Spotting scope help - Razor v Ares

[JLH3]

So I need to get a better spotting scope. My hunting is typical Arizona spot hunting. Both desert and mountain, depending on the hunt of course.

For binos I have a pair of 10x42 Razor UHD’s so I feel I’m good there. (Or at least not willing to spend several grand to move up right now).

For my price range I’ve been going back and forth between the Razor HD 13-39x56 and two Athon Ares G2’s, the

 

[JLH3]

Sorry, meant to add: 15-45x65UHD (which is half the price of the Razor) or the 20-65x85. The larger scope is a little more and is obviously more powerful, but much heavier. Weight is something I do consider.

 

[Ram94]

Thread 'Mid-Level Spotting Scope Review'

Feb 2, 2020

I recently had the opportunity to compare a few different spotting scopes side by side and figured I would share my thoughts.

I had been using the 20-60x80mm Vortex Viper for the past 4 years and got by okay with it but was struggling with its size and weight in the pack so decided to go for a smaller 65mm scope. I had read nothing but good reviews about the Athlon Ares 15-45x65mm and had seen it compared to the Vortex Razor many times. When they went on sale, I went for it and ordered one up. A friend of mine was generous enough to lend me his 65mm Gen1 Razor to compare so that I could...

• Ram94
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Optics

• 

This was my take. Short answer is, the Ares is right on par with the Razor.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Have you checked out the Kowa 553/554? Incredible glass and value.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

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[diverc18]

While I do love my Ares. The mini Razor is a lot clearer and brighter in my eyes. It is also tiny

 

[judah1991]

I've had two razors, had to send the first in because the zoom knob broke when I borrowed it to my brother, the second was significantly more clear. I don't know anything about the Ares but i'd rather not need the warranty then have to send a spotting scope in during the rut.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

For AZ, you may be better served by continuing to save money and buying quality 15-18x binoculars for glassing. Swaro SLC 15s, Razor UHD 18s, and Leica Geovid R 15s are very effective; may be more products but those I actually have extended field time on.

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

I agreed with the above. I purchased the ares 15-45 spotting scope for the range and I literally never use it for anything else. It ends up being weight in the pack albeit it is small scope so not much. I have 15x & 10x and in the future will be upgrading the 15x first and then the 10x. It's just easier/faster to set up and look through 15x (or more power) binos. I can look through 15x binos all day for game without straining, not so much the spotter.

 

[JLH3]

I appreciate the advice. Gives me some things to think about

 

[bjack6755]

I use a 13-39 x56 razor for backpack hunting and it’s really good for the price/weight imo.

 

[blackhawk219]

I have the Ares 15-45x65UHD, and I find myself taking it less and less. I'm not trying to find that 180 inch muley/300 inch elk though. I'm just trying to find the animals and determine the sex/legality depending on my tag. I find myself only taking the spotting scope to the range now like desertdweller also mentioned.

But that's just my use case for spotters in general. I like the clarity/versatility on my 10x42 Nikon Monarch's so much better, and I just don't have a need to upgrade the spotter. This is the only spotting scope I have ever used, so I don't have any frame of reference. I do like the price to performance you get for it though.

Good luck in your search.

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

I have the Ares 15-45x65UHD, and I find myself taking it less and less. I'm not trying to find that 180 inch muley/300 inch elk though. I'm just trying to find the animals and determine the sex/legality depending on my tag. I find myself only taking the spotting scope to the range now like desertdweller also mentioned.

But that's just my use case for spotters in general. I like the clarity/versatility on my 10x42 Nikon Monarch's so much better, and I just don't have a need to upgrade the spotter. This is the only spotting scope I have ever used, so I don't have any frame of reference. I do like the price to performance you get for it though.

Good luck in your search.

Its honestly the same thing with the S1, I got an S1 to try and pick up farther shots and where they hit when shooting alone. I’d rather have a B1 to record when glassing up animals with the binos. Its not difficult but its annoying to take the spotter out and then slap the phone on their to record