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

TheCougar

WKR
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Jun 6, 2016
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Virginia
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.
 
That’s why I just use mine for clarification I don’t sit behind it for hours, god meant for us to use two eyes. Now I don’t have any issue with detail or clarity from my spotter it’s great, I have the Kowa 55 series. My biggest complaint when behind a spotter for long periods is keeping one eye closed for long periods of time.
 
I use my binos for 90% of my glassing, however, if I'm picking something apart using the spotter, I'm always wearing an eye patch! It's fantastic for minimizing the eye strain and weighs almost nothing.
 
I’ve had pretty nice spotters and above average spotters. Never particularly enjoy spending much time behind them. Sometimes they’re needed but mine gets left more often than not. 12’s on a tripod is my most effective and enjoyable glassing system.
 
I was in the same boat as you when I had the razor 65mm with whatever head came on the vortex tripod. I’ve since upgraded to a Kowa 773 with the outdoorsmans head. The difference in the glass is very noticeable and the head makes it way easier to move the spotter smoothly while glassing. The focus knob is much better too. A buddy of mine also agreed that the new setup was much better. No experience with the Swaros but the Kowa is legit.
 
I was in the same boat as you when I had the razor 65mm with whatever head came on the vortex tripod. I’ve since upgraded to a Kowa 773 with the outdoorsmans head. The difference in the glass is very noticeable and the head makes it way easier to move the spotter smoothly while glassing. The focus knob is much better too. A buddy of mine also agreed that the new setup was much better. No experience with the Swaros but the Kowa is legit.
Same. I didnt care much for using a spotter either when I had a razor 85. Added meopta 15s and thought that fixed it like OP. Then I upgraded to the Kowa 77. Wow. Now I hardly use the 15s! Suddenly I don't mind glassing with a spotter at all! In fact it's my go-to!

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I use my binos for 90% of my glassing, however, if I'm picking something apart using the spotter, I'm always wearing an eye patch! It's fantastic for minimizing the eye strain and weighs almost nothing.

I’m already rocking the pirate eye patch for the spotter. It definitely helps!
 
Same. I didnt care much for using a spotter either when I had a razor 85. Added meopta 15s and thought that fixed it like OP. Then I upgraded to the Kowa 77. Wow. Now I hardly use the 15s! Suddenly I don't mind glassing with a spotter at all! In fact it's my go-to!

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And that’s what I’m afraid of... that maybe it’s the spotter? Maybe better spotter glass is just that much better? I’ve heard a lot of good things about Kowa, but I’m a bit of an optics snob and I don’t ever want to have optics envy (except for the BTX- I can’t afford that). I’m thinking ATX or ATS unless there is something better for that price range.
 
And that’s what I’m afraid of... that maybe it’s the spotter? Maybe better spotter glass is just that much better? I’m thinking ATX or ATS unless there is something better for that price range.

I couldn't stand the Razor spotters. At high power they were very grainy, and the eye relief was horrible. I ended up getting a Swaro STS HD for a good deal, but then didn't like the straight model. So I ultimately ended up with the angled Meopta S2 spotter, which IMO is better than the Swaro ATS/STS HD's. But I rarely ever use it, except at the rifle range.
 
Buy the best optics available. There is a big difference in quality...especially in low light conditions! If you use them a lot they are definitely worth every penny! If you are pinched for cash pick up the best binos or spotter available on Craigslist, classified adds, etc. I bought a lightly used pair of Leica binos for about 1/2 price around 10 years ago that still are excellent!

I consider myself a trophy hunter so a spotter is a necessity for me! There is no way I could field judge animals without the aid of a spotter. It's impossible to determine if a buck antelope has 6 1/2 or 7" bases, 5 or 6" prongs with 15x binos. A muley buck has 9 or 10" tines.....A mtn goat has 8 1/2 or 9" long horns....a bighorn has 33 or 36" long horns, a dall ram is full curl or 7/8......with 15 x binos. I think you get the picture!

I just returned from a Nebraska whitetail hunt. I used my spotter just as much as my binos. I mostly sat across canyons glassing into thick draws of trees and tall grass. I could find a deer ear and antler with my spotter that I couldn't see with binos. I doubt if I could have seen some of them with 15x. I could tell the difference in tine lengths from a 1/2 mile away. WIth 15x binos I would have had to get closer to field judge bucks....which likely would have spooked them plus it saved an incredible amount of hiking!

