Spotting scope advice

[BenHankins]

Needing a spotter, looking for advice from people who have a lot of experience with scopes. This will be my first one, options are:
Vortex Razor - $950
Zeiss Gavia - $1500
Kowa- 773 -$1700
Swaro -$2200

I really don’t want to spend the money on the swaro and honestly the Kowa is at the top end of the budget. I don’t like the looks of the kowa, but looks is not too big of a deal if the experience is worth it. I really don’t have access where I live to look at any spotters without having to drive 2 hours, so any help will be much appreciated.


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[Gear-Reviewer]

How about a Meopta S2 20-70x82? They’re right there with the Kowa and Swaro... Doug @gr8fuldoug has great prices on them.

 

[BenHankins]

I just read so many mixed reviews, I can’t ever tell if a person is legit or not. Some say the Kowa is the best scope ever, some say it’s just a fad. Some say the razors are not very good, etc... one thing about it, I’ve never read a bad review on the swaro lol. I just don’t want to drop 2k!


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[idahohikker]

Athlon Ares is great for about $500. Kowa is awesome for $1000+. The S2 is well liked and the Maven. No need to jump to Swaro.

Honestly I can’t see any reason to upgrade my Ares. I don’t think I’d see any more critters; I see lots.

 

[BenHankins]

How about a Meopta S2 20-70x82? They’re right there with the Kowa and Swaro... Doug @gr8fuldoug has great prices on them.

I just don’t know about the 82mm... Leaning more towards the 65mm since I just hunt elk and mule deer. Does the extra size bother you when backpacking?


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[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Here is my advice. Compile a list of requirements that the spotter must have. Then compile a list of nice to have features. Take those items and compare it against what you are planning to do with it and where.

Are you wanting to field judge animals to a fraction of an inch? Or are you wanting to just know if it is legal or "good enough"? Are you planning to use it exclusively for backpack hunting? Or will it be mostly day trips where you are not carry camp on your back as well? Are you planning to use it in wide open territory? Timber? Mixed terrain?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Another option is to rent all of the ones you are interested in and take them for a spin. Everyone's eyes are different. There is a cost involved but at least you're not buying something sight unseen.

 

[BenHankins]

Here is my advice. Compile a list of requirements that the spotter must have. Then compile a list of nice to have features. Take those items and compare it against what you are planning to do with it and where.

Are you wanting to field judge animals to a fraction of an inch? Or are you wanting to just know if it is legal or "good enough"? Are you planning to use it exclusively for backpack hunting? Or will it be mostly day trips where you are not carry camp on your back as well? Are you planning to use it in wide open territory? Timber? Mixed terrain?

Not needing a scope to count rings on sheep, like I said before the only big game I hunt are elk and mule deer. Majority of my hunts will be packing in with backpack or mule. I want to be able to glass the thicker patches of timber, get closer views of far off objects, use it for target practice viewing, and digiscoping. Honestly, the 15s would probably fit my style of hunting the best, since I’m not worried about the score of a buck, but I really like taking photos and the digiscoping appeals to me.


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[Gear-Reviewer]

I just don’t know about the 82mm... Leaning more towards the 65mm since I just hunt elk and mule deer. Does the extra size bother you when backpacking?


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I’ve ran the S2 for Bear, Blacktail, Whitetail, Mule Deer, elk, etc. yes it’s a little on the bigger side but it’s flat out awesome and I rarely regret packing it. Go with a high end 65mm if you want to stay lighter and smaller. But there isn’t much difference between a 77-80-82 spotter at that point. My S2 beats my buddies maven, Leupold,Razor, swaroHD 65mm, etc. The Kowa stacks up pretty well. Just compared them the other day. If I did only back pack hunting I’d run a 55 Kowa or 65 Swaro depending on how important animal score was. But with the mix I do, a 82mm is a perfect happy medium between a 65 and 95. Just my opinion.

 

[BenHankins]

Athlon Ares is great for about $500. Kowa is awesome for $1000+. The S2 is well liked and the Maven. No need to jump to Swaro.

Honestly I can’t see any reason to upgrade my Ares. I don’t think I’d see any more critters; I see lots.

That’s be awesome! Is the color nice on the ares? Have you spent time behind “higher dollar” glass to compare?


