Spotting Scope Recommendations?

[BIGDOG253]

What spotting scope do you use?

I am looking to get a spotting scope for summer scouting, without breaking the bank. Any suggestions?

[vandeman17]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,174050.msg2300900/topicseen.html#new

[dennisbk]

Whats your price range?
Vortex has quality glass and excellent customer service... PM sent

[X-Force]

Size 80, 65, 50?

Cheap and lots of good reviews minox MD 50 right around $200 used, vanguard endeavor 65 $500ish new

[BIGDOG253]

Size: Either 65 or 80.

Im trying not to spend more than $500.

I have an older pair of Vortex binos and they perform well for the most part, good quality. Im looking at the Viper HD 15-45x65 which has great reviews too. vandeman17, PM sent.

[Bean Counter]

 I wouldn't buy a spotting scope Without ED/HD glass. This is not necessarily a  requirement for binoculars.  However, the higher magnification of a spotting scope will magnify imperfections and cheap glass.  Unless you find a stellar deal at $500, you're probably better off selling your current pair of binoculars, adding that $500 to your budget, and getting a nicer pair of binoculars.   If given the choice to take it to hundred dollar spotting scope to the field or just take my binoculars I would probably leave the spider behind.   Not trying to sound snooty, just an honest answer to your question.  You don't have to spend $2000+ on a Swarovski to get a great spot or even in low light..  I was able to find a Nikon ED for just under $800 on eBay many years ago.  Swaro is a tad lighter than my spotter, but even in low light isn't markedly better.

[washingtonhunter121]

I know you are looking for a 65 or 80 but I have a vortex razor hd 11x33x50 for sale that is essentially brand new. I put this spotter up to the vortex viper had in 65 mm and the quality of glass isn't comparable. Once you get into the higher magnifications the viper had distorts a little bit with the smaller razor hs everything is is clear through all magnification settings. If you have a place nearby that stocks both ask them to put them on a tripod and take outside to look through to tell the difference. This was my first spotter over 200 and I loved it so much that I thought it was worth it to spend the money on the 65mm. This was just due to my uncle and I wanting to spot for longer range target shooting

[Bean Counter]

 That's good information to know.  Not a fair comparison given the price difference, but I once put my Nikon against a viper and the Nikon was hand over fist better than The Viper, even in bright daylight the lack of sharpness and chromatic aberration (lateral color fringing) was obvious.

[C-Money]

I bought an Alpen and really like it.. Lifetime warranty.

[deerhunter_98520]

i recommend saving your money and getting a nice spotter...i have the 85mm razor hd and havent looked back....you dont realize how useful a high end spotter is until you have one....that being said you would have to be willing to get over the price tag...one thing i took into consideration is the lifetime warranty on it...no questions asked...i spent the 1500 now and my kids will eventually get the spotter and warranty 

[Bean Counter]

  buy once, cry once.

[Miles]

If you're not wanting to break the bank... www.cameralandny.com

[BIGDOG253]

Thanks for all the info guys.

i recommend saving your money and getting a nice spotter...i have the 85mm razor hd and havent looked back....you dont realize how useful a high end spotter is until you have one....that being said you would have to be willing to get over the price tag...one thing i took into consideration is the lifetime warranty on it...no questions asked...i spent the 1500 now and my kids will eventually get the spotter and warranty 

I probably should just buck up and get something high end. Maybe an "early Christmas present" for myself 

[Larry S.]

My two cents...

1. Look for lifetime (or very long-term, i.e. 10+ years) warranties with very few or no weasel words. If it breaks, they stand behind it. No questions asked.

2. Go look through different spotters. See what works for you. They're your eyes. What works for me may not work for thee. If one brands lets you see better than another - even if it costs less - buy that brand and don't look back. Once you get into good glass ($500 and above), it's all going to help you in the field where you'll be using and abusing (i.e. see warranty above) it.

3. Consider how you'll be using it and how comfortable you'll be behind it. Angled or straight? Light or heavy? Big objective (heavy) or smaller? Can you pack it all day or will it mostly sit in your vehicle? It all matters.

4. Fog proof and waterproof - goes without saying. Bombproof (see: Zeiss Dialyt Spotter) if you can find it. Hunting equals snow, rain, dirt, dust, fog, falling and dropping things. It's a one-to-one relationship and your gear should reflect that.

