Backcountry spotting scopes

[swift]

I've been looking at the Vortex Razor 11-33 because of the weight
Any feedback on it ? I'm a little worried about 33 power being enough magnification

[bankwalker]

I was just at sportsman warehouse looking through that very spotter. Aswell as the viper hd 15-45x65. Weight was obviously a big difference between the two. The razor is about 1/2 the size in comparison.
The view through the razor imo was junk compared to the viper hd. Having both set at the same power +/- a couple.
The higher optical lense made a huge difference in the quality of view and the field of view. Which I personally did not expect to be that big of a difference having no experience with spotters.

I would definitely go with something a little bit bigger over a less weight just based on the field of view

[X-Force]

11-33x50 is not enough to really pick apart the back country during season imo. It's OK for summer and early season scouting. During season you will want more power with a larger objective so you can actually see what your looking at.

[coachcw]

Pack good glass and shave wieght else where

[MtnMuley]

Definately go with a backcountry spotter in the 12-40×60 mm or 15-45×65mm size. Depending on the hunt, even the 20-60x80mm.

[huntnnw]

I pack my spotter in on some hunts and dont skimp due to size. I deal with it and the weight...its worth having a good spotter in the backcountry instead of killing your body getting closer to everything you see to get a better look

[jackelope]

I agree. Go with the bigger one. I've tried both and definitely prefer the bigger glass. It's not "bigger enough" to make a difference. I have a 20-60x60.

[xXLojackXx]

Get the best spotter you can afford with a 65-80mm objective. Big difference in the field between a 50mm and a 65 or 80.

[fillthefreezer]

i havent looked through the 50mm razors. for guys that have, at what zoom does the image crap out?

[xXLojackXx]

i havent looked through the 50mm razors. for guys that have, at what zoom does the image crap out?

Id give it about 20-22

[bearpaw]

I used to carry a Swarovski but got tired of the size and weight, I down graded to a Leupold 10x42x60 and love it. It is clear even at 40x, small and lightweight. You can usually find them on ebay or other places used for $600 to $900 depending on condition.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/spotting-scopes/gr-spotting-scopes/gr-12-40x60mm/

[Bob33]

I used to carry a Swarovski but got tired of the size and weight, I down graded to a Leupold 10x42x60 and love it. It is clear even at 40x, small and lightweight. You can usually find them on ebay or other places used for $600 to $900 depending on condition.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/spotting-scopes/gr-spotting-scopes/gr-12-40x60mm/

I have a Swarovski 20-60x80, and a Leupold 12-40x60 HD. The Swarovski glass is great, no question. The advantages of the Leupold are (1) lighter, (2) smaller, especially due to the Folded Light Path design, (3) greater field of view at 12x, (4) greater eye relief due to the FLP design. I generally never carry the Swarovski into the backcountry. Comparing apples to apples, there are other 60mm scopes out there that are as light as the Leupold. Few are as small or have as much eye relief.

[Magnum_Willys]

With good eyes you will notice a significant improvement with the Swaro HD over the Leupold.  With 50+ year old eyes you mite not see much difference. 

[bearpaw]

I used to carry a Swarovski but got tired of the size and weight, I down graded to a Leupold 10x42x60 and love it. It is clear even at 40x, small and lightweight. You can usually find them on ebay or other places used for $600 to $900 depending on condition.

http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/spotting-scopes/gr-spotting-scopes/gr-12-40x60mm/

I have a Swarovski 20-60x80, and a Leupold 12-40x60 HD. The Swarovski glass is great, no question. The advantages of the Leupold are (1) lighter, (2) smaller, especially due to the Folded Light Path design, (3) greater field of view at 12x, (4) greater eye relief due to the FLP design. I generally never carry the Swarovski into the backcountry. Comparing apples to apples, there are other 60mm scopes out there that are as light as the Leupold. Few are as small or have as much eye relief.

