Spotting Scope Recommendations?

[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.