5. Finally, save your money until it hurts to think of parting with that much, then save for two or three months more. Lifetime glass isn't cheap and the old saying about "Buy nice or buy twice" is always in effect. Ten years from now, when everyone is still asking you if that's a two or three pointer three ridges away, you'll never remember spending the extra $$$.

6. Don't forget to buy a good (see: sturdy) tripod. Nothing like good glass on top of a springy, cheap tripod to make you mumble words your wife won't let you use around the kids.

7. After you buy it, go out and enjoy it!!!

Larry Simoneaux


...and one more thought.

Never, ever buy something without checking into the discount/demos/discontinued glass at Cameraland New York (cameralandny.com) or at Eurooptic (eurooptic.com)

Great deals there all the time.

[magnumb]

Thanks for all the info guys.

i recommend saving your money and getting a nice spotter...i have the 85mm razor hd and havent looked back....you dont realize how useful a high end spotter is until you have one....that being said you would have to be willing to get over the price tag...one thing i took into consideration is the lifetime warranty on it...no questions asked...i spent the 1500 now and my kids will eventually get the spotter and warranty 

I probably should just buck up and get something high end. Maybe an "early Christmas present" for myself 

Well then.........now I can chime in with suggesting a Leica compact spotter.  I bought their compact 65mm, straight body, many years ago when they first came out and they are ideally suited for both range and field duties.  Clear, compact (but not too much), easy, accurate adjustments, a fine tuning wheel and Leica overall makes a very reliable product.

As I have not been interested in any other spotter since that purchase, it is possible that Leica has changed it's offerings and if so, I cannot offer a review or suggestion on any newer models as I've not kept current.

Do get the best glass possible in your 'network', be it scope or spotter...... .

Good luck.

[Crunchy]

The difference between $500 dollar glass and $2,000 dollar glass is at a thousand yards not just seeing a deer, but being able to count its points.  Once you get to high end glass its a little more difficult to tell the differences.  I purchased the Swaro 20-60 X 65 and love it.  If I had to do it again I would have probably went with their wide angle 25-50 because I rarely zoom into 60 power.  That's pretty minor issue.

[thinkingman]

I have been watching this thread with some interest.
I just ordered a Pentax 65mm ED spotter body.
Got a smoking deal.
Now I need an eyepiece (1.25") and am stuck between a 20-60x or a fixed wide view.
People LOVE the fixed eyepiece for it's optical performance.
What power fixed do you think is most practical?

[magnumb]

I have been watching this thread with some interest.
I just ordered a Pentax 65mm ED spotter body.
Got a smoking deal.
Now I need an eyepiece (1.25") and am stuck between a 20-60x or a fixed wide view.
People LOVE the fixed eyepiece for it's optical performance.
What power fixed do you think is most practical?

'Most practical'.......?  If like me, since 99% of my annual shooting is done at a range on paper, you might pick the best fixed power eyepiece based on what power that you would most use at what distances you typically find yourself shooting off the bench. 

As most of us choose to hunt certain areas more often than not, year after year, I have a pretty good idea of the maximum range that I'm comfortable shooting in a hunting situation.  Given that, I would likely choose a fixed magnification based on that maximum distance that I can easily and clearly see my intended target and have ample FOV, be it on paper or hair.

A Pentax anything is a safe bet and I truly enjoy and find that a 65mm spotter is perfect for my purposes.  Good choice!

Good luck and enjoy.

   

[thinkingman]

I have been watching this thread with some interest.
I just ordered a Pentax 65mm ED spotter body.
Got a smoking deal.
Now I need an eyepiece (1.25") and am stuck between a 20-60x or a fixed wide view.
People LOVE the fixed eyepiece for it's optical performance.
What power fixed do you think is most practical?

'Most practical'.......?  If like me, since 99% of my annual shooting is done at a range on paper, you might pick the best fixed power eyepiece based on what power that you would most use at what distances you typically find yourself shooting off the bench. 

As most of us choose to hunt certain areas more often than not, year after year, I have a pretty good idea of the maximum range that I'm comfortable shooting in a hunting situation.  Given that, I would likely choose a fixed magnification based on that maximum distance that I can easily and clearly see my intended target and have ample FOV, be it on paper or hair.

A Pentax anything is a safe bet and I truly enjoy and find that a 65mm spotter is perfect for my purposes.  Good choice!

