter is a god send. A lot of my hunts I don't need that kind of range.

 

[Blue72]

Great thread

Definitely ditching the spotter and picking up a high powered binocular (20x)...especially after reading the birding forums how most people use 20-30x in their spotting scope for FOV, brighter exit pupil, less shakes,etc....which I find all to be true, so might as well have the comfort of two eyes and even bigger FOV of binoculars

 

[Logan T]

We should stop calling them "spotters", and start calling them "judgers". Binos are the real "spotters". I almost never use mine to find animals, only to judge trophy quality.

I tend to go along with the first part of this, but not the last sentence. There was also a thread about downgrading binos, that I "somewhat" agree with.

If I already had Swaro binos, I definitely wouldn't downgrade. But I run 12x binos, they are Steiners that were definitely above average glass when I picked them up years ago. They weren't near Swaro price, but I think a lot of people buy Swarovski bino's that just don't need them, kind of like that previous thread. Spend that extra grand on other gear, like a top of the line spotter. I'm a horn hunter, am lucky enough to hunt probably more days afield than the average person, and fill my tags more often than not. This is just background info on my hunting style, NOT tooting my own horn. My old man has had Swarovski binos for just as long as I've had my Steiners, and I've never felt at a disadvantage or like I need to upgrade to them. The glass is better yes, but when it comes down to it, I think knowing where to look for critters at daylight, dark and in-between the two is far more important than the difference between top of the line glass and glass that is the next step down. Just my opinions.

Along the lines with what 2five7 said, my binos are used to spot critters, and unless they are just too far away to judge (miles), I know if the animal is something I want to try and get my tag on. That's where that extra 1K+ has been invaluable to get the big Swarovski spotter. My dad also has the Razor 85 spotter that I would steal sometimes before I got my spotter, but the difference between that and my Swaro ATS85 is huge. Now with that scope, I spend just as much time glassing with that as I do with my binos, not because I can't see well enough with them, but glassing out past the effective distance of the binos.

My $.02..... Spend big on the big optics (spotters) and a guy can be just fine without the super spendy binos.

Edited to ad: Now if my budget was endless and not a factor, I would probably but a set of Swarovski binos, just to have the best a guy can get.