spotting scopes under $1000

[deerhunter_98520]

Nice! Where did you get yours from? I just looked at it at cabelas today...time to shop around and find the best deal

[deerhunter_98520]

65mm or 85mm? Which one to get?

[Elkohol]

I got a pro deal on mine so mines coming straight from vortex. I went with the 85mm and the straight eye piece. Like a lot of people I prefer it over the angled. I can see where the angled could be nice, but for use in the field the straight eyepiece is more practical

[Elknut1]

The all purpose spotter is the 65mm, this means it's great for packing for miles in your back pack or also great for the road near ones rig. The 85mm is very nice as well but not as manageable to back pack with because of bulky size & extra wt. -- Check us out as we have multiple Specials going on the Spotters & Binos! Feel free to PM me for a quote. Thanks.

  ElkNut1 - Paul

[T-Dozzer]

Tagging

[mountainman]

I personally think when you're comparing a $1k scope to a $2k+ scope, you're spending lots more money for tiny little differences that 90% of people won't even notice. I used a Swaro a couple times...20-60x60 and found it to be awesome, but I'm not sure, for me, that it's $1k+ more awesome than the ones you're looking at in the $1k range. I realize not everyone will share the same opinions. 

I disagree. Maybe for the guy that uses one for a few hours a year, but for those of us that use their spotting scope for days on end some years, the difference is HUGE! Compare lesser scopes to higher end optics, you need to look thru them for several hours. Step away, then look back thru them...if your eyes instantle tense up from a lesser scope, compared to having them relax when you look back thru a higher end scope...well, to me, thats a HUGE difference. Shows the difference between coated externals and fully coated lenses, more so with silver phos glass

[mountainman]

I checked out the vortex razor hd today and all I can say is wow is that clear...I'll be purchasing one of those like a lot of you recommended 

[Elkohol]

Mine came i'n this morning! Love it even more than when I was comparing them. I spent part of my day building a camera adaptor out of some PVC fittings rather than paying for one from them. Works great!

[deerhunter_98520]

Mine came i'n this morning! Love it even more than when I was comparing them. I spent part of my day building a camera adaptor out of some PVC fittings rather than paying for one from them. Works great!

Can you post a pic? I'd like to see this....I want one but don't want to fork out the money they want for some plastic

[jackelope]

I personally think when you're comparing a $1k scope to a $2k+ scope, you're spending lots more money for tiny little differences that 90% of people won't even notice. I used a Swaro a couple times...20-60x60 and found it to be awesome, but I'm not sure, for me, that it's $1k+ more awesome than the ones you're looking at in the $1k range. I realize not everyone will share the same opinions. 

I disagree. Maybe for the guy that uses one for a few hours a year, but for those of us that use their spotting scope for days on end some years, the difference is HUGE! Compare lesser scopes to higher end optics, you need to look thru them for several hours. Step away, then look back thru them...if your eyes instantle tense up from a lesser scope, compared to having them relax when you look back thru a higher end scope...well, to me, thats a HUGE difference. Shows the difference between coated externals and fully coated lenses, more so with silver phos glass

You're making my point for me. The guy that uses one a few hours a year is likely not spending $2500 on a scope. At least 90% of those guys aren't dropping that coin on a spotter. Most of those guys aren't going to take the time to even make the comparison you just described.

[mountainman]

No, i am agreeing with your point. Not everyone needs or wants to pay that kind of money for the upper tier glass. The point I am trying to make is simply that there is a bigger difference between the two levels of glass in those pricerange, and it is noticable when compared side to side. Anyone who has looked at them side to side will see this. The brightness, clarity and resolution can be huge. Bottom line, as always when it comes to optics, is buy the best you can afford!

[Crunchy]

The difference in my opinion between a $1,000 scope or binos and a 2,000k is image quality all the way around.  What that is worth to someone is a personal decision. 

[Elkohol]

Mine came i'n this morning! Love it even more than when I was comparing them. I spent part of my day building a camera adaptor out of some PVC fittings rather than paying for one from them. Works great!

Can you post a pic? I'd like to see this....I want one but don't want to fork out the money they want for some plastic

I'll try to get some posted tomorrow.

[columbiaman]

Those demo ZEN ED2 spotter is a steal

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/demo/zenspotter82-angled-demo.html

I also like the Vortex razor spotter. The only thing that you need to watch out for is the low light performance. The unit to unit variation is quite big. If you use spotter mainly during the bright daylight, it may not be a concern for you.