Good luck and enjoy.

   

Thanks.
I just ordered a fixed 14mm wide view, which calculates to approx 27X.
We'll see how that does.

[bearpaw]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

[CoryTDF]

This is the one I have and I love it! it's huge though and would be awful for packing. Trust me i'm not the kind or guy to spend $4K on a spotter though. I just kinda got lucky and my old one borke and they dont make it anymore so they replaced it with this. So I got a HUGE upgrade.

If you are goingto do it though make sure you save and buy HD or good glass you wont be sorry.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/nikon-spottingscope-85mm-edg-20-60x-zoom-fieldscope.html

[Bob33]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

[Tbar]

+2 on the leupold spotters. They are clear and very practical.  I have an 88mm Kowa and often miss my smaller scopes.

[Larry S.]

I think you'll be more than happy with your choice. In more than 35+ years of hunting and using spotting scopes, I've found that I spend most of my time glassing between 15X-25X - only going to higher powers when I've found an animal, have a steady mount, and am trying to determine if the animal is a legal shooter.

[magnumb]

I have been watching this thread with some interest.
I just ordered a Pentax 65mm ED spotter body.
Got a smoking deal.
Now I need an eyepiece (1.25") and am stuck between a 20-60x or a fixed wide view.
People LOVE the fixed eyepiece for it's optical performance.
What power fixed do you think is most practical?

'Most practical'.......?  If like me, since 99% of my annual shooting is done at a range on paper, you might pick the best fixed power eyepiece based on what power that you would most use at what distances you typically find yourself shooting off the bench. 

As most of us choose to hunt certain areas more often than not, year after year, I have a pretty good idea of the maximum range that I'm comfortable shooting in a hunting situation.  Given that, I would likely choose a fixed magnification based on that maximum distance that I can easily and clearly see my intended target and have ample FOV, be it on paper or hair.

A Pentax anything is a safe bet and I truly enjoy and find that a 65mm spotter is perfect for my purposes.  Good choice!

Good luck and enjoy.

   

Thanks.
I just ordered a fixed 14mm wide view, which calculates to approx 27X.
We'll see how that does.

Likely the same x as I would have picked..... .

If 14x can't get you what you want, try again!  Having said that........no law against acquiring a higher fixed x later or sell/trade/buy a variable later.  Lots of choices!

Good luck!

[Bill W]

I bought an Alpen and really like it.. Lifetime warranty.

Alpen here also.   I used to shoot in score matches at Paul Bunyan and needed good glass that would spot .30 caliber holes in the black against a dark background early on rainy, dreary days at 200 yards.  The difference between a 10 and a 9 can be only a quarter of an inch but that quarter of an inch can cost you the match. The Alpen let me make scope adjustments with confidence.

It did not help when I had it angled wrong and was viewing a competitors target and making sight adjustments based on his hits.

[KFhunter]

+50 on the Alpin

fantastic scope for the money and you won't cry if you leave it on the mountain or break it

[KFhunter]

The difference between $500 dollar glass and $2,000 dollar glass is at a thousand yards not just seeing a deer, but being able to count its points.  Once you get to high end glass its a little more difficult to tell the differences.  I purchased the Swaro 20-60 X 65 and love it.  If I had to do it again I would have probably went with their wide angle 25-50 because I rarely zoom into 60 power.  That's pretty minor issue.

during hunting season when you're down to the brass tacks and deciding your animal I completely agree,  for summer scouting though it's not so important the horns aren't even grown. 

much cheaper alpin is fine for summer scouts, where they're often abused riding on the ATV and getting banged around dusty and dirty.  Leave the expensive glass at home ready for hunting season when it really matters. 

[magnumb]

Does anyone remember Leupolds first compact spotter...?  It was a 20 x 60 'Hunter' model.  Compact, typical good Leupy glass and reliability.  Came with a nice case and did the job.  I prized that scope for many seasons and sold it to a friend when I went to my Leica.  In other words, I don't go through alot of spotters as I've only owned the two mentioned.

As for owning 2 spotters simultaneously, a 'cheapy, beater' type for scouting/ATV excursions and also a 'good' one for those more serious times, Good+ to great glass can't be replaced whether scouting or hunting.  If I wish that I had brought along better glass to truly make out the specifics of a rack or other personally desirable attributes of any game animal, then I screwed up. 

