Swaro STC owners

[handwerk]

Now that these have been out for a couple seasons I'm looking for pros/cons from those that own or have owned this spotter.
If you had one and sold it what didn't you like?

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

I have 1, and don't use it much. Dont see me doing a hunt where I might use it, so Ive been debating on selling. Its the only spotter Ive ever owned that I felt comfortable using. Everything about it is top notch. The view is unparalleled. The eye relief is the best Ive used. I've been a solid 'cant glass with 1 eye' person, and this spotter makes it a non factor.

But

Hangup is, there is a slight rattle from the focus wheel if you shake it back and forth (not sure why you'd do that, but I guess I did to notice it). So I sent it to Swarovski to fix it so I could sell it. It was gone for 7-8 weeks, I got it back a few weeks ago and its better, but still there. Contacted them, and they called me back to say that its not an internal issue, something about the focus wheel mechanism and if its too tight, it doesn't spin as smooth. They offered to take it back, but at this point, Ive read several threads where people - not just swaro - with spotters in general that have a similar issues and wasn't resolved by sending it in. Functionally, the spotter if perfect, glass is perfect, wheel spins like butter...... so I am not sending it back again. Seems like those with the issue also say it has zero effect on the function. I've even read some threads where people posted the issue, and some other people tested theirs and found it and didn't know it was there. So I don't know about the whole thing.

So Ill either keep it, or sell it with the designation about the focus wheel thing.

Credit to swaro cs though, they've been responsive throughout and the emails they send you lay out the process to a T.

Does anyone else have this issue?

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

Now that these have been out for a couple seasons I'm looking for pros/cons from those that own or have owned this spotter.
If you had one and sold it what didn't you like?

I like that they changed the thread attachment and came out with an Arca-Plate for it. Makes it a lot less of a pain in the ass to mount.

I have 1, and don't use it much. Dont see me doing a hunt where I might use it, so Ive been debating on selling. Its the only spotter Ive ever owned that I felt comfortable using. Everything about it is top notch. The view is unparalleled. The eye relief is the best Ive used. I've been a solid 'cant glass with 1 eye' person, and this spotter makes it a non factor.

But

Hangup is, there is a slight rattle from the focus wheel if you shake it back and forth (not sure why you'd do that, but I guess I did to notice it). So I sent it to Swarovski to fix it so I could sell it. It was gone for 7-8 weeks, I got it back a few weeks ago and its better, but still there. Contacted them, and they called me back to say that its not an internal issue, something about the focus wheel mechanism and if its too tight, it doesn't spin as smooth. They offered to take it back, but at this point, Ive read several threads where people - not just swaro - with spotters in general that have a similar issues and wasn't resolved by sending it in. Functionally, the spotter if perfect, glass is perfect, wheel spins like butter...... so I am not sending it back again. Seems like those with the issue also say it has zero effect on the function. I've even read some threads where people posted the issue, and some other people tested theirs and found it and didn't know it was there. So I don't know about the whole thing.

So Ill either keep it, or sell it with the designation about the focus wheel thing.

Credit to swaro cs though, they've been responsive throughout and the emails they send you lay out the process to a T.

Does anyone else have this issue?

I had no idea that they did this, but when I jerk my STC off it rattles too.

 

[wyosteve]

I have an ATC and an STC because I can't decide which design I prefer. Pros to both are small, light, easy to carry/pack, great field of view, great glass. It's been my 'go to' spotter to grab on most occasions. The 95 hasn't been out of the house in a couple years. Really no cons for me, just need to decide which one to keep.

 

[svivian]

If you go with an ATC i would get the kestrel rotating ring for it to mount to your tripod head. I much prefer it to where they want you to thread a plate on.

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

If you got with an ATC i would get the kestrel rotating ring for it to mount to your tripod head. I much prefer it to where they want you to thread a plate on.

I would do that with an ATC too. They changed the STC between when they released it and when I got mine. It didn't used to have the little holes next to the thread, and now it does. Mine didn't come with the new plate but if you email them they'll send you one.

I'd still use a cinch bino adapter with an ATC on most tripods to allow it to rotate, but the new plate would be nice for something like an Outdoorsmans pistol grip.