I never leave home without my spotting scope. My spotter also sits on top of a solid, quality tripod and fluid head.....makes glassing a lot easier on your eyes and body!
 
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I’ve never looked through a razor that impressed me. I use the Kowa 66 which is not as good as the larger Kowas and it still whoops on the razor optically. A good spotter is needed even when using 12 or 15x Binos if you want to assess any sort of trophy quality.
 
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 am the same way, hate using my vortex viper spotter.... Spent some time behind an 80mm swaro hd this season, also a btx 95mm and 15 swaros. The btx was simply incredible, but its huge to carry all the time, and the price tag even bigger. Compared to my viper, the swaro spotter was leaps and bounds better, certainly more willing to look through it a lot more than what I have. But looking through one eye all the time still kinda sucked. 15s were incredible, and will be switching to higher powered binos next year for sure.
Couple things I want to try:
1- high quality spotter with a wide angle eyepiece along with an eye patch. (my thoughts are a more natural feeling field of view??)
2- 2x doubler that screws into the eyepiece on high powered binos. (I know meopta and maven both offer this, not sure of others). Obviously not going to give a great picture and not meant for long term glassing, but it could possibly replace the spotter on a lot of my hunts??
 
I am the same way, hate using my vortex viper spotter.... Spent some time behind an 80mm swaro hd this season, also a btx 95mm and 15 swaros. The btx was simply incredible, but its huge to carry all the time, and the price tag even bigger. Compared to my viper, the swaro spotter was leaps and bounds better, certainly more willing to look through it a lot more than what I have. But looking through one eye all the time still kinda sucked. 15s were incredible, and will be switching to higher powered binos next year for sure.
Couple things I want to try:
1- high quality spotter with a wide angle eyepiece along with an eye patch. (my thoughts are a more natural feeling field of view??)
2- 2x doubler that screws into the eyepiece on high powered binos. (I know meopta and maven both offer this, not sure of others). Obviously not going to give a great picture and not meant for long term glassing, but it could possibly replace the spotter on a lot of my hunts??

I use the pirate eyepatch all the time with my spotter. It doesn’t make it more natural and comfortable. As far as the doublers for binos, I’ve heard they are all really gimmicky and not useful. I even heard this is true for Swaro bino doubler... if the Swaro one is no good, then a good one doesn’t exist. This is all second hand info- I’ve never looked through a doubler myself
 
I use the pirate eyepatch all the time with my spotter. It doesn’t make it more natural and comfortable. As far as the doublers for binos, I’ve heard they are all really gimmicky and not useful. I even heard this is true for Swaro bino doubler... if the Swaro one is no good, then a good one doesn’t exist. This is all second hand info- I’ve never looked through a doubler myself

I have read that too, but I did find some good remarks on the meopta. Just one of those things I would like to try for myself. Thoughts are it would double as a 50mm type spotter. But maybe they just suck ha.
In regards to the natural image thing, I was referring to the wide angle eyepiece. Seems like it would give a better view and not a tunnel vision type feeling.
 
I am the same way, hate using my vortex viper spotter.... Spent some time behind an 80mm swaro hd this season, also a btx 95mm and 15 swaros. The btx was simply incredible, but its huge to carry all the time, and the price tag even bigger. Compared to my viper, the swaro spotter was leaps and bounds better, certainly more willing to look through it a lot more than what I have. But looking through one eye all the time still kinda sucked. 15s were incredible, and will be switching to higher powered binos next year for sure.
Couple things I want to try:
1- high quality spotter with a wide angle eyepiece along with an eye patch. (my thoughts are a more natural feeling field of view??)
2- 2x doubler that screws into the eyepiece on high powered binos. (I know meopta and maven both offer this, not sure of others). Obviously not going to give a great picture and not meant for long term glassing, but it could possibly replace the spotter on a lot of my hunts??

