I still buy one or two cheap used spotting scopes a year when deals come up, mainly Nikon ed Fieldscope 2/3, old fixed power Leupold 30x60, or even an old Wind River if the price is cheap enough - they are perfect gifts for young hunters and shooters in the family that are ready for their first spotter, but I still use a pair of fixed 30x Leupolds.
The old Wind Rivers are not perfect by any means, about like a non ED Fieldscope 1, but I’ve picked up a few for $75, even at $125 they aren’t a bad deal, and they are great compared to nothing especially as a beater car scope or to use at the range at 100 yards.
The Fieldscope 2 isn’t great, but it’s noticeably better than the 1 or Wind River. I’ve picked up a couple around $200ish directly from Japan on eBay. Fieldscopes have different eye pieces that can be changed out, and some eye pieces are worth more than the body so be careful picking them out.
The Fieldscope 3 15x-45x and old Gold Ring 30x Leupold are quite similar with Leupold being slightly better at 30x and the Fieldscope showing slightly more detail at 45x. At least with mine, the Fieldscope 3 reflects more of the surface of my eye. It might be the outer coating was partially rubbed off by the previous owner, but it seems more like the multiple lenses contained in the eyepiece simply don’t have as good of coatings. When the Leupold in new shape comes up for under $200 it’s a great deal, but these are all old so focus knobs are stiff. Fieldscope 3 is a deal under $300 if it has the eye piece you’re interested in.
I see the ed50 scopes going for $300 to $450 and after hearing so many good stories about them look forward to snagging one eventually. With the good feedback on new $500 to $700 spotters from other brands I’m looking forward to friends buying some of them so I can compare side by side.
One thing I’ve learned from ordering from camera shops in Japan is you have to be careful of lens fungus growing inside a non waterproof scope, that slowly clouds the lenses as the acids in the fungus actually etch into the surface of the glass.
That’s my take on cheap spotters. Adjust for inflation, that old Leupold used to sell for $700 in todays dollars. They aren’t a swaro, but I usually carry a heavier tripod to help in the wind, really mentally concentrate to get the most out of it, always use good technique and enjoy having fun with the swaro buddies when I pick up an animal first - offer to let them borrow my spare spotter in the glovebox if they need and whatnot. *chuckle*