Swarovski non HD vs HD spotting scope

[Michigander1479]

For those of you that have experienced both versions is it really that noticeable? In the used market there is about a $350-$500 price difference. Please comment based on experience and not what you think the difference would be.

 

[BBob]

It's not a big obvious difference, it' subtle. It takes some dedicated looking side by side to pick out the differences but it's there. For most use I'd say you could get by without the HD. For what I do I went ahead and invested in HD and I think it's paid off here and there finding or re-finding animals over the years.

 

[Blockcaver]

To my eye it was a substantial difference especially at the higher powers...the HD was better. I bought a new HD 65mm Swaro about 10 yrs ago based on my testing and was never sorry I paid more for better optical quality.

I do use my phone scope/iPhone combo on the spotter a fair bit when aging sheep and looking at horn curls too. Also when counting points on caribou, etc. The HD scope is supposedly better for digiscoping, and I can say that the HD variety works very well for that purpose. I’ve never used a phone scope on a non HD Swaro so can’t say definitively like I can about directly comparing the two.

Good luck!

 

[wyosteve]

I agree with the others. There is a difference in the HD version. Not a significant amount, but it's there. Is it enough difference in actual use to make a difference? You'd have to answer that yourself. From a re-sale perspective, the HD seems easier to sell, similar to the differences between SLC's and EL's.

 

[ILPete]

It almost always makes a difference for spotters, especially at the upper magnifications, like above 45x to 50x when the top end is 60x. I'll never purchase a non-ED body, except perhaps for a kid's first scope or where its usage is almost always 40x or below.

 

[500000KV]

For those of you that have experienced both versions is it really that noticeable? In the used market there is about a $350-$500 price difference. Please comment based on experience and not what you think the difference would be.

We put two 80mm sts’s side by side at a family get together awhile back. Taped over so you couldn’t see which was HD. 6 different people couldn’t tell me which one was HD and which wasn’t. Add a camera or phone scope looking at max zoom and there’s a little bit of difference if you’re looking side by side.

 

[Michigander1479]

We put two 80mm sts’s side by side at a family get together awhile back. Taped over so you couldn’t see which was HD. 6 different people couldn’t tell me which one was HD and which wasn’t. Add a camera or phone scope looking at max zoom and there’s a little bit of difference if you’re looking side by side.

Great information and comparison! Thanks for sharing

 

[500000KV]

Great information and comparison! Thanks for sharing

I’ve used almost every model of Swaro spotter. If you've got questions, I’m happy to answer them with my personal experiences.

 

[Michigander1479]

I’ve used almost every model of Swaro spotter. If you've got questions, I’m happy to answer them with my personal experiences.

Here’s a couple questions for you to consider with your experience. I can buy a Non HD STS for $1400. An HD STM for $1700. Or a ATS for $1900. Which do you buy and why? I’m thinking the older non HD....

 

[500000KV]

Here’s a couple questions for you to consider with your experience. I can buy a Non HD STS for $1400. An HD STM for $1700. Or a ATS for $1900. Which do you buy and why? I’m thinking the older non HD....

Are they all the same objective diameter? Same eye piece? 20-60x 65mm I’m assuming.
I much prefer the Angled spotters for phone scoping, which is basically all I do now.

STM offers weight savings and is HD. I’d probably make an offer on that one. Resale value on this one for backcountry hunters if you ever sold it is very good too.

Light gathering even from an 80 will far exceed a 65. Just an FYI. Did that test too.

If you’re willing to be patient, there are good deals on these spotters. Just be ready to buy it right then and there when it pops up. I won’t mention numbers here but Pm me if you want prices for what I’ve sold spotters for in the past to give you a guide.

 

[Michigander1479]

Pm sent

 

[BBob]

Here’s a couple questions for you to consider with your experience. I can buy a Non HD STS for $1400. An HD STM for $1700. Or a ATS for $1900. Which do you buy and why? I’m thinking the older non HD....

