The best of the worst: Spotters

[robtattoo]

Say you have a tiny budget. You already have a good pair of binos & you need a spotting scope.
Your budget won't let you buy the kind of glass you can use to count points at a mile distance.
You need something that'll let you know if there are Elk across the valley, but you don't need to know if any of them are bulls.
You can spend $150 and not one cent more.

What do you do?

No cop-out "Save & buy Zeiss/Swaro" answers please.

 

[pyroducksx3]

Minox md 50. It's a good small spotter and when you get the better big glass it will still serve a purpose as a lightweight spotter

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Minox md 50. It's a good small spotter and when you get the better big glass it will still serve a purpose as a lightweight spotter

That's still $300

 

[dotman]

Minox md 50. It's a good small spotter and when you get the better big glass it will still serve a purpose as a lightweight spotter

X2... BuT it will be hard to find at $150. Does the $150 also have to include a tripod? Maybe take a look at the redfield spotter.

 

[robtattoo]

Tripod doesn't need to be included in the price.

 

[dotman]

That's still $300

Cameralandny always has demos of this for around $200.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=62225_62226

 

[dotman]

Best deal I could find quickly on the md50, you more then likely will have to go used in that price range. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801068763-USE/minox_62226_md_50_2_0_50mm_spotting.html

 

[William Munny]

I just saw a post where some guys started an optics rental company on here. Might be worth a look.

 

[Buster]

Used bushnell spacemaster? Not sure what they retail new, but I got a lightly used one when I was a teenager for $100

 

[69ChrisCraft]

Pay someone $150 to steal you a decent spotter. I was in a similar boat last year but had a budget of $300. I looked at the Leupold Ventana and some Barska spotter.... You couldn't pay me $300 to carry those POS up the mountain.

I assure you there is nothing new for even double that budget that's worth a damn.

 

[Steve O]

If you have decent binos you don't need a spotter to see elk accross the valley. All you will be doing is wasting $150.

 

[Buster]

I think that even a low end spotter will add to your optics arsenal if you are okay with packing a the weight. I packed my bushnell spacemaster religiously while hunting and guiding for mulies. My 10x42's would not give me the zoom I needed to judge bucks. If all you are doing is determining whether it is a bull or cow, maybe it's not worth it, but if you are needing detail at any distance, even a low end spotter will be worth it.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I can spot turkey here at almost a mile with the naked eye so as buster said even a low end spotter will help in determining what you're looking at.

 

[mt100gr.]

I can suggest one to stay away from: the compact Winchester spotter/tripod/ case combo. It's not to heavy but any extra weight on your back could prove costly as you wander out of the hills crosseyed with a splitting headache. I could barely count holes in a target on the 100 yard rifle range with one we had years ago.

 

[pyroducksx3]

I got my md50 for around 150 used. I have used some cheap spotters like the winchester mentioned above and found them worthless. Heavy for what they are and just terrible optical picyure. The minox 50 served me pretty well and fits the criteria you mentioned about as perfectly as you are going to get. I would spend the extra 50 if you have too. If its between no spotter or one of the super cheap spotters save your money.

 

[Shrek]

I'm of the same mind. If you can't find a used minox md50 or a nikon 50mm ed I'd keep my money and save some more and be ready when a deal pops up. I had a brunton eterna 50mm that was pretty decent that I would have sold you but my mother now uses it for bird watching on her back porch . It's not going anywhere now.

 

[RockBridge]

You look for a used Vortex Nomad. $150 may be tight, but they are out there.

 

[Mtnboy]

Pay someone $150 to steal you a decent spotter. I was in a similar boat last year but had a budget of $300. I looked at the Leupold Ventana and some Barska spotter.... You couldn't pay me $300 to carry those POS up the mountain.

I assure you there is nothing new for even double that budget that's worth a damn.

Sorry, but your wrong.

The Vortex Nomad (Diamondback now) is a pretty decent spotter up to 40x....I spotted TONS of animals with mine. Oh yeah, my dad used his to spot the 30.5" Muley that my nephew shot last year.....

 

[69ChrisCraft]

Sorry, but your wrong.

The Vortex Nomad (Diamondback now) is a pretty decent spotter up to 40x....I spotted TONS of animals with mine. Oh yeah, my dad used his to spot the 30.5" Muley that my nephew shot last year.....

You're right, the diamondback is an adequate spotter.... At not double but nearly 3.5 times his budget.

 

[Mtnboy]

I sold a like new Nomad for $175 not too long ago. Also seen them go for $150.