 

[WyldGoose]

Love my STC, makes for a slick, compact spotter. I added a little skeletonized Tricer Arca mount, Ollin adapter, and Marsupial case. No complaints other than I prefer looking through binos/two eyes vs one eye.

There’s a slight chance next year I’ll sell the STC and replace it with the new 14x NL binos which might suit my uses better.

 

[nphunter]

Sold mine, I thought it was a nice little spotter but every time I had it out on a hunt I wished I had my S2 with me instead. I will be purchasing some NL14's or 12's with the money.

The little spotter is nice if you like little spotters and can't carry a larger spotter. For me I would rather the weight penalty than the regret of not having the big spotter. I used mine all 2023 and 2024 season and tried to fall in love with it. Every time I took it and left my big spotter at home I was disappointed. I have taken both on a backpack hunt letting my buddy carry the ATC, side by side with the bigger spotter it really just didn't compare or get used. It got to the point that it just stayed in the pack when we were setting up to glass.

The spotter in nice but when I'm carrying 15's I think there is too much overlap to have the Mini also. I could probably have just went with 12's and the small spotter but just couldn't bring myself to sell my S2. For distances I used the spotter the larger spotter was always way better and I was left regretting my choice of bringing the small spotter on my hunting trips each time I took it.

 

[Flyjunky]

Sold mine, I thought it was a nice little spotter but every time I had it out on a hunt I wished I had my S2 with me instead. I will be purchasing some NL14's or 12's with the money.

The little spotter is nice if you like little spotters and can't carry a larger spotter. For me I would rather the weight penalty than the regret of not having the big spotter. I used mine all 2023 and 2024 season and tried to fall in love with it. Every time I took it and left my big spotter at home I was disappointed. I have taken both on a backpack hunt letting my buddy carry the ATC, side by side with the bigger spotter it really just didn't compare or get used. It got to the point that it just stayed in the pack when we were setting up to glass.

The spotter in nice but when I'm carrying 15's I think there is too much overlap to have the Mini also. I could probably have just went with 12's and the small spotter but just couldn't bring myself to sell my S2. For distances I used the spotter the larger spotter was always way better and I was left regretting my choice of bringing the small spotter on my hunting trips each time I took it.

I’m very curious on what you thought you were missing with the little swaro? Was it light gathering early/late? Not enough zoom?

I’m getting a new spotter and your thoughts are something I worry about as well. Since I haven’t looked through the stc/atc my worries might be unfounded but I like to hear the reasons for your disappointment.

 

[nphunter]

I’m very curious on what you thought you were missing with the little swaro? Was it light gathering early/late? Not enough zoom?

I’m getting a new spotter and your thoughts are something I worry about as well. Since I haven’t looked through the stc/atc my worries might be unfounded but I like to hear the reasons for your disappointment.

Maybe I shouldn't have worded it the way I did, I wasn't necessarily disappointed with the small spotter but my choice not to bring my big spotter.
I won the ATC on here so it was free to me, I took it out when I first got it and used it on a week long backpack deer hunt in really open country. I was nervous it was so small so I also took my S2 on the same trip, we spotted a lot of animals on that trip and the little spotter could not compare anywhere. It's not really a fair comparison because the S2 is Alpha Glass and 82mm with 70X zoom, it resolves better, lets in more light and the edge to edge is better as well. On the deer trip we found a bunch of elk way off, maybe 3 miles, we could tell there were some bulls over there in the herd and some were bigger than others with the ATC. With the S2 we could count points on them and get rough estimates on their score, a lot of this was because of zoom but also a lot to do the the resolution while zoomed in much further.

Knowing that the ATC wasn't as good of a piece of glass as my big spotter I was reluctant to take it to NV this year to hunt the Ruby Mountains for deer. It was smaller and lighter so decided if I was going to keep the ATC I might as well use it because that is the type of hunt it was designed for. Well the first morning I found a group of bachelor bucks across the basin, with the ATC I could tell a couple was OK bucks but I really couldn't resolve them enough to see how big. If I had taken the big spotter I would have known exactly what I was looking at. Fast forward the Sept for Archery elk up in the wilderness, I once again decided to try the ATC and told myself if it didn't work well on this hunt that I would sell the scope because there would be no reason to keep it. After finding a good glassing knob we spotted close to 100 elk in 4-5 different groups in our basin. I was after a 300+ bull so I wanted to know exactly what I was looking at. The elk that were directly below and across from us I was able to get a really good look at and found one bull that was a for sure shooter, but the two groups in the head of the basin all I could tell is that some were branch bulls and some were cows, I was regretting not having the large spotter.

