Swarovski spotting scope

[bassbuck07]

Im going to buy a Swarovski spotting scope and am looking for some opinions on them. Is it worth the money on buying the HD vs non HD? And is the 65mm better or the 80mm? Thanks for any advice that anyone has on these items

[colockumelk]

#1 Between the two (80mm vs 65mm) one is not better than the other. They are both like specific tools used for specific things. What will you be using the spotting scope for?  Are you doing most of your hunting in the timber, doing back country hunts? Or is most of it out of a truck or in the open sage/crp?  Because depending on your type of hunting, the situation will determine which is better.

#2 What is the price difference between HD and non HD. On the one hand if you have saved up enough for a non HD might as well keep on saving. But on the other hand most people cant tell the difference between the two. The HD will not have as much Chromatic Aberation, so if you notice that then yes pay for the HD. If you don't notice the CA then get the non-HD version. Both are clear and do well at low light and have a crisp image.  But the HD version has a lower Chromatic Aboration.

[rbros]

You will be happy with either one.  I have both the 65mm and 80mm in regular and one 65mm in HD.  The HD might be a smidge clearer in lowlight, but not worth the extra $$.  The 65mm is great for packing, the 80 is good for sitting in one spot or using out of the truck. 

[Crunchy]

I went with the 65 non hd.  It wasn't worth the extra cash for HD. 

[sirmissalot]

I went with the 65 non hd.  It wasn't worth the extra cash for HD.

I was told the only people who can really see the difference in the HD is people using it to take pictures. I have taken a few pictures through mine but its not what I bought it for and was not worth the money to me. The 65 is fairly small and light and easily packs so thats why I chose it over the 80.

[MtnMuley]

Personally, if I'm spending the money on a Swaro spotter, I'd pay the few extra hundred and go HD.

[Bob33]

If you can, find a store that carries both an HD and a non-HD model and compare them side-by-side for yourself. I've done just that. To my eyes, the differences were negligible but your mileage may vary.

They don't necessarily need to be 65mm but it would certainly be helpful if they were similar Swaro models to what you are considering.