In regards to your point about the wide angle eye piece-I think it would help, it helped me for sure.
I have a Kowa 66mm, love the scope. I had the 20-60 eyepiece that came with it, and while it showed pretty good quality all the way up through the zoom range, it wasn’t super fun looking through for long periods of time. I traded that eyepiece for a fixed 30x wide angle and enjoy it quite a bit more. I certainly can glass for much much longer through it without getting eye strain. There isn’t the same tunnel vision as with the zoom, it certainly does seem more natural. And for me, a high quality 30x fixed eyepiece is enough for my hunting, and I even plan on taking it for bighorns next year. I don’t think I’ll miss the 60x zoom that much, especially in poor light/heat conditions.


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And that’s what I’m afraid of... that maybe it’s the spotter? Maybe better spotter glass is just that much better? I’ve heard a lot of good things about Kowa, but I’m a bit of an optics snob and I don’t ever want to have optics envy (except for the BTX- I can’t afford that). I’m thinking ATX or ATS unless there is something better for that price range.

The BTX eyepiece is only four hundred more dollars than the ATX eyepiece, if you can afford the ATX, you could probably swing that BTX by just saving for another few months.

At one point I had a pair of 10x50 EL's, 15x56 SLC's, and a Razor 65mm spotter. I liked using my 10's the best, bright and wide FOV. 15's were okay, I just personally didn't like having two pair of binos. I actually found more game with my 10's than I did with 15's. So I tended to carry my 10's and a spotter, but still hardly ever used the spotter because of what others have said. The Razors are good, but not great, I would just use it to get a little better look at things. Got rid of the 15's and upgraded the spotter to an ATX 65 last year and got the 85mm lens for it last month. Since I got the ATX last year I use the spotting scope A LOT. Its incredible how clear the 85 is even at 60x, really enjoyable to use that thing. I also learned how to glass with both eyes open or just take off my hat and use the bill to cover one eye if I am using it for a long time.

Point is, the better glass in a spotter will make a difference in the quality of your experience using it, BUT, there is also an element of personal preference. Some guys hate spotters and love 15x binos, other guys think having 15x's is dumb and carry the spotter all day. I'd say just get the ATS or ATX on a deal, maybe on black friday or one on the forums, and use it for a while. If you like it, keep it, if you still don't like it, they hold their value well, sell it and get your money back.
 
I am at this crossroads as well. One eyed viewing can be fatiguing. Since I prefer lower 20-30x views for bigger exit pupils and wider field of views anyway. I’m considering just switching to 20x binoculars such as the Nikon monarch 5 20x56 or for even brighter and wider views of the 16x56
 
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The BTX eyepiece is only four hundred more dollars than the ATX eyepiece, if you can afford the ATX, you could probably swing that BTX by just saving for another few months.

At one point I had a pair of 10x50 EL's, 15x56 SLC's, and a Razor 65mm spotter. I liked using my 10's the best, bright and wide FOV. 15's were okay, I just personally didn't like having two pair of binos. I actually found more game with my 10's than I did with 15's. So I tended to carry my 10's and a spotter, but still hardly ever used the spotter because of what others have said. The Razors are good, but not great, I would just use it to get a little better look at things. Got rid of the 15's and upgraded the spotter to an ATX 65 last year and got the 85mm lens for it last month. Since I got the ATX last year I use the spotting scope A LOT. Its incredible how clear the 85 is even at 60x, really enjoyable to use that thing. I also learned how to glass with both eyes open or just take off my hat and use the bill to cover one eye if I am using it for a long time.

Point is, the better glass in a spotter will make a difference in the quality of your experience using it, BUT, there is also an element of personal preference. Some guys hate spotters and love 15x binos, other guys think having 15x's is dumb and carry the spotter all day. I'd say just get the ATS or ATX on a deal, maybe on black friday or one on the forums, and use it for a while. If you like it, keep it, if you still don't like it, they hold their value well, sell it and get your money back.

I’d be buying a used ATS, ATX, or Kowa 773 most likely. A new BTX will be waaaay more than that.
 
Tons of accurate advice here. Vortex will never be Swarovski/Leica/Zeiss. Years ago I had an archeryColorado Bighorn Sheep tag. The country was so BIG, I eventually was glassing with my Zeiss Diascope 75% of the time conservatively. It was a pleasure for the entire month.

I think you will be very happy upgrading your spotter.
 
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