I got home and decided I wanted to go a different route for my glassing. Every trip I had the small spotter I also had my Meostar 15's which are way better to glass with than the ATC at it's lower mag. I am still torn between the NL12 & 14 for most of my glassing work and will carry the big spotter identifying exactly what I'm looking at. There were a couple quick day hunts where the little spotter was great, glassing in smaller country and picking apart bedding areas, however big bino's also shine in this same country for me and are easier to use.

The ATC/STC is a great piece of glass for what it is and if a person has never carried a big high end spotter I'm sure they would love it. It is 100X better than something like a 65mm Razor, the clarity is great and it really is a nice piece of glass for what it is. I'm also slightly over weight so I figured I could easily lose a couple extra lbs to make up for the difference in the quality of my glass.

I really wanted to love the little spotter but I've just used a bigger spotter for too long and it felt like I was taking a huge step backward in my glassing ability. I've picked up so many bedded animals with my big spotter that it would be impossible to spot with the ATC in some of those same areas. I think I will be happier with a new pair NL's with the big spotter and if I that keeps me from packing two bino's and a spotter I will still be weight ahead using the big spotter.

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

As nphunter pointed out (I fully understand how he arrived at his decision) comparing a 2lb, 56mm atc/stc with 40x zoom to a 4lb 82mm with a 70x zoom spotter just isn’t fair. I wouldn’t let that be a deciding factor, unless for some reason youre debating a compact vs 82mm spotter. The 2 are just not meant to compete, the stc was designed to be nearly the opposite of an 82mm. Use cases are much different. The stc is superb glass.

Compared to the Vortex mini razor, and Kowa 553/4, it’s clearly, clearly better. The fov and eye box alone blow them away, I can’t speak to the newer Kowa 55, but that’s the one it seems should be the main comparison. I’ve been back and forth with my stc because of usage, but it’s too good to let go, so I’ll keep it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

So after my first season with ATC I love it. Great FOV, easy to glass with, not just confirm things. Easily see detail at 1700 yards, but can confirm antlers frame much further than that on mule deer. Where I hunt and my style I don’t see myself changing or wanting a bigger spotter for a while.

 

[Flyjunky]

Great comments, I appreciate the experience. I’m coming from an 88mm that I didn’t want to carry because of the weight so it didn’t do me any good.

My thoughts are either the swaro, Kowa 55A or 66A. The areas I hunt 2 miles is about the furthest I would glass most times.

 

[Steve O]

Maybe I shouldn't have worded it the way I did, I wasn't necessarily disappointed with the small spotter but my choice not to bring my big spotter.
I won the ATC on here so it was free to me, I took it out when I first got it and used it on a week long backpack deer hunt in really open country. I was nervous it was so small so I also took my S2 on the same trip, we spotted a lot of animals on that trip and the little spotter could not compare anywhere. It's not really a fair comparison because the S2 is Alpha Glass and 82mm with 70X zoom, it resolves better, lets in more light and the edge to edge is better as well. On the deer trip we found a bunch of elk way off, maybe 3 miles, we could tell there were some bulls over there in the herd and some were bigger than others with the ATC. With the S2 we could count points on them and get rough estimates on their score, a lot of this was because of zoom but also a lot to do the the resolution while zoomed in much further.

Knowing that the ATC wasn't as good of a piece of glass as my big spotter I was reluctant to take it to NV this year to hunt the Ruby Mountains for deer. It was smaller and lighter so decided if I was going to keep the ATC I might as well use it because that is the type of hunt it was designed for. Well the first morning I found a group of bachelor bucks across the basin, with the ATC I could tell a couple was OK bucks but I really couldn't resolve them enough to see how big. If I had taken the big spotter I would have known exactly what I was looking at. Fast forward the Sept for Archery elk up in the wilderness, I once again decided to try the ATC and told myself if it didn't work well on this hunt that I would sell the scope because there would be no reason to keep it. After finding a good glassing knob we spotted close to 100 elk in 4-5 different groups in our basin. I was after a 300+ bull so I wanted to know exactly what I was looking at. The elk that were directly below and across from us I was able to get a really good look at and found one bull that was a for sure shooter, but the two groups in the head of the basin all I could tell is that some were branch bulls and some were cows, I was regretting not having the large spotter.

