Underrated or Overlooked Spotters?

[WRM]

I dunno, I've never been able to get close enough to one to ask. On the other hand, I've never seen one with optics, quality or otherwise, so maybe they have no opinion?

 

[Matt Cashell]

Got it, One needs better than 20/20 vision to evaluate optics.

I'll keep that in mind.

Apologies to the OP for participating in this derail.

 

[Bwana]

Got it, One needs better than 20/20 vision to evaluate optics.

I'll keep that in mind.

I never said that, actually said this...and I stand behind that statement.

PS: 1 fact is clear(no pun intended), the quality of any optic is solely reliant on the quality of your vision...if your vision isn't good/excellent, the ability to critique it's nuisances is limited at best.

 

[Beendare]

Its a good topic.........though I haven't compared a lot of the models mentioned.
The only way to compare these models is side by side as in the excellent linked review on the vanguard.

There are two major components in these scopes; Lenses and housing. I know some of the major mnfrs [Zeiss for one] have taken their top lenses and put them in a cheaper bino housing. Find a model with Top Quality lenses but maybe glued in vs a precision magnesium or Aluminum housing....and I think you have a budget winner.

I have the older Nikon TOL model with ED glass and its better than the Swaro. I've used the small nikon 50mm ED scopes and its good glass but poor light gathering. Perfect for backpack hunts where weight is a big factor....otherwise lacking.

I too prefer the big binos for spotting. I regret not buying the 30x Swaros when I had the chance before they stopped making them [at the shot show I could have picked up a pair for $1,000 about 20 yrs ago]

My big Zeiss 15x60s are awesome, the lightweight Vortex 15x vipers I picked up are only soso...ok for quick glassing but not good to sit behind.

 

[WRM]

And, I think you mean nuances. Although nuances can be nuisances if you're paying that much for glass!

For anyone who cares, this is my prior post on the Meoptas

Just saw that Meopta won a Gray's Sporting Journal best award for their 15x56s. While I have a pair from Meopta, they also are available from Cabela's as a branded product (Euros). They definitely deserve a look by anyone who wants performance without the price of the major lines typically mentioned in this type discussion. If you have the dough and want to part with it to wring that last little bit of performance from your glass, congratulations! If your like me, and want really good performance for a few hundred bucks less, then take a look at these.


Meopta MeoStar 15x56 HD Binocular Wins Gray’s Best Award

Hunting Binoculars, Binocular Reviews | Outdoor Life

I respectfully disagree with Outdoor Life's image resolution score (at least in the Meopta version, they did test the Euros). I would give it a solid 8.5 in that category, which would clearly put it right in with the Leica Ultra and Zeiss Victory for $900.00 and $1,500.00 less, respectively. This supposedly is an objective component of the testing, but as it stands, they still aren't too far out from those two. Image quality was right in the running, however.

Best Binoculars ? | Shooters' Forum

How other real people view them.

_____

Of course, we have established here that I have no business reviewing optics. Hopefully, BB will post the results of a recent vision check to support the Meopta review. New meaning to the term "double blind" study.

 

[Bwana]

And, I think you mean nuances. Although nuances can be nuisances if you're paying that much for glass!

Auto-correct ruins my life, even for free it's not worth it...see, ya get what you pay for

PS: I can clearly see Vortex Razorbacks are in your near future,,,,,, enjoy.

 

[WRM]

Only if you mail me your old ragged out POS pair! And, I'll probably do a return to sender on 'em.

Better yet, I'll get them "refurbed", post them in the forum and you can buy them back!

 

[Ryan Avery]

The thread is becoming pointless. Go play somewhere else...

 

[WRM]

That is true. I am done. I think I have satisfied myself that you can not have a discussion which in any way suggests that Swaro and Zeiss have legit challengers without it devolving into the chaos that this thread became.


So, Climashield vs Primaloft--discuss.

 

[Bwana]

The thread is about low/mid priced spotters, it always has been.

There are some great products available, depending on budget and weight concerns...but once again the tripod and head need added to the equation.

From Opticron to Hawke to Pentax...OP what's your budget ?

 

[WRM]

OP's words

What say you guys? Doesn't have to be low end stuff. I'm looking for models across the spectrum.