FYI per Swaro tech: HD coatings on all S series (includes the M’s) bodies have not changed since inception. I didn’t ask about non HD coatings. I’ve owned both 65’s and 80’s (all HD and still own an STM 65HD) and the 80 will beat the 65 almost all the time in all conditions unless it’s an absolute perfect day and I’d probably still give the edge to the 80 especially in the upper magnifications. Downside is the 80 is bulkier and heavier. Over the years I found I grabbed the 65 almost all the time if I was going to carry it in the pack for any real distance. For that reason I recently sold the 80. It will eventually get replaced with an X series in 95 or 115. I’m balking at selling my STM because of the weight, it’s a lb or so lighter that what an X series 65 would weigh.

To add: IMO and many others the 25x50 is the superior eyepiece to go with these especially with the 65.

 

[Eltigreblanco]

Not to derail , but can anyone compare an older set of 10x42 els to a new HD swarovision pair?

 

[Englishjc]

Are they all the same objective diameter? Same eye piece? 20-60x 65mm I’m assuming.
I much prefer the Angled spotters for phone scoping, which is basically all I do now.

STM offers weight savings and is HD. I’d probably make an offer on that one. Resale value on this one for backcountry hunters if you ever sold it is very good too.

Light gathering even from an 80 will far exceed a 65. Just an FYI. Did that test too.

If you’re willing to be patient, there are good deals on these spotters. Just be ready to buy it right then and there when it pops up. I won’t mention numbers here but Pm me if you want prices for what I’ve sold spotters for in the past to give you a guide.

How do you know the difference between hd and non hd. Also the difference between ats and atm? Thanks

 

[BBob]

HD has an emblem on the focus ring that says “HD”. I have an M series and I don’t think it is marked in any way to show that it is one. To confirm an M you might have to call Swaro tech and run the serial number to see if it is an M or not.

 

[500000KV]

HD has an emblem on the focus ring that says “HD”. I have an M series and I don’t think it is marked in any way to show that it is one. To confirm an M you might have to call Swaro tech and run the serial number to see if it is an M or not.

An M usually ( I believe all them them) have a black objective bell housing. While an S is green thats the same color as the body. Also, if you remove the eyepiece, the model And serial number is on the objective body. Like this:

 

[500000KV]

How do you know the difference between hd and non hd. Also the difference between ats and atm? Thanks

The body when the eyepiece is removed will say whether it’s an HD or not. M models are a magnesium body (a bit lighter) Here’s some examples:
Note the STM 80 has a black bell housing, every M models I’ve owned has had the black housing.
To figure out the year, add 30 to the last two of the serial number. So a serial ending in 82= 2012, 77=2007, etc. Hope that answers some questions, removing the eyepiece tells everything.

 

[BBob]

It’s been so long since I’ve seen my M out of the case I totally forgot it had a black sun shield shield/objective. HD emblem. Black M on top and green S on bottom.

 

[fatrascal]

I used to owne the non HD and one day compared it to my friends HD from late in the day to sun set. I tried but could not give the HD an edge with my eye sight. But when digiscoping I could see a little difference. That was about 15 years ago. Since I love to digiscope I've upgraded over the years and always get HD.
Another comparison for an example is that I once owned a first gen pair of EL binoculars and they were sweet. I upgraded to the second gen binos and compared the 1st and 2nd gen. I could not see a difference but sold the first gen to my brother in law. Several months later after using the 2nd gen during that time me and my brother in law went hunting together and I compared them again. Now I could see a difference easily. Recently I sold my 2nd gen el's to the same brother in law and I upgraded to the el ranges. They were the last generation el ranges before they came out with the new super el ranges. I always heard optical quality was like the first gen no range els. Well I can tell you that I down graded in optical quality but gained a range finder. But I truley miss the optical quality more. Also, my eye site has deteriated in my older years and its easier for me to see the difference. So in my opinion, if you have good eye site then you may not see the difference as easily as someone with bad eye site. Fatrascal