Spotting Scope Advice?

[Rich.]

I'm looking for a new spotting scope for hunting out west next year. My current spotter is too big to want to haul around the mountains.

I'm looking to spend about $1,000 on a spotter.

First question would be, what is the maximum magnification I should need for glassing elk? Is 40X good enough?

I'm looking at the Leupold GR 12-40x60 HD spotter, priced at $1.400 for the kit.

http://www.basspro.com/Leupold-Golden-Ring-HD-Spotting-Scope-Kit/product/65034/

Is there a better spotter for the money?

 

[boom]

I'm looking for a new spotting scope for hunting out west next year. My current spotter is too big to want to haul around the mountains.

I'm looking to spend about $1,000 on a spotter.

First question would be, what is the maximum magnification I should need for glassing elk? Is 40X good enough?

I'm looking at the Leupold GR 12-40x60 HD spotter, priced at $1.400 for the kit.

http://www.basspro.com/Leupold-Golden-Ring-HD-Spotting-Scope-Kit/product/65034/

Is there a better spotter for the money?

disclaimer. i am NOT a spotter pro..

but i have used that same Leupold spotter for a few years. i love how it is so compact. the case that our's had was awesome. you essentially unzipped the front and back and peeled the case opened like banana. setup because of this was very very fast.

what i didnt like about it was the lack of a fine focus knob. the only focus knob (ours had) was so fast you couldnt get it perfectly focused everytime. you think you have it perfect..just a tick more. GAH! passed it up..let me go back the other way. i'm an ex photographer, so an out of focused image just got on my nerves. your nerves may vary

i picked up a Vortex Viper HD 15-45..and it is every bit as clear as i remember the Leupolds to be. and it has two focus knobs!! way less money, if you buy it from the right guy. i paid closer to half of that above. if that is your budget. you could go with the Vortex Razors!

 

[Rich.]

Vortex is the other brand I was considering.

The thing about the Leupold I really like is how compact it is though. If the current Leupold have a fine focus knob would you take that over the Vortex spotters?


You still do photography? I'm going to be looking for a DSLR to take along next fall and will be looking for advice on that subject as well!

 

[Rich.]

I'd prefer American made over sending my money overseas. Otherwise Swarovski would be on my list.

 

[Stid2677]

I could not find an Elk in the Zoo,,, but I have used a lot of spotters.. I have worked up to a Swaro now, "have old eyes" but for mid-range glass it is hard to beat a Pentax PF-65ED II 65mm, best in the mid-range price IMHO. I used one for years and judged and killed a lot of sheep using it and if you know anything about sheep you know that it is hard to see annuli. Should find them for 7 to 8 hundred dollars

The place to research spotters is the birding forums,, those folks know their glass and spend hours looking through them.

The Pentax also comes with a nice zip down case.

Good luck on your purchase.

 

[Matt W.]

I could not find an Elk in the Zoo,,, but I have used a lot of spotters.. I have worked up to a Swaro now, "have old eyes" but for mid-range glass it is hard to beat a Pentax PF-65ED II 65mm, best in the mid-range price IMHO. I used one for years and judged and killed a lot of sheep using it and if you know anything about sheep you know that it is hard to see annuli. Should find them for 7 to 8 hundred dollars

The place to research spotters is the birding forums,, those folks know their glass and spend hours looking through them.

The Pentax also comes with a nice zip down case.

Good luck on your purchase.

Which Swaro are you using?

 

[bbrown]

I can say without a doubt that leupold spotter has been BY FAR the biggest disappointment of any of the full size spotters I have actually used in the field. Had a client buy that exact set up on his way out this year and some how left it in the hotel room when he left. Long story short before i sent it back I used it for one morning hunt and put it back in the case to ship it back to him. Focus was terrible, heat signatures were awful at all magnifications and eye fatigue was almost instant. Side by side with a swaro 20-60 x 80mm non hd and there was literally no comparison. I actually put it away in favor of my vortex viper 10x42 binos even for distant glassing. 4 of us tried it and none of us could get it to work even decently. Also all the "accessories" in that kit were jinky at best. Maybe it was a lemon but...