I've spotted several bucks and bulls in the past that only allowed me one good look during only a single pre-season chance encounter that allowed me to know that they inhabited that area, that they were wall hangers and that they were certainly worth my time to pass on all else in order to pursue them once that season began.  If limbs, leaves, distance, dawn and dusk light conditions and cover of all types are much more easily discerned while using the more expensive spotter as opposed to your other less expensive spotter, then that one opportunity, perhaps of a lifetime, can't help but up your chances for success. 

My preferred method is to always use the best glass I own during scouting or hunting seasons and if I am packin' in, on horseback, ATV'n, drivin' the backroads, whatever.....I choose to buy the best insulated 'shock/weather proof' spotter cover available and confidently go from there.  Such a scope/spotter/optics cover and/or protector, no matter it's cost, is going to be much cheaper than even purchasing the least expensive glass that we might consider 'scouting/ATV' optics.

We should also hope and expect that our most expensive glass (bino's/scopes or spotters) should stand up to a higher standard of hard use as compared to less expensive offerings.  Whether real or imagined, one would hope this to be true. 

Buy and use the best glass that you can afford.  It can make or break a hunt and for me, most of my hunts are made well prior to the seasons opener.

Good luck to all...........

 

[MtnMuley]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

[actionshooter]

I always tell my friends to spend more than you can afford.........find what works the best for you and save until you can buy it........ optics are the most important part of your gear.

[raydog]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Optics/Spotting-Scopes%7C/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104600880/Simmonsreg-Spotting-Scope-Kit/1722998.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fspotting-scopes%2F_%2FN-1100060%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104600880

60 Bucks. What more do you need 

[AKBowman]

I just picked up a Zeiss Dialyt. The best glass in the industry, lightweight, economical, bombproof and quick and easy object acquisition.

My dads friend had one that was 20 or so years old that I used on a sheep hunt a few years back and when Zeiss decided to bring back this classic I had to jump on it. My son should  have it in his pack 20 years from now. My friend had a new Alpen spotter on that same trip and it was unreal how the 20 year old Zeiss Dialyt outperformed the new Alpen. We put them on the same Rams numerous times that trip. On several Rams quite a ways out with the Alpen you could only see a dark stripe where the horn crossed the muzzle whereas with the Zeiss we could see one side had lambs tips and the other side was broomed.

[JDHasty]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

We have a Vortex Razor HD 85 w/20-60 and 30WA-MOA eyepiece and a Leupold 12-40x60 and a Leupold compact 25x50 and I would suggest looking for a used Leupold Non HD 12-40x60 if you want to stay around $500.  It will serve you very well.   Don't worry about in being non ED or HD.   That is nice to have especially if you do a lot of bird watching too, but a non HD 12-40 will serve you just fine.    We use ours as much or more than the other spotting scopes. 

[Larry S.]

I just picked up a Zeiss Dialyt. The best glass in the industry, lightweight, economical, bombproof and quick and easy object acquisition.

My dads friend had one that was 20 or so years old that I used on a sheep hunt a few years back and when Zeiss decided to bring back this classic I had to jump on it. My son should  have it in his pack 20 years from now. My friend had a new Alpen spotter on that same trip and it was unreal how the 20 year old Zeiss Dialyt outperformed the new Alpen. We put them on the same Rams numerous times that trip. On several Rams quite a ways out with the Alpen you could only see a dark stripe where the horn crossed the muzzle whereas with the Zeiss we could see one side had lambs tips and the other side was broomed.

I second that. I'd been wanting a Dialyt for some time and finally just bit the bullet...and I'm never looking back. This thing is exactly what I need. Tough, clear, lightweight and did I mention tough? I think it might be just a bit less rugged than an Abrams tank. And the images are crystal clear at very long ranges.

[jay.sharkbait]

We did some long range target practice this weekend and the Swarovski spotters were fantastic.

I'd save and not compromise. The high quality optics allow you to spot effectively all day.

[Bigshooter]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

We have a Vortex Razor HD 85 w/20-60 and 30WA-MOA eyepiece and a Leupold 12-40x60 and a Leupold compact 25x50 and I would suggest looking for a used Leupold Non HD 12-40x60 if you want to stay around $500.  It will serve you very well.   Don't worry about in being non ED or HD.   That is nice to have especially if you do a lot of bird watching too, but a non HD 12-40 will serve you just fine.    We use ours as much or more than the other spotting scopes.

