Spotters: 65 vs 80

[Jake Leibke]

This has probably been beaten to death but could search from my phone. What are the optical differences in the 2 objectives? 80 I assume has a broader field of view. Also better for the first and last half hour. Anything else?

 

[justin davis]

80 is obviously heavier. But gathers more light. I use a 85. Don't mind the weight for the extra light.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I prefer the biggest objective I can carry.

 

[jarheadhunter]

Depends what you will be using it for and what your willing to spend. I would put my 65mm HD Swaro up against most lower quality 80+mm scopes and still have a better and brighter picture.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Bigger objectives have greater theoretical resolution potential. The bigger objective model has a brightness advantage over the smaller objective AT SIMILAR MAGNIFICATIONS due to exit pupil. Field of view is not dependent on objective size and quite often the smaller objective versions (especially binoculars) will have wider fields of view.

For instance, Swaro 65mm and 85mm ATX spotter have identical magnification ranges and fields of view, even though the objectives differ. The 85 is brighter at all powers, however.

 

[Matt W.]

Bigger objectives have greater theoretical resolution potential. The bigger objective model has a brightness advantage over the smaller objective AT SIMILAR MAGNIFICATIONS due to exit pupil. Field of view is not dependent on objective size and quite often the smaller objective versions (especially binoculars) will have wider fields of view.

For instance, Swaro 65mm and 85mm ATX spotter have identical magnification ranges and fields of view, even though the objectives differ. The 85 is brighter at all powers, however.

Which one would you take on a 10 day walk in sheep hunt?

 

[squeekieslayer]

must get beat up... i started a very similar thread just a few minutes after you did haha. The other factor I am dealing with is that my 85er will go to 75 power but the 65 will only go to 60

 

[Matt W.]

My main concern is that this year's sheep hunt has an amazing vantage point. I can literally see several good drainages and if the viability is good a high quality spotter is going to save me a TON of walking... I plan to get to my vantage point on day 1, then glass that evening and the next morning and then plan the "go deep" route... Anything has to be an upgrade from my Vortex Nomad.. ; )

 

[luke moffat]

Anything has to be an upgrade from my Vortex Nomad.. ; )

That wouldn't take much

 

[Matt W.]

That wouldn't take much

That's for sure...

 

[Matt Cashell]

Which one would you take on a 10 day walk in sheep hunt?

Solo, I would take the 65mm, because it would save me on tripod weight as well. WIth a partner, I would split up the load and take the 85mm.

 

[Yellowknife]

Which one would you take on a 10 day walk in sheep hunt?

Something you may want to consider is how you will use the spotting scope the rest of the year, rather than just considering one specific hunt. I owned an 85mm and really liked it, but eventually traded it in for a 62. The 85 was a really great scope for locations when I had long views, and as BB says, it might be worth backing when you have two people along on a sheep hunt. In my case, I like to carry my spotting scope during my travels around the state outside of sheep season, and I found the bulk of the big 85mm was just too much for casual use. It was also major overkill for backpack caribou hunts, day hunting moose, etc.

Also as it turned out, we ended up using my dads 65 ATS on the the last two sheep hunts despite the theoretical benefits of the 85mm, and we were more than pleased with that level of performance. Ideally, I would have both options... but that isn't going to happen anytime soon!

Yk