In contrast I had the little leupy 15-30 x 45mm compact spotter and I really thought it was a decent spotter for its size and price. I now have a swaro 20-60 x 65mm non hd and I think it is a great compromise of weight, size and performance.
I really like the 20-60 range for zoom - I use 20-40 the most but when the heat signature is not bad 60x is a great tool.

If no swaro I would check out the vortex spotters - I have no experience with them but my binos have been great and the reviews have been good. Plus their warranty and customer service are great!

 

[Stid2677]

Which Swaro are you using?

ATM-65 HD with 20x50 wide eye piece.

 

[bbrown]

FYI - you can find a good deal on a used swaro like I have for less than that "kit". With a bit of searching I found mine for around $1200.
Edit - I think it was actually closer to $1100 shipped.

 

[Stid2677]

Yep prices on Swaro ATS, and ATMs have really dropped since the ATXs hit the market. Buy once cry once, good glass is really worth the cost, holds its value and is so much easier on the eyes when using it for long periods of time.

 

[O'Really]

I'd listen to Stid and bbrown and go with the Swarovski.

This is Eleanor...

 

[Matt Cashell]

I'm looking for a new spotting scope for hunting out west next year. My current spotter is too big to want to haul around the mountains.

I'm looking to spend about $1,000 on a spotter.

First question would be, what is the maximum magnification I should need for glassing elk? Is 40X good enough?

I'm looking at the Leupold GR 12-40x60 HD spotter, priced at $1.400 for the kit.

http://www.basspro.com/Leupold-Golden-Ring-HD-Spotting-Scope-Kit/product/65034/

Is there a better spotter for the money?

Magnifications around 40x are enough for glassing for elk under most conditions. It is nice to bump it up occasionally though.

If you can find a Swarovski ATS/M 65 or Zeiss Diascope 65 in your price range, I think they would make a fine choice for your uses.

I used the Vortex Razor 65HD this summer, and really liked it. Like the big brother 85 (which I have used extensively), the Razor 65 easily outperformed its price range. I think this scope could be a good option for you.

I had a 12-40X60 Leupy GR for years. I did not have bbrowns trouble with it. It was sharp, and had very comfortable long eye relief. The downsides were it lacked a bit of contrast and showed chromatic aberration (CA). I do think it would work as a lightweight elk spotter, because I have used it for that. However, I think there are much better values out there. The Leupold kit is NOT a very good value, IMO.

As far as American Made goes, I think your options are severely limited. The Vortex is imported and even the Leupold sources glass from Asia. The only genuinely USA made spotter I know of is the US Optics spotter. However, using a modified riflescope as a spotting scope doesn't appeal to me.

Good luck Rich.

 

[handwerk]

I'm very happy with my non HD swaro 65 w/25-50 eyepiece so thats what I'd suggest.

 

[bikerdavet]

Big disclaimer - I am no spotter pro - however I was impressed with the Vortex at it's price point. Your budget is better than mine. Cabela's has a deal on the non HD Vortex Vipers at $499 right now. That's for the 20x60x80 straight or angled. I am waffling on pulling the trigger on one but I have to decide today. So anyone with real experience please jump in. Think I better start a new post : )

 

[Rich.]

Thanks for the info guys. I like to buy US made when possible but this sounds like a situation where I'm better off going with an import. I'll take a look at the Swarvs and Vortex.

 

[Rich.]

What is the difference between Swarovski's STS and ATS models?

 

[bbrown]

STS is straight and ATS is angled.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

What is the difference between Swarovski's STS and ATS models?

ATS is Angled model STS is Straight model

 

[Clarktar]

I almost have 2k saved for a spotter and will be looking for a deal on a Swaro as well. Pretty excited,.

 

[Rich.]

Are the Swarovskis better than the Vortex Razor HDs?