Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide Spotting Scope

[Elk botherer]

Anyone have any experience with Leupold's SX-4 Pro Guide spotting scopes with either the 15-45x65 or the 20-60x85 models? I currently have a Vortex Razor Hd Gen 1 16-48x 65 mm spotting scope and was wondering how they stack up against each other. I'm happy enough with the Razor but I have had some lower end Vortex optics crap out on me and my trust levels are low at the moment with Vortex. I don't live close to any retailers that carry them but the newer Leupolds defintely have my curiosity perked. Thanks!

 

[ZackP]

Would also like to know about these!

 

[Gaines Evatt]

I am also interested in this! I found an Eastman's review on YouTube, but that is all I've found.

 

[Elk botherer]

Thanks for the replies. I just watched the review from Eastmans but it’s hard to know how much to believe when a company is pushing a product. It’s nice to hear from average joes not getting paid as their experience with its performance seems closer to reality. Hopefully someone chimes in with some real world experience with this glass! Thanks again everyone.

 

[mlgc20]

Anyone have any experience with Leupold's SX-4 Pro Guide spotting scopes with either the 15-45x65 or the 20-60x85 models? I currently have a Vortex Razor Hd Gen 1 16-48x 65 mm spotting scope and was wondering how they stack up against each other. I'm happy enough with the Razor but I have had some lower end Vortex optics crap out on me and my trust levels are low at the moment with Vortex. I don't live close to any retailers that carry them but the newer Leupolds defintely have my curiosity perked. Thanks!

I just sold my Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide 15-45x65 yesterday. But, not because I wasn’t happy with it. I’m just moving to 15x56 binos instead of a spotting scope. I really liked the SX-4. I did compare it to the Razor. Honestly, I couldn’t tell too much difference. I felt the Leupold was a bit clearer. Especially around the edges. Ergonomically, they are very similar. IMO, the Leupold looked better and felt a little more “higher end”. Of course, that’s very subjective. I have had a bunch of Leupold product over the years. And I have yet to need their warranty. The stuff just always works. Ultimately, that made the difference for me. I know both Vortex and Leupold have great warranties. I just felt I would be less likely to need it with Leupold. I would highly recommend the Leupold if buying from scratch. If I already had the Razor, I doubt there is enough difference to switch.

 

[Elk botherer]

I just sold my Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide 15-45x65 yesterday. But, not because I wasn’t happy with it. I’m just moving to 15x56 binos instead of a spotting scope. I really liked the SX-4. I did compare it to the Razor. Honestly, I couldn’t tell too much difference. I felt the Leupold was a bit clearer. Especially around the edges. Ergonomically, they are very similar. IMO, the Leupold looked better and felt a little more “higher end”. Of course, that’s very subjective. I have had a bunch of Leupold product over the years. And I have yet to need their warranty. The stuff just always works. Ultimately, that made the difference for me. I know both Vortex and Leupold have great warranties. I just felt I would be less likely to need it with Leupold. I would highly recommend the Leupold if buying from scratch. If I already had the Razor, I doubt there is enough difference to switch.

Thanks for the reply!! It’s great to hear from someone who has actually used it! I’m just a bit jaded with Vortex at the moment because of some experiences with failures (3 diamondback scopes- mounted properly in quality rings on a .243, replacement scope failed too and one on a 7mm rem mag). I guess it’s low end Vortex vs their high end Vortex but at the same time it’s like when you eat something then throw up...you just don’t want to eat it again for a while. I still struggle with reheated spaghetti five years later. Ughhh. That Leupold is looking better! If it’s sixes optically between them I might try to swing it. Thanks again!!!

 

[Touchdown88]

Here's a link to the review I did on this spotter last year:

Leupold Guide Pro 15-45 Spotter Review

Due to my father-in-law using his Swarovski ATS 20-60x80mm for an upcoming desert sheep hunt this year, I realized that I needed to purchase a spotter of my own. I've been using his spotting scope for the past four or five years and didn't see a need to purchase one up until this point in time...

www.rokslide.com

 

[Elk botherer]

Here's a link to the review I did on this spotter last year:

Leupold Guide Pro 15-45 Spotter Review

Due to my father-in-law using his Swarovski ATS 20-60x80mm for an upcoming desert sheep hunt this year, I realized that I needed to purchase a spotter of my own. I've been using his spotting scope for the past four or five years and didn't see a need to purchase one up until this point in time...

www.rokslide.com

I guess the search function would have been useful. Shouldn’t just rely on google. Thanks for reposting this, good information for sure. After using it last fall what do you think of it now? Would you make the same purchase again or did it leave you wanting more since you’ve been spoiled with a swaro?