   Exactly what I had except my Lpd is an original, not the HD, no doubt the Swaro is clearer, I do like their optics and have others, but the Leupold works just fine on the highest power and is much easier to fit and carry. Even though I use spotters almost daily for several months per year, I sold my 80mm swaro spotter, I didn't use it often enough. I can always upgrade again someday if I see the need but for now the old Lpld does just fine, I'm able to find and judge game well enough at several miles distance.

[WapitiTalk1]

In the for what it's worth category, I own a Vortex Razor HD Spotting Scope (angled) 11-33x50 and love it.  1.65 lbs, compact, and seemingly pretty darn powerfull and clear to me.  When I hunt backcountry in N ID or NW MT, I can reach out and scope any opposing sidehill, draw, or ridgetop effectively that I've came across.  Now is it the best choice for scanning the open tundra or opposing mountains in more open environments?  Probably not but for backcountry packing weight/size considerations and performance, it's the best little scope I've used.  Just my .02.       

[Okanagan]

FWIW, if I didn't own a spotting scope I would consider taking a better zoom camera than putting the money into a spotting scope.  I use binos a lot and then zoom in to check details with the spotting scope, and seldom just scan with the spotter. 

My grandson opened my eyes to camera possibilities.  We were looking at several elk 3/4 mile away with binos when I opined that one of them might be a bull.  "The one on the left is a three point," said the 14 year old, "and the second from the left is a tall spike."   I was rummaging to set up my spotting scope and was surprised at how he knew.

He showed me his camera.  He had zoomed in for a photo, then zoomed in on the recorded pic on his little screen, and a three point velvet rack of antlers was clear as can be.  Furthermore, we had all the time we wanted to study that view of the elk.

Ditto to identifying a big raptor perched in a snag way across a river.  With a zoom camera I could look at details and take it home to compare with online bird pics. 

[Bob33]

What we all want is a scope that is as bright as day at midnight, has eye popping resolution and contrast, weighs 16 ounces, fits in a shirt pocket, has six inches of eye relief, and costs less than $500.

Sign me up.

[grundy53]

What we all want is a scope that is as bright as day at midnight, has eye popping resolution and contrast, weighs 16 ounces, fits in a shirt pocket, has six inches of eye relief, and costs less than $500.

Sign me up.

I'll take one too!

[westsidehntr]

What we all want is a scope that is as bright as day at midnight, has eye popping resolution and contrast, weighs 16 ounces, fits in a shirt pocket, has six inches of eye relief, and costs less than $500.

Sign me up.

  I mean, come on, we can land on the moon but can't make the spotting scope we all want?

[xXLojackXx]

What we all want is a scope that is as bright as day at midnight, has eye popping resolution and contrast, weighs 16 ounces, fits in a shirt pocket, has six inches of eye relief, and costs less than $500.

Sign me up.

  No kidding. Until then, this will be in my bag 

[swift]

Well looks like I'll be using what I have !! A viper HD 15-45x65 I was just looking at shaving some weight
I got the weight saving "bug" new Quilt,pad,tent,water filtration,pack,ect  reengineered my whole system and thought why stop there 😜
I've got it down to 26.6# no water,food, spotter,gun
3 days food 64oz water,viper spotter,300 ultra mag I'm still just under 46# so I'm happy with that !! And could drop 2.5-3 in a rifle change but that's not an option 😝

[7mag.]

Well looks like I'll be using what I have !! A viper HD 15-45x65 I was just looking at shaving some weight
I got the weight saving "bug" new Quilt,pad,tent,water filtration,pack,ect  reengineered my whole system and thought why stop there 😜
I've got it down to 26.6# no water,food, spotter,gun
3 days food 64oz water,viper spotter,300 ultra mag I'm still just under 46# so I'm happy with that !! And could drop 2.5-3 in a rifle change but that's not an option 😝

That's about the same weight for me for a 5 day hunt. One place I don't cut weight, is optics.

[xXLojackXx]

I left the spotter at home last year and went 10 days on 49.5#. You can easily cut more if you really wanted to.