Spotting scope advice

[tony d]

I am going to bite the bullet this year & upgrade from my early 90"s vintage crapnell spotting scope . I'm just wondering what everyone is satisfied with & what they don'y like about what they are currently using ? I really am not opposed to buying an expensive scope I just want to do it once. Suggestions??
Tony

[BrownBear416]

I am going to bite the bullet this year & upgrade from my early 90"s vintage crapnell spotting scope . I'm just wondering what everyone is satisfied with & what they don'y like about what they are currently using ? I really am not opposed to buying an expensive scope I just want to do it once. Suggestions??
Tony

Hey Tony,

What kind of hunting do you do the most as this will be a big factor in what kind of scope to buy?

[whitetailsheds]

Do it right. You won't regret it for the rest of your life....Swaro, Leica, Zeiss. Period.

[Grizzly Adams]

Do it right. You won't regret it for the rest of your life....Swaro, Leica, Zeiss. Period.

Great, if you just won the lottery.:lol: My son works in a camera optics store. their consensus is that the high end Nikons are just as good, without paying for a German superiority complex. They do sell those too, as well. Leica lenses, at one time, were made in Canada.:D
Grizz

[JessS]

I have used the Leica Televid 62 APO for about 6 years and its been great, it is great for packing. I had the swarovski before the Leica and the Televid is deffiantely better for me. I would suggest the Televid 77 if you arent going to do alot of packing, Im thinking about getting the 77 for spotting fom the truck, keeping the 62 for long days in my pack.

Just my thoughts, good luck!

[pottymouth]

I did it right the first time and bought the Swarovski 80 H.D, best glass out there. The only problem with them is all your buddies will stop using there 's.

[elkhunter11]

I bought a Leupold 12-40x60 when they first came out,and it has served me well for many years.It is small,and compact,with decent optics,but it is not in the same class as Swarovski,Leica or Zeiss.I rarely hunt sheep or pronghorn anymore,so I will likely never buy another spotting scope,but if I did,it would be a Swarovski.

[eltorro]

Great, if you just won the lottery.:lol: My son works in a camera optics store. their consensus is that the high end Nikons are just as good, without paying for a German superiority complex. They do sell those too, as well. Leica lenses, at one time, were made in Canada.:D
Grizz

You sure about that, Grizz?

Tony D: Swaro is still the best. Zeiss follows. Leica has the same quality of the lenses (for some eyes are better, for some - they are not) but the internals have been an issue in the past. Very fine, precise, but complicated.
On the Swaro: the 65 HD gives you roughly the same quality as 80 regular. The 80 HD... well....:sHa_shakeshout:

[BrownBear416]

I did it right the first time and bought the Swarovski 80 H.D, best glass out there. The only problem with them is all your buddies will stop using there 's.

X100 :sHa_shakeshout:

[steve]

I did it right the first time and bought the Swarovski 80 H.D, best glass out there. The only problem with them is all your buddies will stop using there 's.

x3

I can't even imagine what the 80HD is like. I have the 65HD and its the best investment I ever made. I would not have spotted my ram without it.

[elkhunter11]

High quality optics cost more money,there is no way around that.It all comes down to priorities,I don't smoke,go to casinos,or drink much,so I have more money to spend on firearms and optics.The ironic part is,the people that don't understand why I usually buy high end firearms and optics,are usually smokers,drinkers and gamblers,or they own high dollar boats,rvs or snowmobiles,or travel to exotic locations.:sign0161:

[tony d]

I don't hunt the mountains tons but there ill be more occasions the next few years than there has been the last 15 & prong horns may still be on the menu next year so I don't need super light but i don't want super heavy either I'm not scared to spend coin on good equipment

[Hooter]

I have used the Swarovski ATS 80 (non-HD version) with 20-60 eyepiece and it's awesome. The main reason I like the Swarovski more than the Leica is because I prefer the single focusing ring on the Swarovski. I find it less cumbersome than having two different focusing knobs, but that's just a personal preference.

I can't comment on the Zeiss spotting scope because I've never used one, although I have used a pair of their binos and they were great, too.

I am going to buy the Swarovski ATm 80HD this fall. It'll be $4000 well spent.

