Lightweight Spotter?

[Huntingpreacher]

Thanks everyone. Wannakillabigbull, you're the man! Thanks for posting those pics. That's super helpful.

 

[Huntingpreacher]

I'm not a glassing expert, but from what I have gleaned from others is the Kowa might be better used for looking more closely at something you already found with binos, as the fov can make it difficult to glass larger areas or for longer time periods. I can comment on Kowa's quality having owned the 773. Sold it last year but I'll be buying another Kowa before next season.

Would that also be true for the other scopes I listed? Small fov makes it more difficult to glass for extended periods of time?

 

[zeroforhire]

The md50 is very underrated

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[tdhanses]

If you want a good cheap option to see if you even like or really need a spotter the old Minox MD50 does a good job for a low price.

 

[tdhanses]

Would that also be true for the other scopes I listed? Small fov makes it more difficult to glass for extended periods of time?

That’ll be true for most spotting scopes, main reason will be shut one eye for the next 4hrs and see how that feels. Binos on a tripod are your best locating weapon, spotter is great to get a better look.

 

[Huntingpreacher]

That’ll be true for most spotting scopes, main reason will be shut one eye for the next 4hrs and see how that feels. Binos on a tripod are your best locating weapon, spotter is great to get a better look.

Got it. That makes sense.

 

[Newtosavage]

Love my Nikon 50ED spotter. I am using a Bresser astronomy eyepiece with an adapter for an out of pocket total of less than $350. A buddy and I were counting points on bull elk last week from 2 miles away with that spotter. He gave up on his older full size Nikon scope and we both shared my 50ED.

The fact that it weighs less than my binoculars is simply amazing.

 

[Huntingpreacher]

Love my Nikon 50ED spotter. I am using a Bresser astronomy eyepiece with an adapter for an out of pocket total of less than $350. A buddy and I were counting points on bull elk last week from 2 miles away with that spotter. He gave up on his older full size Nikon scope and we both shared my 50ED.

The fact that it weighs less than my binoculars is simply amazing.

I'll keep my eye out for one of those. Thank you!

 

[71CJ5]

Is anyone who mentioned the Kowa 553 having regrets about it not having rotating collar on the body? I'm really considering this spotter for a backpack hunting rig but am struggling with the fact that you can't rotate the eyepiece when looking downhill. Thoughts?

 

[tdhanses]

Is anyone who mentioned the Kowa 553 having regrets about it not having rotating collar on the body? I'm really considering this spotter for a backpack hunting rig but am struggling with the fact that you can't rotate the eyepiece when looking downhill. Thoughts?

I don’t but truthfully I’ve never even used the one that was on past spotting scopes I had, think it’s overrated.

 

[arri1942]

Love my opticron MM4 50GA ED scope. is super light and crystal clear. Great little spotter. I got mine on sale and had a discount that got it at just under $400 on optics planet. I bought a little over a year ago.

Opticron MM4 50 GA ED/45 Travelscope + HDF T, 12-36x50mm | 13% Off w/ Free Shipping and Handling

 

[boom]

There's lots of disagreement about the Razor 50 (shocker, right?) so here's some digiscoping photos I took when I had one. I took all these pictures freehand through an iPhone without a digiscoping adapter.

.

your digiscope kungfu is totally blackbelt.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

your digiscope kungfu is totally blackbelt.

The freehand disclaimer was to indicate that I probably could have got a better image if I wasn't cheap and had just bought an adapter.

 

[boom]

The freehand disclaimer was to indicate that I probably could have got a better image if I wasn't cheap and had just bought an adapter.

i missed the freehand comment..

total blackbelt!! excellent images.

 

[boom]

i'm okay with my janky spotter. it is the Viper from Vortex.

i use it on one hunt annually. one. couse deer. there was no way, i was cutting out my other kidney for a great spotter.

with couse deer, i just want, "yup, that's a buck!"..i am on my way. perfect spotter for that. it is pretty clear (to me)

 

[Shraggs]

Love my Nikon 50ED spotter. I am using a Bresser astronomy eyepiece with an adapter for an out of pocket total of less than $350. A buddy and I were counting points on bull elk last week from 2 miles away with that spotter. He gave up on his older full size Nikon scope and we both shared my 50ED.

The fact that it weighs less than my binoculars is simply amazing.

I also love my Nikon ed 50. Light wight, last I recall there were two or three for sale here on rokslide classifieds. It’s been couple weeks so search hopefully they are still available to consider

John

 

[BenFrank]

I only have experience with the Razor 50mm. At a mile plus it works great for determining a) if it's a deer, b) if it's a buck, and c) if it's a nice buck. Hard to count points at that kind of distance and as others have said the small field of view makes it hard to grid a hillside. I often wish I had more reach than 33x but I guess not enough to take on the weight penalty of a 65mm.