In the market for a new compact spotter

[RussGS]

Sundodger- I run the same setup. Great light weight glass when you put the upgraded eyepiece on.

Just for my education, do you know where the problem was? What I a really asking is could you have kept the eyepiece and bought a new scope body?

 

[Block]

I think it is, the ED50 never impressed me. If $ isn’t an issue go Kowa 553 or 554, that is the pinnacle of glass in smaller spotting scopes.

I bought the 554 based on how highly it was spoke of on this site... I was mind blown that people were claiming it equal to their SwaRO 65 spotters ., some even said they sold their 65 SwaRO to keep this 554... I really couldnt have been more disappointed with that thing. The FOV is absolutely WORTHLESS.. I mean like don’t even THINK about tryin to pick shade apart with it.. it’s for identifying an animal only.. and even at that it just hardly had much more zoom than a set of 12-15x binos that it’s not worth carrying to me.. I THOUGHT they would be great for long hikes and just taking the mini spotter + 10x..,, I found myself glassing bucks and having to make moves on them to even tell what they were.,,

 

[brsnow]

I bought the 554 based on how highly it was spoke of on this site... I was mind blown that people were claiming it equal to their SwaRO 65 spotters ., some even said they sold their 65 SwaRO to keep this 554... I really couldnt have been more disappointed with that thing. The FOV is absolutely WORTHLESS.. I mean like don’t even THINK about tryin to pick shade apart with it.. it’s for identifying an animal only.. and even at that it just hardly had much more zoom than a set of 12-15x binos that it’s not worth carrying to me.. I THOUGHT they would be great for long hikes and just taking the mini spotter + 10x..,, I found myself glassing bucks and having to make moves on them to even tell what they were.,,

I think in general if you glass with a small spotter it will be a tough experience. I use mine to get a bit more detail I can’t pick up with my 8 or 10x binos. I have tried numerous brands and ended up with athlon since I didn’t want to spend a lot on a tool I only use briefly. It is the only non-swaro glass I own and so far it works for me in the limited time I have had with it.

 

[mcseal2]

I am one of the people who sold a Swaro 65 for the Kowa 554. It does have a smaller field of view for sure. Clarity and low light though it was the equal of the 65mm spotter. I previously owned the ED50. It was a great optic for the price, but the Kowa blows it away in clarity and low light.

I mainly use my spotter to identify animals, not locate them so that likely changes my opinion. I use binos off a tripod to locate, and the small light spotter helps convince me to pack my 15x Swaro binos more often. They have been a game changer to me locating game. If someone invents a tripod mountable 12x50 with excellent glass and a rangefinder I’ll sell my SLC and Geovid binos and carry that plus my little Kowa. That would be my ideal and light set up.

 

[Block]

I am one of the people who sold a Swaro 65 for the Kowa 554. It does have a smaller field of view for sure. Clarity and low light though it was the equal of the 65mm spotter. I previously owned the ED50. It was a great optic for the price, but the Kowa blows it away in clarity and low light.

I mainly use my spotter to identify animals, not locate them so that likely changes my opinion. I use binos off a tripod to locate, and the small light spotter helps convince me to pack my 15x Swaro binos more often. They have been a game changer to me locating game. If someone invents a tripod mountable 12x50 with excellent glass and a rangefinder I’ll sell my SLC and Geovid binos and carry that plus my little Kowa. That would be my ideal and light set up.

I was sorta in the same boat.. sold my 10 and 15 SLC for the new 12x42 NL PURE.,, they are the shit.. period.. those + BTX95 is all I will ever carry most likely now

 

[eaglemountainman]

Another recommendation for the Kowa 554. Clear as gin and lazar sharp right up to max 45X. Granted, FOV is a bit small ( it's only a 55mm objective after all ) , but I use my binos for spotting game and the spotter for assessing quality. I find it punches way out of it's class in the shadows and low light. Again, considering the size of the objective. And, at 28oz., it will always have a place in my pack.

 

[huntnful]

KOWA 554. I might sell mine if you’re interested. I ended up going with the 774 after using the 554 for a year. It’s a badass little spotter, I just wanted a little more zoom for my specific application.

 

[nrh6.7]

Sold my Kowa 773 a few years ago and have been itching to get it replaced. Finally made up my mind and ordered a 554 last night. Can't wait to see if the glass is all its been made out to be.

 

[Newtosavage]

My ED50 was a bit over a pound with eyepiece and tripod mount.

Even if my ED50 went tits up, I'd just buy another one. With my Pentax eyepiece, that thing is the bomb.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I will have to take a look at that one, never heard of them before. Thank you

I have a 50mm MM4 with the SDL eyepiece (I would have gotten the 60mm if I didn't get a good deal on the 50mm), it's pretty good. I am sure the Kowa 553/554 is better but you would expect it for the price. Opticron isn't well represented in the US, sometimes you can find deals, sometimes not.