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[DavePwns]

Just depends on what type of person you are, what your needs are in a spotting scope ect, are you the type of do you like to have decent gear for 3 to 5 years and then upgrade later (and spend more money in the long run), use decent gear until they break, or are you or buy once cry once type person (use high end reliable gear at a premium initial price for 10-20+ years and keep using or sell for majority of what you initially paid). With that said, many people argue to make sure you get the best binoculars you can afford, then upgrade the spotter to a later date. I don't really hear many people regretting kowa or swaro. For me, kowa for spotters, swaro for binos

 

[BenHankins]

Just depends on what type of person you are, what your needs are in a spotting scope ect, are you the type of do you like to have decent gear for 3 to 5 years and then upgrade later (and spend more money in the long run), use decent gear until they break, or are you or buy once cry once type person (use high end reliable gear at a premium initial price for 10-20+ years and keep using or sell for majority of what you initially paid). With that said, many people argue to make sure you get the best binoculars you can afford, then upgrade the spotter to a later date. I don't really hear many people regretting kowa or swaro. For me, kowa for spotters, swaro for binos

Would the razor be one of those good quality scopes to last a while? The problem is I have just got into western hunting. I’ve been hunting all my life, just not big game. I’ve had to buy basically everything, and I’ve bought the best of just about everything, except I don’t have a spotting scope.


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[DavePwns]

Would the razor be one of those good quality scopes to last a while? The problem is I have just got into western hunting. I’ve been hunting all my life, just not big game. I’ve had to buy basically everything, and I’ve bought the best of just about everything, except I don’t have a spotting scope.


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I don't have any in the field experience with vortex, so it would be irresponsible for me to have an opinion on quality. I have heard they have a very good warranty. If money is tight, I would find a well taken care of, used spotter that fits your budget(usually the larger the price difference between new vs used will give you and idea of the quality and performance of a product, IE higher quality retains its value better).

 

[gexpro]

i just ordered a Meopta S2 from doug, it will arrive tomorrow. i did tons of research and almost pulled the trigger on a swaro.. i couldn't pass up the sweet deal cameraland has going on right now for the S2. From what he told me, side my side.. you cannot tell the difference between the S2 and the ATS spotters side by side.

 

[Huntinaz]

I just read so many mixed reviews, I can’t ever tell if a person is legit or not. Some say the Kowa is the best scope ever, some say it’s just a fad. Some say the razors are not very good, etc... one thing about it, I’ve never read a bad review on the swaro lol. I just don’t want to drop 2k!


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There’s a reason you haven’t read a bad review on swaros. Buy once, cry once. I was slow to learn this lesson on glass. I’d rather skimp on anything else than glass.

What binos are you using? If you’re less worried about score and more on frame then I say put your money in great (Swaro) binos with a tripod first

I’m not familiar with Kowa but for that price I’d buy a used Swaro or at least a Leica

Super disappointed in the Razor compared to what their 10x binos can be. If you go Vortex I suggest the best deal on a used one you can find. I want to like Vortex but it seems they are the Taurus of the glass world. The idea is great but in the end you’ll be using the warranty and wishing you’d paid for the Smith and Wesson In the first place

I’m not familiar with that model of Zeiss but anything Conquest above smokes Vortex Razor.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The Swarovski ats65 seems like the gold standard to me for its balance in price, optics, size/weight. I’m hard pressed to think of another scope that really competes with it.

I guess if I wasn’t looking for sheep and goats, I might take a look at that kowa 553.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Kowa is alpha glass. Swarovski is
Alpha glass. So is Zeiss. I’d look for a 18-45x65 dialytic Zeiss and there was one here in the classifieds.
I got to spend a fat bird watching with a Kowa scope. I’ve spent a little bit of time with Swarovski. I own a Zeiss. Kowa is just as good as the swarvoski IMO, but I’m by no means an expert.
I owned a Razor and sold it when I bought my Zeiss. I’d not turn my nose up at one.

 

[pc3]

i just ordered a Meopta S2 from doug, it will arrive tomorrow. i did tons of research and almost pulled the trigger on a swaro.. i couldn't pass up the sweet deal cameraland has going on right now for the S2. From what he told me, side my side.. you cannot tell the difference between the S2 and the ATS spotters side by side.

I went this way as well......same deal from Doug and co, it's brilliant. Would have cost me an extra 2.5-3k for the Swarovski, which I just couldn't afford.

I went the meopta meostar option on the bino's as well. I'm happy.

 

[handwerk]

I'd buy a used swarovski for $1800 or a little less with some looking.

 

[idahohikker]

That’s be awesome! Is the color nice on the ares? Have you spent time behind “higher dollar” glass to compare?


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Color is good on the Ares, very minimal distortion. I wrote a long review on it and a bunch of guys on here have bought them and chimed in. I’ve spent just a little time behind alpha type glass. I just don’t feel the need at all and I don’t want to convince myself that I need it for some marginal benefit. I can glass from about 40-45 minutes before and after sunrise/sunset. I spotted a group of elk and judged their sex at a little over three miles last year that we stalked into range of. Swaro is trendy but the Ares will be plenty for someone’s use. The Kowa is a step up from everything I’ve read but I’ve never spent time behind them.