I took that to mean anything you personally thought was overlooked as a spotter. If I was incorrect, my apology to the OP. I listed what I thought--Meopta binos (with doubler). I went out on a limb with that, and plenty of saws got whipped right out. The Kowas were in jest (for me), although I know others do use them. For most, however, they are "overlooked" with good reason. I agreed on Celestron Regal (current), and I also like the old Nikon Field Scopes. I have never looked through the Vanguard, but it appears to be a potential super deal.

I'll go out on another limb: Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular 10 x 42-mm. List is under $200 and I paid about $100 for a new one on ebay. If you are trying to get after 'em but don't have the money for glass right now you can make do with these for a bit. For the money, image is great. I got them for turkey hunting but find myself using them a lot. Will you see everything someone with good glass will see? No, but you'll see a lot. They can be mounted on a tripod if you want.

In my opinion, Zeiss and Swaro are not "overlooked", but lo and behold we got an intelligent and calm Zeiss posting on this thread.

PS Make sure that saw is a Silky Pocketboy--its the only saw worth using you know.

 

[R_burg]

So, this thread has been very helpful to me.

I am thinking of picking up a Nikon Fieldscope ED 50 to start with and then move up from there. I like quality glass, but I also want something that is very reasonably priced that I can sell in the future and move up from in the future, and here is why:

I grew up hunting out east, now live in AZ and I am hitting this year full force, but I will also be learning what the right gear for me is. Most of what I am doing will be backpack hunting... not 10 days in my tent type stuff, but getting 5-8 miles in and staying for 3-4 days and then heading out and coming back the following weekend to do it again. Scouting in between as well. I have a couple units in AZ picked out where I should be able to draw an Elk archery tag and still chase some nice Bulls, and there is OTC archery mule/coues deer and I will try my best to draw the Kaibab, AND I want to attempt to hunt at least one other state... so any way you slice it I should have some decent time in the field this year between scouting and hunting. But this is my first full year hunting out west so I am sure parts of my pack will get sold off for new gear once I am in the field.



As what I am looking for fits this thread, do you guys think the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 is a great choice for that? It seems the Pentax ED line, possibly Vanguard ED's line and the Celestron Regal are things I have noticed mentioned more than once. Via other research people seem to really like the Vortex Razor 50 as well. Anything else I should hone in on? Any opinions on what is best for me?

 

[elkguide]

I personally use a spotter only for a confirmation of what I'm pretty sure I've found with my binoculars. I have used a Nikon Fieldscope ED 60 for those moments and have gotten along fine with it. This past fall I was doing a lot of long range viewing and I definitely experienced some eye strain. The Nikon is a great glass for the money in my opinion.

 

[WRM]

There are some Field Scopes on ebay right now (some are even Nikon refurbs). I do believe there have been some iterations of this scope--maybe someone who has owned them can chime in on "the one" to get and what to avoid. If you buy the correct model in that, I don't think you'll go wrong. They are super handy and you may even decide to keep it. Brunton had a similar model and I'm kicking myself for not getting the closeouts at $150.00.

But, as Elkguide noted, they can be a bit of a strain for prolonged use. I obviously am firmly in the bino camp. If you can score a pair of Nikon Monarch 12x56s on ebay or here that is a great way to get into spotting with a bino. I started with those and had to move up because I just could not get the focus quite spot on for my eyes at long distances. Others don't have that problem. I paid less than $300.00 for them and they had been refurbed by Nikon.

 

[R_burg]

Thanks guys. Of note is I am already planning on teaming these with a pair of 10x42's... Vanguard ED II's. Not high end but I bought and sold a few different models of 10x42's (all more expensive) and these were better than all the others.

I would like to look at some 15x56's as well, but I think for the level of glass I would want, at this point they are out of my price range. Down the road for sure though.

To your point WRM, I am also wondering if theres a certain iteration that is best to have.

 

[WRM]

Sounds like you have a good plan for you!

Hopefully one of the Field Scope guys can chime in. If not, do a search and there likely is a thread laden with info.

 

[elkguide]

With my Nikon ED 60 Fieldscope, I replaced the original 20 - 45 eyepiece with a 40 - 75 eyepiece that better suited my usage. I search and find with my (dare I say) Swarovski 10X42's and then use the Nikon to confirm. Works very well for me. Just checked Ebay and there is a Nikon ed 60 just like mine for $699 or best offer. Worth the money in my opinion.