-Trevor

[sheephunter]

Definitely Zeiss or Swaro. I personally prefer the two-stage focus on the Zeiss (I find it faster and more precise) but I doubt you could tell the difference in glass. Both awesome scopes.

[MountainTi]

Do it right. You won't regret it for the rest of your life....Swaro, Leica, Zeiss. Period.

What he said.
And you're right, do it right the first time and you won't be disappointed.

[Dr.D]

Tried them all guiding and have a swarovski 80 and would not trade it for nothing if you are thinking HD look into it but some guys told me not to go HD do to the fact the if you scratch the lense it shows up realy bad don't know just here say

[whitetailsheds]

Tried them all guiding and have a swarovski 80 and would not trade it for nothing if you are thinking HD look into it but some guys told me not to go HD do to the fact the if you scratch the lense it shows up realy bad don't know just here say

Have not heard anyone rave about the HD....if anything, it is comparable to regular Swaro lenses.

[bucknaked333]

I went with Pentax 100mm. I thought it was the best scope for your dollar. It is big and bulky but I can see that extra 20 minutes at night. I did a bunch of searching on the internet and a lot of review compared it to the big three. Mine doesn't leave the truck so the bulkiness is not a problem, my backpack scope is a bausch& lomb 14x45x60mm. Just my 2 cents..

[tony d]

I do plan on packing it a fair bit so size is somewhat of an issue I think I'm going to have to go try a bunch out right now i'm thinking swaro 65 but who knows thats Why I asked

[mtnhunter]

I do plan on packing it a fair bit so size is somewhat of an issue I think I'm going to have to go try a bunch out right now i'm thinking swaro 65 but who knows thats Why I asked

With size being an issue, have you considered the Swarovski CTS 85? It is a collapsible telescope which has had some good reviews. I am considering this option myself for the packing size as well. Given the moveable parts it is not 100% waterproof, but according to the Swaro rep on another forum, they will not take on any water unless you collapse the scope before it is dry. If water happens to get inside, there is a simple procedure you can do to evacuate the water/moist air which restores the dry interior and normal function of the scope. Does anyone else have one of these or has anyone tried one before?

[whitetailsheds]

The Swaro 65 is nice for packing. Buddy has the 80 but it's like packing the Hubble Telescope. Mind you he's built like a bull, and not quite right in the head....and there's nothing like counting the whiskers on a caribou that is 2 miles away....lol.....

[sheephunter]

With size being an issue, have you considered the Swarovski CTS 85? It is a collapsible telescope which has had some good reviews. I am considering this option myself for the packing size as well. Given the moveable parts it is not 100% waterproof, but according to the Swaro rep on another forum, they will not take on any water unless you collapse the scope before it is dry. If water happens to get inside, there is a simple procedure you can do to evacuate the water/moist air which restores the dry interior and normal function of the scope. Does anyone else have one of these or has anyone tried one before?

Yikes, not sure that sounds well suited to the rigors of the mountains.

[Rackmastr]

I gotta say the Swaro 65 is a heck of a choice.....

[justhunt]

I fully recommend the Swarovski 65HD. I have one and wish I would have bought it before I spent the money on the last 3 I have had. In a side by side comparison with the non HD I find the difference noticeable enough to spend the extra money. You won`t regret it and you can`t always use the
60X but when you can it can save alot of miles when sheep hunting.

[Almer Fudd]

Where's a good retailer for quality glass?

[Duk Dog]

http://cameralandny1.reachlocal.net/

[alpineguy]

What I did this year was check out the reviews done by Birders. There are tons of sights out there and they will give you unbiased opinons on which scopes they find the best. Lots of comparative studies and weight and size are factors they consider. I ended up with a Celestron.

