Packable spotting scope & tripod

[missoulaz28]

I'm in the market for a packable spotting scope and tripod set up. I would like to stay under a grand combined. Up to 1200 if needed.

So far I've been looking at the

Kowa 663/664 used
Maven s2
And the atglon Ares 65 for a bit more budget friendly option.

I hunt Western Montana deer/elk most of the time, with antelope thrown in when I can. It will be used from the truck and packed with me so weight and size are considerations.


How much light gathering an I going to give up with the maven over the kowa?

Does the Ares hold up against the other two? It seems to have good reviews.

I'm open to other suggestions new or used that would fit the bill.

And any tripod suggestions would be great, haven't even started looking at them.


Thanks

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Reach out to Doug via the phone. He should be able to answer all of your questions as well as get your a competitive price.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

My pleasure to assist

Take a look at this post from yesterday:
Hawke Endurance ED 16-48x68 Spotting Scope - Green #56200
and call my brother Joel, 516-217-1000, to discuss the right tripod

 

[Throwin Darts]

I have the Athlon Ares + Promaster XC525C tripod + Sirui VA5 head and its a great setup. No complaints at all. Love the spotter and the size and weight of the setup.

 

[HuntNTag]

I have the Athlon Ares + Promaster XC525C tripod + Sirui VA5 head and its a great setup. No complaints at all. Love the spotter and the size and weight of the setup.

I’d have to echo. I’ve looked through all the mavens and can say I’m an optics junkie. I think it depends on your usage. I’ve had lots of different spotters with my most recent being a razor HD and the Ares 65mm holds its own, (got it from Doug at Cameraland). It is way smaller and it is better in clarity and color, so for me, the no brained was a better budget bang for the buck spotter and my big money goes into my binoculars over the spotter every time.

If you are using a spotter all the time and it’s a big deal for you, I think you will be surprised at how good the mavens are. However, I still have a 50mm spotter and use my binos 99% of the time over getting the small spotter out of my bag when backpacking.

it will be different this go around with the 65mm backed and not weighing me down a couple more pounds.


If you were to say my most important factor for my next spotter is _____________. (Packability, size, weight, magnification, etc?


How would you answer that?

Also, how much do you use your spotter compared to your bino’s on a hunt and or from the truck? 50/50, 20/80?

those are big things to play into a better answer for you