 

[tipsntails7]

On a side note, that new zeiss is pretty spendy for conquest level glass. 2K you start getting into pretty good spotter territory.

I'd be interested if anyone else has seen or used it. BB?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[oenanthe]

To your point WRM, I am also wondering if theres a certain iteration that is best to have.

Another vote for the Fieldscopes here. But be a little careful, "Fieldscope" was a model name that applied to Nikon's best spotting scopes for a few decades. There are three major iterations of the 60mm Fieldscope; Fieldscope I, Fieldscope II, and Fieldscope III. Each of these is available in an ED version. I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I believe that I and II were not fully multicoated, and not fully waterproof. So the Fieldscope III is the one you want in a 60mm scope. I believe it was introduced in the 1999. At that time it came with a 20-45 zoom eyepiece (MC1).

Nikon also made a 78mm Fieldscope; I think it was the big brother to the Fieldscope 2. It is not fully waterproof so may not be suitable for your needs.

In 2003, Nikon came out with the Fieldscope ED82. It is based on the Fieldscope III, just bigger. Also in 2003 they came out with the MC2 zoom eyepiece, which is 20-60x on the 60mm, and 25-75x on the 82mm.

The Nikon ED50 is a different animal from the larger scopes. It came out in 2008 so is the most modern design. But it uses a lot of plastic, and really the only things it shares with the bigger 60mm and 82mm Fieldscopes are the name and the quality optics. It's a great little scope and only weighs 20oz with the MC1 zoom (13-30x on this scope).

So, to sum up:
1) if you want a really light scope: ED50;
2) if you want a do-it-all scope: Fieldscope III ED with MC2 eyepiece (20-60x);
3) if you want the big kahuna: Fieldscope ED82 with MC2 eyepiece (25-75x).

I've got the 50 and the 82. I've compared the ED82 with a Swaro ATS80 HD, side-by-side, watching a ram two miles away on a cloudy day. My buddy and I both gave the edge to the ED82. You can find them used for way less than $1K if you're patient.

 

[R_burg]

Another vote for the Fieldscopes here. But be a little careful, "Fieldscope" was a model name that applied to Nikon's best spotting scopes for a few decades. There are three major iterations of the 60mm Fieldscope; Fieldscope I, Fieldscope II, and Fieldscope III. Each of these is available in an ED version. I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I believe that I and II were not fully multicoated, and not fully waterproof. So the Fieldscope III is the one you want in a 60mm scope. I believe it was introduced in the 1999. At that time it came with a 20-45 zoom eyepiece (MC1).

Nikon also made a 78mm Fieldscope; I think it was the big brother to the Fieldscope 2. It is not fully waterproof so may not be suitable for your needs.

In 2003, Nikon came out with the Fieldscope ED82. It is based on the Fieldscope III, just bigger. Also in 2003 they came out with the MC2 zoom eyepiece, which is 20-60x on the 60mm, and 25-75x on the 82mm.

The Nikon ED50 is a different animal from the larger scopes. It came out in 2008 so is the most modern design. But it uses a lot of plastic, and really the only things it shares with the bigger 60mm and 82mm Fieldscopes are the name and the quality optics. It's a great little scope and only weighs 20oz with the MC1 zoom (13-30x on this scope).

So, to sum up:
1) if you want a really light scope: ED50;
2) if you want a do-it-all scope: Fieldscope III ED with MC2 eyepiece (20-60x);
3) if you want the big kahuna: Fieldscope ED82 with MC2 eyepiece (25-75x).

I've got the 50 and the 82. I've compared the ED82 with a Swaro ATS80 HD, side-by-side, watching a ram two miles away on a cloudy day. My buddy and I both gave the edge to the ED82. You can find them used for way less than $1K if you're patient.

Awesome info, thank you. Question: If it doesnt say on the ebay listing, is there an easy way to tell the difference between the I , II and III?

I'm in no rush. I can wait around for the right spotter for the right price. Seems like most of the ones on ebay have fixed eyepieces,. unless I am misunderstanding the listings.