Maven Spotting Scopes

Brunton is dead and gone. Why would Maven pursue outdated stuff from a failed endeavor? Maven uses the Japanese firm Kamakura for their optics. Just as Brunton did. They may well have the same or similar housing, but the optics are different. One of the reasons Brunton failed is they would not listen to Kamakura. Kamakura has the facilities and the engineering know how. if Brunton would have listened they might be still in business. Some of the Maven founders worked for Brunton, but that ended in 2008.

I've had a chance to look at the new spotters (Central Oregon Outdoor Expo) and they are first rate, crystal clear and tack sharp.
 
For that price, Buy a used or new Swarovski. You know it's the best and the warranty is second to none. Look at resale, a swaro holds its value and then some. If you dump 2000 onto that camo spotting scope and a month or year from now you don't need or want it, there is a better chance of a 3 legged dog being able to bury a terd on a icy lake than you getting even half your money back. Things hold there value for a reason, they are built to last.
 
I'm looking forward to the review. Maven makes some good binos and has a great warranty. It wouldn't make sense for them to make a subpar product at whatever price point they decide on. They do have a stake in this as it is their livelihood.
 
Mk7mmSTW said:
For that price, Buy a used or new Swarovski. You know it's the best and the warranty is second to none. Look at resale, a swaro holds its value and then some. If you dump 2000 onto that camo spotting scope and a month or year from now you don't need or want it, there is a better chance of a 3 legged dog being able to bury a terd on a icy lake than you getting even half your money back. Things hold there value for a reason, they are built to last.
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Have you used the Maven spotting scope yet?
 
ams said:
I'm looking forward to the review. Maven makes some good binos and has a great warranty. It wouldn't make sense for them to make a subpar product at whatever price point they decide on. They do have a stake in this as it is their livelihood.
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Maven doesn't make anything, they re-brand Japanese optics, no different than Vortex, Nikon, Bushnell, etc.

Leica, Zeiss (for the most part), Swarovski, and Meopta manufacturer optics.
 
Brock A said:
Have you used the Maven spotting scope yet?
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I got to test the spotter in Salt Lake City. It looks and feels like a brunton. It's nice, but at the price point I could get a new/used swarovski, Leica, or zeiss or meopta. I have spent a bunch of time behind several brunton and still own a 50mm and 60mm. They are nice, but they are not at the same clarity level as others at the same price point and that have a long standing name to back. Look what happened to brunton.. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they don't even make these spotters, they are just branded optics from a major overseas producer. I don't see the value holding on that, seeing how someone could buy the exact same optic and put another name on it at half price.
 
troutdreamer said:
Specs are posted on their website now. Looks like about 5 oz difference to Swarovski ATS/STS
http://mavenbuilt.com/spotting-scopes/
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The ATS 80 HD with a 25-50w eyepiece is the closest spec Swaro. The 5 oz difference is pretty big to me. The ATX 85 is a bigger objective and higher top magnification so it is not as close a spec scope. Both of the Swarovski offer options of either the eyepieces or objective. It would be interesting to see another scope shootout like Matts first one. All the scopes together and all new. Comparing a scope with a couple of years of use and coating oxidation to another that is new isn't a true comparison. That would take a lot of logistics and manufacturer cooperation to put together again so I ddon't see it happening. The same lineup with some of the newer offerings like the Maven added. I've used two Maven binoculars so far and the quick looks left me unimpressed. I liked my 10x43 Minox German HG's better than the Maven 11x44? And 9x44? I looked through. I got a looking through a straw feeling with both of the Mavens. I haven't looked at the specs to see the field of view but couple of quick looks isn't much to go by with the Mavens but that's all I got and they didn't impress me. I didn't like the ergonomics of the Mavens at all. Please don't get me wrong , the Mavens were pretty nice binoculars.
 
tipsntails7 said:
No the brunton I believe was like 75oz or something .
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That's what I remember it being. The Icon was a heavy turd ! Five ounces isn't a deal breaker but it is a real consideration. I pack an ATS 80 HD instead of a Meopta S2 for the weight savings. I'd gladly pack the 8 more ounces of the ATX 85 and I'm working on making it happen. I don't think that Mavens will hold value anywhere near what a Swarovski or Leica will. That would take a generation of top performance and service and I seriously doubt that an import marketing company like Maven will be around in a generation.
 
WRO, I hear/know what you're saying but it's just easier to say "makes"

Looks like they cut off quite a bit of weight. I really liked the focusing mechanism and placement on the brunton and it looks to be the same. I also preferred the 25-50 on the eyepieces so even though its fixed I'm glad the chose that over the 20-60.
 
Shrek said:
That's what I remember it being. The Icon was a heavy turd ! Five ounces isn't a deal breaker but it is a real consideration. I pack an ATS 80 HD instead of a Meopta S2 for the weight savings. I'd gladly pack the 8 more ounces of the ATX 85 and I'm working on making it happen. I don't think that Mavens will hold value anywhere near what a Swarovski or Leica will. That would take a generation of top performance and service and I seriously doubt that an import marketing company like Maven will be around in a generation.
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I don't have a problem with maven being an import company. Vortex has done really really well, and I doubt that they are going anywhere anytime soon.

The problem I see is unlike vortex they don't have any lower level glass to choose from. Let's be realistic, the amount of guys that want to pay 1K for binos or 2k for a spotter is not real large. Combine the low market share attainable , with the basically unknown company and it could be a recipe for small revenue.

The spotter will have a much tougher go then the binos, IMO. I hope they succeed enough to offer lower grade glass to possibly offset costs on the higher end stuff and make the price even better.

To me 2k is a threshold where you start getting into extremely stiff competition in the spotter realm.
 
Shrek said:
Comparing a scope with a couple of years of use and coating oxidation to another that is new isn't a true comparison.
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A far as I know, there is no concern with modern optical coatings degrading through oxidation, oxidization, or any other means, to any appreciable point through the normal life of the product. With that in mind, I do feel that it is a fair comparison. Feel free to take any level of value from the comparison you choose to.

Modern sport optics are built with durability and longevity as one of the key design goals.

The optics (including condition of the coatings) on my reference ATX are pristine, and I have noticed no performance degredation.
 
Bitterroot Bulls said:
A far as I know, there is no concern with modern optical coatings degrading through oxidation, oxidization, or any other means, to any appreciable point through the normal life of the product. With that in mind, I do feel that it is a fair comparison. Feel free to take any level of value from the comparison you choose to.

Modern sport optics are built with durability and longevity as one of the key design goals.

The optics (including condition of the coatings) on my reference ATX are pristine, and I have noticed no performance degredation.
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Its much more prevalent in the lower end Asian optics than the high end German optics, that is mostly due to thickness that the coatings. The lower end glass uses significantly thicker and lower quality coatings.
 
WRO said:
Its much more prevalent in the lower end Asian optics than the high end German optics, that is mostly due to thickness that the coatings. The lower end glass uses significantly thicker and lower quality coatings.
Click to expand...

On the Maven bino's the glass is german. Schmidt I believe.
 
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