I had a Leupold 12-40×60 and really liked it until I put it next to my buddies leupold kenai last November while hunting mule deer.  His kenai was far superior to my 12-40×60.  So I sold my leupold and bought a razor and absolutely love it.

[JDHasty]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

We have a Vortex Razor HD 85 w/20-60 and 30WA-MOA eyepiece and a Leupold 12-40x60 and a Leupold compact 25x50 and I would suggest looking for a used Leupold Non HD 12-40x60 if you want to stay around $500.  It will serve you very well.   Don't worry about in being non ED or HD.   That is nice to have especially if you do a lot of bird watching too, but a non HD 12-40 will serve you just fine.    We use ours as much or more than the other spotting scopes.

I had a Leupold 12-40×60 and really liked it until I put it next to my buddies leupold kenai last November while hunting mule deer.  His kenai was far superior to my 12-40×60.  So I sold my leupold and bought a razor and absolutely love it.

We have a 12-40x60 Leupold that I got from Maschmedt for working a few shows for him back ~ 1992 and we have a Razor 85.  We still use the 12-40x60 a lot and it is an old pre HD scope.  The optical quality isn't any where near the Razor, or my buddy's two year old Swarro, but ya' know that old scope still works pretty darn well. 

[Jason]

Been super happy with my Nikon Field Scope III ED.

[JDHasty]

We have three portable spotting scopes again (we have a Unertl Team Scope http://unertl.alexweb.net/100team.htm but it is hardly portable) and we have three kids so I feel blessed to be able to set the kids up and not have to referee the battles.  The Leupold 12-40 is a very handy scope if you have to pack it any distance, the Razor 85 came so close to the Swaro that it was an easy decision to buy it.  That Razor 85 is not really packable.   

I just recently bought another 25X50 Leupold GR Armored to pack when I really want to minimize both bulk and weight.  I have had two (1 - 20x50 and 1 - 25x50 armored) stolen and hope this one lasts me the rest of my life.

If I had to get by with one scope I think the Leupold 12-40x60 HD would be pretty hard to beat.   

[Caretaker]

I just picked up the Leupold 12x40x60 this past week, haven't really tried it outside yet but I will this weekend bear hunting in Copalis.  I bought the Swarovski 30-70x95 two years ago and it had a wow factor off the charts, I could see Jupiter moons with it but I over bought, it wasn't really practical to carry due to size and weight and really big even to put on my truck window mount so I sold it and bought the Leupold for its all around use and packability.

[Bean Counter]

We did some long range target practice this weekend and the Swarovski spotters were fantastic.

I'd save and not compromise. The high quality optics allow you to spot effectively all day.

So JAY was the man on that 'grassy knoll' 

[JDHasty]

I just picked up the Leupold 12x40x60 this past week, haven't really tried it outside yet but I will this weekend bear hunting in Copalis.  I bought the Swarovski 30-70x95 two years ago and it had a wow factor off the charts, I could see Jupiter moons with it but I over bought, it wasn't really practical to carry due to size and weight and really big even to put on my truck window mount so I sold it and bought the Leupold for its all around use and packability.

I think you will really come to appreciate what that 12-40 GR has to offer. 

[bearpaw]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

Last November my truck was broken into in Montana, my Leupold 12-40 spotter on a Cabelas window mount, Swarovski 15x56 binos, a Mark V Stainless 340 Weatherby with Leupold 3-9 scope, Leica 1000 Rangefinder, fully adjustable trailer hitch, and 5 gallons of gas all stolen. I gave the police the numbers off the rifle in the police report but I have never heard anything back. I hate thieves! 

Fortunately homeowners insurance covered most of it, I purchased another Leupold 12-40 Spotter in the Billings Cabelas. I had Brotherhood Outdoors TV in Montana for a hunt when this happened, they called Swarovski who is one of their sponsors, who sold me a new pair of 15x at a huge discount and overnighted them to Montana by Fed EX at no charge, I had them by 10am the next morning, I was hugely impressed by Swarovski. I'm considering getting another Swarovski Spotter (newer version) to compliment the Leupold 12-40 HD.

