Need some help picking a spotting scope

[sqdougherty]

So I've been doing an obsessive amount of research on spotting scopes. My wife is beginning to think it is actually some sort of affair. After much internal debate I'm going to pay some legit money for a spotter, so here is where I have landed.

Swaro ATS 65mm
Kowa 773
Leica 65 Televid

I have read every review that I can find and much of the best information came from S&S Archery. I am looking for something that I can pack easily and will not leave me feeling that I should have bought the other one. My initial reaction was that Swarovski was the way to go, but after some sleuthing I think that may be my more expensive option (by about $600), new.

Just interested in some feedback. Thanks

 

[tdhanses]

Get the Kowa and add an extender, takes your zoom to 96x.

 

[handwerk]

I have been around all three scopes and feel that optically they are very close to equal, so i would check them out in person if you can and see which has functions that appeal to you...for me I went with the swaro.

 

[sqdougherty]

Get the Kowa and add an extender, takes your zoom to 96x.

That's a great idea! I totally missed that as a possibility

 

[sqdougherty]

I have been around all three scopes and feel that optically they are very close to equal, so i would check them out in person if you can and see which has functions that appeal to you...for me I went with the swaro.

I'm working on that. I have plans for next weekend to look at the Kowa and Leica. The only one that I have been around at all is the Swaro. Others that I have personally looked through would be Maven, Zeiss and Vortex.

 

[realunlucky]

I bought the 77 Kowa. Reason--cheaper, bigger objective and more magnification. It's a great view but, I find I don't use 60x all that much. Wish I could compare the Kowa with a Swarovski with the wide angle eye piece

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[Cant hit em]

I picked up a demo unit Swaro sts 65mm for a great deal from Europtics they have them in now . Midway USA also has great demo deals. I couldn’t tell it was anything other than new

 

[Cant hit em]

Double post

 

[tdhanses]

I bought the 77 Kowa. Reason--cheaper, bigger objective and more magnification. It's a great view but, I find I don't use 60x all that much. Wish I could compare the Kowa with a Swarovski with the wide angle eye piece

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

I had the 80mm Swarovski hd with wa, you are not missing out. Now I have a Kowa 553 and 773. Zero regret selling the swaro.

 

[DavePwns]

The kowa will serve you well for a do it all spotter, I was in a simular situation and have decided on saving up for the 85 ATX simply because it's only 7 oz heavier than the 773 kowa with the TE-11 eyepiece AND can swap into BTX which will be very helpful for me during mule deer scouting season. I don't plan on getting the 65 or 95, I'll use the 85 for all my backpack hunts and day hunts

 

[Researcher]

I had the Kowa 773 and now have a Swaro ATX 65 that was too good of a deal to pass up. Other than the compactness of the ATX I dont think its enough of an improvement if any to justify the cost increase but we’ll see with more time. I prefer the dual focus of the kowa over the swaro setup but I feel the atx eyepiece is more comfortable. I havent owned an ATS but I also looked at the ATS and I dont think its better than the 773 at all even if they were priced the same.

If the ATX doesnt impress me after awhile then I’ll be going back to the Kowa.

 

[Researcher]

I also have pictures of 60x and 96x on the 773 if you wanna see what the extender does send me a pm.

 

[Hemmert6187]

Let us know what you decide on your choice of spotting scope I’ve been doing a lot of research on the Swarovski Ats as well and can’t make my mind up either.


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[sqdougherty]

Let us know what you decide on your choice of spotting scope I’ve been doing a lot of research on the Swarovski Ats as well and can’t make my mind up either.


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Will do, but it may be a little while before I pull the trigger.

 

[sqdougherty]

I also have pictures of 60x and 96x on the 773 if you wanna see what the extender does send me a pm.

I would love to see those pics!

 

[Don Qui Puncher]

I also have pictures of 60x and 96x on the 773 if you wanna see what the extender does send me a pm.

Can you post them here??

 

[Rusty85]

You might consider the Maven S1 as well.

 

[Researcher]

Can you post them here??

60x

 

[Researcher]

96x

Both taken at the same time in the middle of the day last summer. Distance as the crow flies is 2 miles

 

[Researcher]

96x @ 400ish yards. This one was a handheld phone over the eyepiece type thing. The others I used the Novagrade attachment.