I got home and decided I wanted to go a different route for my glassing. Every trip I had the small spotter I also had my Meostar 15's which are way better to glass with than the ATC at it's lower mag. I am still torn between the NL12 & 14 for most of my glassing work and will carry the big spotter identifying exactly what I'm looking at. There were a couple quick day hunts where the little spotter was great, glassing in smaller country and picking apart bedding areas, however big bino's also shine in this same country for me and are easier to use.

The ATC/STC is a great piece of glass for what it is and if a person has never carried a big high end spotter I'm sure they would love it. It is 100X better than something like a 65mm Razor, the clarity is great and it really is a nice piece of glass for what it is. I'm also slightly over weight so I figured I could easily lose a couple extra lbs to make up for the difference in the quality of my glass.

I really wanted to love the little spotter but I've just used a bigger spotter for too long and it felt like I was taking a huge step backward in my glassing ability. I've picked up so many bedded animals with my big spotter that it would be impossible to spot with the ATC in some of those same areas. I think I will be happier with a new pair NL's with the big spotter and if I that keeps me from packing two bino's and a spotter I will still be weight ahead using the big spotter.

Excellent clarification. And you realize you are comparing apples and oranges. I love my little ATC; I compared it in quite a few situations with my 65mm objective for my ATX and it was an easy decision to move on from the 65. It does not compare at all to the 95mm objective of course.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Great comments, I appreciate the experience. I’m coming from an 88mm that I didn’t want to carry because of the weight so it didn’t do me any good.

My thoughts are either the swaro, Kowa 55A or 66A. The areas I hunt 2 miles is about the furthest I would glass most times.

2 miles and in I would have no worries about just having anything bigger than ATC or STC

 

[nphunter]

Excellent clarification. And you realize you are comparing apples and oranges. I love my little ATC; I compared it in quite a few situations with my 65mm objective for my ATX and it was an easy decision to move on from the 65. It does not compare at all to the 95mm objective of course.

I realize that to some extent, I was answering a specific question the OP asked. I got rid of mine because the reduction in weight didn’t make up for the reduction in the quality of the glassing experience. The ATC is great for what it is, a small spotter. A agree on the 65’s, they never made since to me, for only a couple ounces you can have a much bigger spotter.

 

[700MtnMan]

Have had an STC for two seasons and love it. I also have a Kowa77 which is great but I find myself always taking the STC and never really felt I needed more.

 

[sndmn11]

The ATC is amazing. I got rid of my Kowa 88 and used the ATC on every hunt. It allowed me to bring my big sturdy tripod, I used it a few times on a backpack with the little black shield thingy, and used it for extended periods glassing as the primary optic.

I have no desire at all to get a bigger spotter as this does everything I need AND is always with me.

 

[nphunter]

Bull at about 1/2-3/4 mile with ATC and an iPhone 13


Elk at just over a mile ATC


6 bucks at 5:58am in the Rubys right at 1 mile


Anything over a mile and I can’t tell what I’m really looking at for deer, I can see frame but not much for fork depth or points. Elk get hard to field judge after about 1.5miles. This is why I sold the spotter, I’d rather have the big spotter and be able to know exactly what I’m looking at instead of walking a couple miles around a basin to get a better look. In some cases there isn’t another vantage so you have to make a choice to spend the next half day trying to go after them just to see if they are what your after. I feel like it takes less energy to just pack an extra pound around than go after animals just to see what they are, big glass also doesn’t blow up the country with scent.

It really comes down to what a person wants and for me the small spotters just don’t work for what I want a spotter for.

 

[Sneaker]

It was never going to replace big spotters, but when you don’t want a big spotter weight penalty for backpack type stuff, that’s where they come in. I love my ATX but on my backpack sheep hunt next year I’ll be taking an ATC or STC.