The newer style Swarovski 15x binos are noticeably better than my older pair from 2003 that were stolen, better glass, better covers, and lighter weight, they are awesome. The new HD Leupold 12-40 Spotter is really not much better than the older one I bought in 1997, but I'm very glad to have one again and it came with a greatly improved cover, I love that lightweight compact spotter. I still haven't replaced the rifle, that particular rifle is no longer made and fairly tough to find. I'll probably have to buy the accumark which is a great rifle but more costly!

[Caretaker]

Yikes Bearpaw, that sucks, sorry to hear that.  Swarovski is a great company much like Leupold.

[JDHasty]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

Last November my truck was broken into in Montana, my Leupold 12-40 spotter on a Cabelas window mount, Swarovski 15x56 binos, a Mark V Stainless 340 Weatherby with Leupold 3-9 scope, Leica 1000 Rangefinder, fully adjustable trailer hitch, and 5 gallons of gas all stolen. I gave the police the numbers off the rifle in the police report but I have never heard anything back. I hate thieves! 

Fortunately homeowners insurance covered most of it, I purchased another Leupold 12-40 Spotter in the Billings Cabelas. I had Brotherhood Outdoors TV in Montana for a hunt when this happened, they called Swarovski who is one of their sponsors, who sold me a new pair of 15x at a huge discount and overnighted them to Montana by Fed EX at no charge, I had them by 10am the next morning, I was hugely impressed by Swarovski. I'm considering getting another Swarovski Spotter (newer version) to compliment the Leupold 12-40 HD.

The newer style Swarovski 15x binos are noticeably better than my older pair from 2003 that were stolen, better glass, better covers, and lighter weight, they are awesome. The new HD Leupold 12-40 Spotter is really not much better than the older one I bought in 1997, but I'm very glad to have one again and it came with a greatly improved cover, I love that lightweight compact spotter. I still haven't replaced the rifle, that particular rifle is no longer made and fairly tough to find. I'll probably have to buy the accumark which is a great rifle but more costly!

That Leupold 12-40 is a poster child for an optical instrument that way over performs in the field vs in the store.  Don't get me wrong, it looks pretty good in the store or at the shows, but the guys who use them in the field really love em'.  Me included.

And Swarro customer service - what can anyone ever say to give some of our better optical companies their due.  Swarro is one of those who you just know has your interests at heart.  OMG, they take a personal interest in your situation whether you are a long time customer, a first time shopper or someone who is in a position to do them a favor in the future.  Gotta love em'   

 

[jay.sharkbait]

We did some long range target practice this weekend and the Swarovski spotters were fantastic.

I'd save and not compromise. The high quality optics allow you to spot effectively all day.

So JAY was the man on that 'grassy knoll' 

 

If it was within a ten second time of flight it was in trouble.

[bearpaw]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

Last November my truck was broken into in Montana, my Leupold 12-40 spotter on a Cabelas window mount, Swarovski 15x56 binos, a Mark V Stainless 340 Weatherby with Leupold 3-9 scope, Leica 1000 Rangefinder, fully adjustable trailer hitch, and 5 gallons of gas all stolen. I gave the police the numbers off the rifle in the police report but I have never heard anything back. I hate thieves! 

Fortunately homeowners insurance covered most of it, I purchased another Leupold 12-40 Spotter in the Billings Cabelas. I had Brotherhood Outdoors TV in Montana for a hunt when this happened, they called Swarovski who is one of their sponsors, who sold me a new pair of 15x at a huge discount and overnighted them to Montana by Fed EX at no charge, I had them by 10am the next morning, I was hugely impressed by Swarovski. I'm considering getting another Swarovski Spotter (newer version) to compliment the Leupold 12-40 HD.

The newer style Swarovski 15x binos are noticeably better than my older pair from 2003 that were stolen, better glass, better covers, and lighter weight, they are awesome. The new HD Leupold 12-40 Spotter is really not much better than the older one I bought in 1997, but I'm very glad to have one again and it came with a greatly improved cover, I love that lightweight compact spotter. I still haven't replaced the rifle, that particular rifle is no longer made and fairly tough to find. I'll probably have to buy the accumark which is a great rifle but more costly!

That Leupold 12-40 is a poster child for an optical instrument that way over performs in the field vs in the store.  Don't get me wrong, it looks pretty good in the store or at the shows, but the guys who use them in the field really love em'.  Me included.