 

[Touchdown88]

I guess the search function would have been useful. Shouldn’t just rely on google. Thanks for reposting this, good information for sure. After using it last fall what do you think of it now? Would you make the same purchase again or did it leave you wanting more since you’ve been spoiled with a swaro?

I would definitely purchase the scope again. It's not in the same ballpark as the Swaro and has a bit of chromatic abrasion on the edges at 45x but I still like it. It should give you similar quality to the Razor but at the Viper HD price.

 

[Elk botherer]

I would definitely purchase the scope again. It's not in the same ballpark as the Swaro and has a bit of chromatic abrasion on the edges at 45x but I still like it. It should give you similar quality to the Razor but at the Viper HD price.

Thats good to hear! Did the lens caps ever loosen up or is it just the nature of the beast to be difficult to remove? Thanks again.

 

[Touchdown88]

Thats good to hear! Did the lens caps ever loosen up or is it just the nature of the beast to be difficult to remove? Thanks again.

They loosened up a bit.

 

[swiftni]

Did you end up getting the Leupold? I'm curious as to how that spotter stacks up next to the Razor.

 

[Elk botherer]

Funny story. I kept dragging my feet and never did anything and then I drew my first antelope rifle tag in 24 years of applying. I scouted like crazy and used the razor for several weeks and then on opening day I discovered a new buck a long ways out and I saw right away he was taller than any buck I’d seen so far. I went to crank up the magnification to size him up and the eye piece fell off in my hand. It was getting dark and I didn’t have much time to close the gap and they were moving. I reasoned that he was so tall ( for the area) that he was probably a good shooter. I closed the gap in fading light and made a quick shot. Needless to say if I had zoomed in I would have seen the weak mass and busted off prong on the left side. But I didn’t take the time to size him up with my binoculars because it was a now or never situation with light fading and he was about to disappear into a bowl so bad on me for hurrying.

My local sportsman’s now has the Leupold sx4 in stock now so my next trip to town I’ll compare the two side by side and send the razor down the road if they compare reasonably. I didn’t get the spotter back for almost a month. Lost out for the whole deer hunt too. I’m done with vortex. I’ll post my observations between the two when I get the chance but it might be a couple of weeks.

 

[swiftni]

Funny story. I kept dragging my feet and never did anything and then I drew my first antelope rifle tag in 24 years of applying. I scouted like crazy and used the razor for several weeks and then on opening day I discovered a new buck a long ways out and I saw right away he was taller than any buck I’d seen so far. I went to crank up the magnification to size him up and the eye piece fell off in my hand. It was getting dark and I didn’t have much time to close the gap and they were moving. I reasoned that he was so tall ( for the area) that he was probably a good shooter. I closed the gap in fading light and made a quick shot. Needless to say if I had zoomed in I would have seen the weak mass and busted off prong on the left side. But I didn’t take the time to size him up with my binoculars because it was a now or never situation with light fading and he was about to disappear into a bowl so bad on me for hurrying.

My local sportsman’s now has the Leupold sx4 in stock now so my next trip to town I’ll compare the two side by side and send the razor down the road if they compare reasonably. I didn’t get the spotter back for almost a month. Lost out for the whole deer hunt too. I’m done with vortex. I’ll post my observations between the two when I get the chance but it might be a couple of weeks.

That would be horrible! Equipment failure has to be the worst way to end a hunt.

I'd like to know what you think after looking through the Leupold.

 

[Blackstorm]

I liked the Leupold over the Vortex, but it was the viper. For me the choice was between the Athlon and Leupold and I went Athlon

 

[Johnny_Yemon11]

I liked the Leupold over the Vortex, but it was the viper. For me the choice was between the Athlon and Leupold and I went Athlon

Are you still happy with your Athlon? I’m guessing you went 65mm Ares, having a similar debate…only 3 years after you.