[Stinky Coyote]

x2 on the birders, they are critical bunch, i know on the big boy 80 plus mm objectives the Kowa 883/884 always beat the mighty swaro's....so if looking at 80mm or bigger then kowa is the scope to beat

fascinating stuff, i go to the birdforums anytime i'm buying new glass

[Stinky Coyote]

http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=286

start reading here, this is the main spotting scope section...go below the sub-forums for each brand....and once you get a feel for whats going on then you can really nut down certain models by going into the sub-forums for each brand but i'd spend bunch of time in this main spotting scope forum first

[Stinky Coyote]

thought i'd copy this from the other spotter thread right now and paste it here...

if i were anyone on this forum looking for a spotting scope of quality for smokin deal i'd send spurly a pm, i was very tempted by this scope and his cash price via pm was more than reasonable....when you do your research on the birdforums you'll see that below the alpha class glass (swaro/zeiss/leica) you get the next level and bang for buck excellence and thats the nikon fieldscope ED and Pentax PF ED series.....now spurly is selling the PF 65 ED....this i'm guessing would retail near the nikon Ed version which i think was around 12-1300 buck mark so seriously send spurly a pm.....i last checked his add in the rifle section on about page 2....says spotting scope for trade....he was looking for rifles in trade but like i said...i was very tempted by this scope as i already knew about it and his cash price is outstanding...hurry boys!

:)

since i have an ed50 already i will hold out for a swaro as my second scope but if not that pentax might already be mine, its only cuz i passed on it that i'm tell yall about what ya might be missing out on ;)

[tony d]

Thanks for all the info I've been reading the birder reviews now I'm more unsure than before I'l sort through this & try out a few more
Cheers Tony

[Roughneck Country]

I did it right the first time and bought the Swarovski 80 H.D, best glass out there. The only problem with them is all your buddies will stop using there 's.

I agree get the Swaro HD. I was thinking the 65 though since I plan on packing the thing around the mountain. Would the 80 be worth the extra weight and bulk or will a 65 do me just fine? thoughts anyone?

As for the buddies stop using theirs....I can already see it coming!

[sheephunter]

I went for the 65 in a Zeiss just because of the weight and bulk issue and it serves me very well in the mountains. You get a bit more magnification with the 80 but conditions need to be perfect to use it.

[whitetailsheds]

Roughneck, a buddy has both the Swaro 65 and 80 (both straight). Has taken the 80 a couple times on backpack Stones trips, and found the 80 too big (space) and too heavy. And, as I said in another post, he's a bull.
He prefers the 65, using the 80 for the truck or daytrips.
Myself, and another buddy have Swaro 65's. He likes the straight.
I prefer the angled, especially in the hills, for being able to get comfortably in behind them and not kinking my neck. I am able to get a comfortable, natural angle to look down into the scope. I have found I am able to view for longer periods with the angled in the hills.
This same angle of neck comfort is present while standing behind a tripod that is fully extended.
The angled is not great on the truck window for the few times I've used it sitting on the truck seat.

[sheephunter]

Thanks for all the info I've been reading the birder reviews now I'm more unsure than before I'l sort through this & try out a few more
Cheers Tony

While birders may know something about optical quality, their optics are not subjected to the rigors of mountain hunting. A good birding scope may not be suited to the mountains at all. Waterproofness and durability are far more critical in the mountains than while birding. Make sure you look at the whole picture.

[Tundra Monkey]

I wound up taking the extra bulk of the 80 rather than the 65. The weight difference is really negligable between the 2. I carry it rapped in my poncho under my top cover of my pack. Right on top when you need it.

After comparing the 2 I found that for extended periods of glassing the 80 required much less adjusting and moving of the scope. It allows you to view a much larger area than the 65. This is handy when you looking at large areas at say 40x or so. You'll appreciate the extra glass if you use proper glassing techniques.

tm

[sheephunter]

TM...do you know the specs on field of view for the 65 and 80? I can't seem to find them anywhere. I always thought they were very similar but it's interesting to hear you say the 80 is much greater. I've never compared them side by side so you could be right.

[Tundra Monkey]

I think the 80 is just under 3lbs and the 65 is just over 2lbs for weight. It was less than 10oz if I remember correctly.

The area of the glass on the 80 is about 33% larger than that of the 65. I could try to do some math but I'm not very good at it so that's just a guess :)

I find it better to move my eye from edge to edge in the scope....kinda the way I was taught. It's really a drastic difference in how much area you can see. The clarity right to the edge is one of the things that sets Swaro apart IMO.