 

[Sako300]

I was one of the guys who owned a Swarovski 65 ATM spotter, a Nikon ED50 with the 13-40 eyepiece, and then decided to buy the kowa 553. Upon inspection with 3 tripods, obviously the Swarovski Hd ATM outshined the Nikon and the Kowa. But, between the Nikon ED with the MII I wouldn’t say the kowa absolutely blows it away! I glassed several evenings until dark. I believed for the money and performance, the Nikon ED 50 is still an awesome spotter for identifying distant objects! not counting ram rings! I don’t even think the kowa is that great for that extreme detail! Especially if you want to digiscope, I wouldn’t take the kowa 553,554. So I sold the kowa and own 2 Nikon ED 50 with the 13-40 eyepiece. Most comparisons done with the Nikon ed50 and smaller spotters used the standard 13-30 eyepiece. I am still impressed with the ED50 and MC2 eyepiece!!!!

 

[Chett09]

For the last quite a few years I have run a Nikon ED 50 with a MCII eye piece for my spotting scope and loved it. It started fogging up internally so I sent it in to get repaired/replaced in July. Historically I have had good luck with Nikon customer service, but not this time. They refused to repair or replace my set up, and offered me a meager credit to their website. All I wanted was for them to honor their warrantee and send me back a new spotter, but they wouldn’t. Arguing for months over IM and the phone I got them to eventually just send me the money back that I paid for the scope and eye piece. Very odd, since it would have been cheaper for them to just send me a new spotter.



Anyway, if it wasn’t for this fiasco I would just buy a new ED50, I really loved that spotter, but I figured since I am full of piss and vinegar I should see what else is on the market. When I bought my ED50 there were not that many good compact spotters out there, but it seems that has changed.



So what’s out there, that’s around a pound (I am very weight conscious), great optics, good warrantee, and has 40ish x zoom?

look at maven. i am not sure of the model but is super compact with mid to upper mid level glass

 

[archp625]

Im looking hard at the new Maven CS.1 Spotter. Seems like a small lighter weight package that's 2.5 lbs. I want to say they are $650.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Im looking hard at the new Maven CS.1 Spotter. Seems like a small lighter weight package that's 2.5 lbs. I want to say they are $650.

$650 seems like quite a bit of money for Chinese optics. If I was looking to go Maven, I'd look at their Japan/USA made lines.

 

[Echo]

I’m actually at the same point now - looking for a compact spotter. I’m interested to hear if anyone has experience with the Maven CS1? The three I’ve been looking at (albeit only online) are the Maven Cs1, the vortex razor 11 -33 x 50, and the more expensive Leopoldo GR 12 - 40 x 65.

have you looked into or handled any of these? I plan on getting my hands on at least the leipold
And vortex in a store before making a decision, but that’s tough to do with Maven. However, it looks like Maven offers a nice demo program to give the optics a try before you buy.

 

[archp625]

$650 seems like quite a bit of money for Chinese optics. If I was looking to go Maven, I'd look at their Japan/USA made lines.

Good point that I didn't think of. I have looked through one or know anyone that has one it just looks interesting to shed weight off mu current Vortex Viper. I bought a pair of SLCs this year and used them off a tripod a ton. I took my spotter once and never again. May just sell it and move on from a spotter all together.

 

[Sundodger]

Sundodger- I run the same setup. Great light weight glass when you put the upgraded eyepiece on.

Just for my education, do you know where the problem was? What I a really asking is could you have kept the eyepiece and bought a new scope body?

IIRC both the eyepiece and the objective lens started fogging up on the same trip.

Even if my ED50 went tits up, I'd just buy another one. With my Pentax eyepiece, that thing is the bomb.

Which Pentax eyepiece are you running? Is it one of those really wide angle fix mag set ups?

I have a 50mm MM4 with the SDL eyepiece (I would have gotten the 60mm if I didn't get a good deal on the 50mm), it's pretty good. I am sure the Kowa 553/554 is better but you would expect it for the price. Opticron isn't well represented in the US, sometimes you can find deals, sometimes not.

I read their warrantee policy and it looks reasonable, how is their customer service and execution of their warrantee?

 

[Newtosavage]

Which Pentax eyepiece are you running? Is it one of those really wide angle fix mag set ups?

Yes, it's a semi-custom job. I came across a guy who had figured out how to fit 1.25" astronomy eyepieces to the ED50 and he produced some custom threaded adapters very inexpensively. He gave me a couple. I've since given one of those to another forum member here. With the one I had, I modified a Pentax 1.25" 12mm astronomy eyepiece to fit the ED50. The result was a lower-magification fixed setup with a super wide field of view, super bright and tack sharp. I love it.

I wrote it up here:

https://www.birdforum.net/threads/a...-to-the-nikon-ed50.322702/page-2#post-4106989

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I read their warrantee policy and it looks reasonable, how is their customer service and execution of their warrantee?

Don't know haven't had to use it, I think I've had that spotter for 3-4 seasons now. Keep in I ran across deals when I got mine as noted.

 

[RussGS]

Yes, it's a semi-custom job. I came across a guy who had figured out how to fit 1.25" astronomy eyepieces to the ED50 and he produced some custom threaded adapters very inexpensively. He gave me a couple. I've since given one of those to another forum member here. With the one I had, I modified a Pentax 1.25" 12mm astronomy eyepiece to fit the ED50. The result was a lower-magification fixed setup with a super wide field of view, super bright and tack sharp. I love it.

I wrote it up here:

https://www.birdforum.net/threads/a...-to-the-nikon-ed50.322702/page-2#post-4106989

Savage, have you ever compared your custom fitted Pentax 12mm to the Nikon MC II 27 fixed power?