Spotting Scope Question
 

I am looking at new spotting scopes and I am looking to get some other input. I can't afford the swarovski or zeiss 2500-3000 dollar scopes but I am looking at the leupold sx-1 or the bushnell elite. Anybody out there have any thoughts on a good mid range spotting scope?

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I would say best bang for your buck hands down is kowa. If that is to much the new vanguard endeavor hd is pretty impressive for the price. Birding forums have the best reviews.

Kowa makes great spotting scopes.

on the low end scopes i really like the Celestron found the glass to be way better than the low end leopolds or bushnells. I think the 60mm scope was only $100 as well

I am looking for something in the 700-1000$ range. Something I csn take sheep hunting and prairie hunting as well. Checked out the Kowa's on line, they didn't really shoe power range just mm. Which one would you guys suggest?

Did you look at the Vortex?

Take a look at the Cabelas brand, good glass for the money.

I would take a look at Vortex spotting scopes. All reviews I have read say that they are comparable with Swaros, but for $1000 less!!

I did look at the vortex. Read a couple reveiws saying it was really good but got dim up past 50 power. But I am thinking all the mid range scopes might be similar.

All the 60mm scopes get dim at high power, just the facts of life. For $1000 you have a lot of options, Celestron is not widely known in the hunting world but they are a huge optics company. I own several Celestron telescopes, including a 100mm ED glass spotting scope. Most of the Asian made scopes likely come from the same factories, I've seen Vortex scopes that look the same as Celestron.

Take the time to go and test out a range of optics or you will be disappointed. ED glass is a big improvement.

The reviews that I read, did say that Vortex provided good value for the money, but they had them ranked below a level below Swarovski.

Image quality is a very subjective thing! I've read reviews that said the Razor had a slightly better image than the Swaro it was being compared to!

Any of you guys sheep hunters? I want to use this for sheep hunting also. What do some of you guys use for that?

You can get some great Leupold's in that range.

Vortex is decent for the money. It's not a Swaro or a Leica but sheep have been
Spotted with far worse. Nikon, Cabelas, Leupold will all do the trick. Go to a store and ask if you can view a selection outside. Then decide what works best for your eyes in your price range. Where the top end glass thrives is on eye fatigue. Clarity can seem comparative but after 8hrs behind the glass certain brands are bought for a reason.

Check out the Pentax line up. They get great reviews on the birding sites.