On a side note....nothing drives me out of my mind more than I guy who walks up to looks through my spotter and the first thing he does is put his hands on it :shake:

tm

[sheephunter]

I think the 80 is just under 3lbs and the 65 is just over 2lbs for weight. It was less than 10oz if I remember correctly.

The area of the glass on the 80 is about 33% larger than that of the 65. I could try to do some math but I'm not very good at it so that's just a guess :)

I find it better to move my eye from edge to edge in the scope....kinda the way I was taught. It's really a drastic difference in how much area you can see. The clarity right to the edge is one of the things that sets Swaro apart IMO.

On a side note....nothing drives me out of my mind more than I guy who walks up to looks through my spotter and the first thing he does is put his hands on it :shake:

tm


A common misconception but a misconception none the less that objective lens size plays a role in field of view...it doesn't. Field of view is determined by the internal mechanics. It's weird that they don't list it on the website. I know I looked into this once before and I thought they were pretty much the same but I've never looked at them side by side.

[Tundra Monkey]

Sh....ofund the fov on Cabelas of all places. It lists it as 108-60 on the 20x-60x at 1000. So they've got it as the same.

I know what you're saying about the objective lense misconception....we're all looking through the skinny end first :)

The advantage of it is the clarity that you get right to the edge of the scope. Maybe it's got something to do with a little more light or that ring of dust that gets pushed to the outside of the scope edges doesn't affect it as much....I'm not sure.

I'm a weight nut as much as the next guy but I really prefer the 80 over the 65 for me. Suits my other hunts when light factor is more of an issue as well.

tm

[sheephunter]

Ya, they utilize identical eye pieces so it would make sense that the FOV was the same but I wasn't sure.

[Roughneck Country]

I have to remeasure my pack, but if they are both the same weight more or less and will fit in my pack I might as well get the 80. I know a lot of guys swear by the angled scopes for the mountains but I think I will stay with the strait since I am more confortable with it. Any recomendations for the tri pod? i was going to stick with the Swaro tri pod since it goes with the spotting scope. Thoughts?

[Tundra Monkey]

Hey Roughneck,

The Swaro pod is a kick to the twins for what you get. It's good but the name is costing alot on that item.

I went with a Slik 613cf. It's light but a little short. It's set up in a position where I'm sitting/laying/kneeling 99% of the time so I went with the shorter version. A rock bag is very handy.

Have a look at the Gitzo line up as well.

One thing I would suggest is getting a cover for it. I wound up getting the Swaro Scope Coat and I really like it. I tried to order a "Nikon" cover for it but it got lost in the translation over the phone. It was about 1/3rd of the cost of the Swaro product....it would do essentially the same job.

I rarely carry my scope in my backpack. I wrap it up in a jacket or raincoat and leave it on top of my bottom compartment with the top cover over it and holding it in place. I've found that this works really well and keeps it handy.

tm

[Stinky Coyote]

see the tripod thread...that slik 613 looks like a good candidate, just find the right head and that would be the way to to, get the 65

i have a spotter and tripod that weigh less than a swaro with eyepiece alone...

my nikon ed50 (only 40x top end but same a leupy a lot of sheep hunters love) at 23 oz and my manfrotto 785b at 27 oz(modified by removing unneeded leg extensions and center column extension) and the snap in 'feet' are only 1/2 oz and 11 bucks so i have one strapped to one barrel on my ultravid 10x32 hd's and one on my canon sd1400 camera so everything is quick snap/play, i even bought a second tripod to rob the head and mod onto window mount for truck so everything snap and play there too

my entire optics get up with camera and range finder with cases for rangefinder and camera and spare battery for camera go about 5 lbs 9 oz and i generally ditch the camera case at the truck and put in pant pocket and the crf1200 often has its own space on the pack where i ditch that case too so a little over 5 lbs even and binos/tripod/spotter/camera/rangefinder and aside from rangefinder all can quick snap onto tripod

and i'm loving this set up, i'm far from a sheep killing machine so take for what its worth...i'm obsessed with getting the weight down and high end gear....if i was going to pack a heavy spotter like the swaro (eye piece near 10 oz fyi to add to body weights you can find) then the slik 613 cf looks like a solid but super light tripod for that kind of duty

good luck with choice, the homework is all the fun imo! :)