Leupold Gold Ring 15-30x50 vs Athlon Cronus 12-36x50

[shooter50gill]

Anybody have any experience with these two? How to they compare?

 

[shooter50gill]

Anybody? Experience with these two models individually will help if you don’t have experience comparing the two.

 

[CApighunter]

No experience with the Athlon but I had the leupold and was less than impressed with it. Another compact spotter to check out is the Kowa 501/2. I have the 502 and it’s pretty awesome for the size/weight/price. If you spend a lot of time behind a spotter, I don’t think you’d be happy with any of the 50mm models, but they’re great to have for taking a closer look at something you picked up in the binos.

 

[shooter50gill]

Good to know. I use binos for the majority of my glassing right now. The kowa is on the radar as well. What about the leupy did you not like? Clarity? Power range? Dark?

 

[CApighunter]

Good to know. I use binos for the majority of my glassing right now. The kowa is on the radar as well. What about the leupy did you not like? Clarity? Power range? Dark?

Resolution and brightness just weren’t where I’d like them to be.

 

[Newtosavage]

I can tell you the resolution on my Nikon ED50 is outstanding. That little scope, with a high quality fixed eyepiece, will keep up with my Zeiss Conquest HD's for resolving power. That's as good as my eyes can see.

 

[shooter50gill]

So are you buying the Nikon as a fixed power model or replacing the eye piece?

 

[JRMiller]

Unless your absolutely dead set on a 50mm, i would recommend moving up to a 60-65mm anything.
With 50 mils, depending on your current binos its almost better just sticking with the binos on a tripod.

 

[shooter50gill]

Not at all set on 50mm. Just looking for something reasonably light and not super long.

 

[shooter50gill]

Ok so decent glass mid range 60-65mm. Leupold sx-4? I’d consider the sx-2 if anyone has a decent comparison

 

[JRMiller]

Ok so decent glass mid range 60-65mm. Leupold sx-4? I’d consider the sx-2 if anyone has a decent comparison

I have no experience with either of those myself, but Leupolds are always pretty good glass.
I will ad though that if your looking for anything lightweight (which I assumed since you were looking at a 50mm originally), that those two are tanks.
The SX 2 is 60oz
The SX 4 is 62oz
The Maven I just got recently is 40oz and that was at the top end of my weight goal for a 65mm.
The Ares 65mm is 50oz
I had a Hawke recently that was 31oz

Maybe none of that matters to you, I just thought I would mention it just in case.