And Swarro customer service - what can anyone ever say to give some of our better optical companies their due.  Swarro is one of those who you just know has your interests at heart.  OMG, they take a personal interest in your situation whether you are a long time customer, a first time shopper or someone who is in a position to do them a favor in the future.  Gotta love em'

I've also had exceptional service from leupold in the past, I sent them my old spotter once for repairs and I've sent a couple scopes for repairs, every time the items were repaired at no charge even though the repairs needed were due to abuse. One of my guides had a damaged Leupold scope (not Leupold's fault), he sent it in to Leupold for repairs and they sent him a new scope at no charge! I would buy from Leupold or Swarovski with complete confidence in their products and service!

Not so much with Zeiss. My son had an older Zeiss binocular he sent in for repair and they kept them and sent back their cheaper model of binocular and charged him. He is still mad about that, none of us are likely to purchase from Zeiss again.

[JDHasty]

Buy a decent spotter or don't waste your money, save until you can get a good one! The cheap ones are hard to use for extended times and they simply are not clear enough. I would get no less than a Nikon. I like the Leopold 12x40x60 the best of all spotters. It's compact, lightweight, long lasting, and good enough to look through all day. I've had the same one for 17 years and still prefer it over more costly spotters due to the reasons stated. I had a Swarovski that was great but got tired of packing the bulk and the weight. 

Funny you should say that. I have a Leupold 12-40x60 HD spotter and a Swarovski 20-60x80 spotter. I use the Leupold much more. However, I had the Swarovski out this past weekend in the Blues looking at sheep, elk, and bears - and it sure was nice.

I'm in the same shoes as you two, except I went with the big Zeiss 85mm HD.  The Leupy is priceless and was worth every penny spent.

Last November my truck was broken into in Montana, my Leupold 12-40 spotter on a Cabelas window mount, Swarovski 15x56 binos, a Mark V Stainless 340 Weatherby with Leupold 3-9 scope, Leica 1000 Rangefinder, fully adjustable trailer hitch, and 5 gallons of gas all stolen. I gave the police the numbers off the rifle in the police report but I have never heard anything back. I hate thieves! 

Fortunately homeowners insurance covered most of it, I purchased another Leupold 12-40 Spotter in the Billings Cabelas. I had Brotherhood Outdoors TV in Montana for a hunt when this happened, they called Swarovski who is one of their sponsors, who sold me a new pair of 15x at a huge discount and overnighted them to Montana by Fed EX at no charge, I had them by 10am the next morning, I was hugely impressed by Swarovski. I'm considering getting another Swarovski Spotter (newer version) to compliment the Leupold 12-40 HD.

The newer style Swarovski 15x binos are noticeably better than my older pair from 2003 that were stolen, better glass, better covers, and lighter weight, they are awesome. The new HD Leupold 12-40 Spotter is really not much better than the older one I bought in 1997, but I'm very glad to have one again and it came with a greatly improved cover, I love that lightweight compact spotter. I still haven't replaced the rifle, that particular rifle is no longer made and fairly tough to find. I'll probably have to buy the accumark which is a great rifle but more costly!

That Leupold 12-40 is a poster child for an optical instrument that way over performs in the field vs in the store.  Don't get me wrong, it looks pretty good in the store or at the shows, but the guys who use them in the field really love em'.  Me included.

And Swarro customer service - what can anyone ever say to give some of our better optical companies their due.  Swarro is one of those who you just know has your interests at heart.  OMG, they take a personal interest in your situation whether you are a long time customer, a first time shopper or someone who is in a position to do them a favor in the future.  Gotta love em'

I've also had exceptional service from leupold in the past, I sent them my old spotter once for repairs and I've sent a couple scopes for repairs, every time the items were repaired at no charge even though the repairs needed were due to abuse. One of my guides had a damaged Leupold scope (not Leupold's fault), he sent it in to Leupold for repairs and they sent him a new scope at no charge! I would buy from Leupold or Swarovski with complete confidence in their products and service!

Not so much with Zeiss. My son had an older Zeiss binocular he sent in for repair and they kept them and sent back their cheaper model of binocular and charged him. He is still mad about that, none of us are likely to purchase from Zeiss again.

Oh yea, I have even had trouble getting them to take my money when I insisted on paying for damage that was ion no way related to any manufacturer's defect what so ever.