Swarovski AT Balance 18-45x65 Stabilized Spotting Scope Tested and Reviewed

[Kelvin Wolther]

I've been reading every post I can find, watching all the videos.
I'm truly interested in the ATB spotter, but I'm still on the fence.

 

[Matt Cashell]

I've been reading every post I can find, watching all the videos.
I'm truly interested in the ATB spotter, but I'm still on the fence.

What specifically are you unsure about?

 

[wysongdog]

Can you rotate the at sideways for glassing out of a vehicle like the other angled spotters?

 

[Matt Cashell]

Can you rotate the at sideways for glassing out of a vehicle like the other angled spotters?

The AT balance does not have a rotating collar, so needs a ball head for that functionality.

However, it is a piece of cake to use it at any angle handheld. Use from a vehicle is one of the best use cases for stabilized spotters, IMO.

 

[Kelvin Wolther]

The balance concept is awesome!
I'm still digesting the warranty and the priority battery.
I watched a video where the spotter was purposely left outside in a cold truck overnight. In the morning, the battery was dead. I would be using it in camp for 2 weeks. We do have a generator to charge, but no way to keep the unit warm at night.
More research to do for me.

 

[passinggas33]

What does this weigh without the battery in it? Just wondering how it would compare to the regular once the battery dies and I just left it at base camp in the backcountry.

 

[Matt Cashell]

The balance concept is awesome!
I'm still digesting the warranty and the priority battery.
I watched a video where the spotter was purposely left outside in a cold truck overnight. In the morning, the battery was dead. I would be using it in camp for 2 weeks. We do have a generator to charge, but no way to keep the unit warm at night.
More research to do for me.

Interesting. I did not have battery issues, and the single battery I had lasted 6 days in backcountry condition and still had power when I recharged it. I turned the stabilization off when not using it.

I would be curious if the freeze test was with the stabilization on, and if they brought the battery temperature back up to temp.

Li-Ion batteries will often regain a useable charge after reheating.

 

[packgoatguy]

So, for the backpack hunters, counting every ounce... can someone educate me as to whether the Balance fits the mold?
When I'm on a hunt, I like to have Binos, Rangefinder, and Spotter capabilities. The last few years I've gravitated using the Sig Zulu6 HDX 10x30 OIS binos on my chest, a Razor 4000gb LRF, and a Swaro STC for the spotter. I have the benefit of using the 10x OIS binos for closer digiscoping needs, and the STC on my trekking pole tripod does the rest. Total optics weight, 63.oz. I can save another 5oz if I swap to my kowa 554, and another 3oz if I take my kilo4k LRF instead (so a total weight of 55oz). Wondering if a weight penalty of the Balance is worth the added performance.

Here are some rough numbers pulled from the web.

Swaro AT balance 18-45x65
51.9oz

STC 34.6oz

Kowa 66s, 53oz

NL pure 14x52, 36oz

Sig zulu6 10x30, 19.2oz

Bushnell 8x25, 8oz

Revic BR10, 32oz

Razor 4000hd LRF 10oz


Combo 1
Zulu6
STC
Razor LRF
63.8oz

Combo 2
AT balance
Revic Blr10b
83.9oz

Combo 3
AT balance
Nl pure
Razor LRF
97.9oz

 

[Matt Cashell]

What does this weigh without the battery in it? Just wondering how it would compare to the regular once the battery dies and I just left it at base camp in the backcountry.

On my kitchen scale the AT Balance checks in at 3 lbs. 5.5 ounces with both caps and AS plate, but battery removed.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Matt's review is live!

Swarovski AT Balance Review

 

[SomeJackassOnAForum]

The balance concept is awesome!
I'm still digesting the warranty and the priority battery.
I watched a video where the spotter was purposely left outside in a cold truck overnight. In the morning, the battery was dead. I would be using it in camp for 2 weeks. We do have a generator to charge, but no way to keep the unit warm at night.
More research to do for me.

Someone hasn't seen the Matrix.
Put it in your sleeping bag, you're a heater.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Someone hasn't seen the Matrix.
Put it in your sleeping bag, you're a heater.

While I’m not a huge fan of the proprietary battery, you are correct.

Dealing with power issues with the AT Balance is no different than any other electronic device we take into the backcountry. Conserve the charge and keep the battery warm in cold weather.

One positive is if you do lose power, you still have an excellent spotter instead of a paperweight.

 

[SikaSeeker]

Someone hasn't seen the Matrix.
Put it in your sleeping bag, you're a heater.

Also a battery that produces electricity. Careful where you insert charging cable

 

[Corkboard753]

The price tag is the only thing that is prohibitive right now but man these things look killer. The fact that I could have this slung and not deal with a tripod is a game changer. Saw a site recently that had it for $3,999 and they were covering taxes and shipping. Enough to maybe pull the trigger a bit earlier than I want to. Guessing the used market won’t see much going for it anytime soon.

 

[Steve O]

I handheld the straight at the Sheep Show. Truly incredible. I’ve done the reading but did not want to believe it and words cannot describe how steady it is handheld at max power. I was hoping the hype was not true. It is.

I’m not worried about an extra $70 battery.

I did a lot of eavesdropping at the Swarovski and 1Shot Gear booths; it is a very well thought out optic.

 

[grainhog]

Just wait till your free 12 month trial expires and you get an email from SwaroAI.io telling you to initiate your $49.99/mo subscription to get your spotting scope to turn back on.

 

[4090Sharps]

Just wait till your free 12 month trial expires and you get an email from SwaroAI.io telling you to initiate your $49.99/mo subscription to get your spotting scope to turn back on.

Let us live in ignorance until we have to confront that degree of enshittification staring us in the face. But you're probably right....

 

[jakelilie]

How is the quality of pictures and videos with digiscoping compared to ATC/STC or ATS/STS? How much are these going for?

Following

 

[Matt Cashell]

The AT Balance has similar optical performance to the ATX series, and as such is capable of similar results pending digiscoping gear, skill, and conditions

The AT Balance retails for $3999.

 

[wysongdog]

Got to look at these at the expo and wow. Hand holding was awesome. I’ve always been a straight spotting scope guy. Now trying to decide if I can retrain myself for the AT since it has the higher magnification and bigger objective. Or go with the lower powered ST since I am used to it. Thoughts?