Both have advantages and both have disadvantages. I happen to own both and can see the value in this simple sight.
The topic of straight vs angled comes up here from time to time. For hunting most individuals do prefer a straight scope. But to make a blanket statement regarding the choice being nonexistent is to not do service to the topic.
Angled scopes can be more user friendly when using a spotter mounted on a window mount when sitting behind the wheel of a truck.
Again, I have both a Leupold 12-40x60 Gold Ring and a Vortex Razor 85 angled scope and have used both that way. The Razor tripod mount is on a ring that can be loosened and the eyepiece tilted over so that I don't have to bend quite so far around and that can be a big plus. I didn't recognize the value of this until I had used the Razor that way. BUT, I will be the first to admit that getting it lined up when set up that way does take some getting used to.
The other place that an angled scope has it all over a straight scope is when backpacking. When all I have is my Leupold Packer Tripod along. That tripod only sits a foot, or so, above what it is sitting on. For many years I had a succession of the old Leupold 20 or 25x50 compact spotters that were straight through scopes. Many are the times that I was laying prone trying to look at something in the distance.
This was very uncomfortable and after my third Leupold Compact was stolen I had a chance to hunt with a guy who has a 12-33x50 angled Razor or Nikon spotter, I forget which, and let me tell you this - being able to sit Indian style, or with my knees bent in front of me, and look through his scope mounted on my Packer Tripod made an impression on me that has slowed down my rush to go out and buy another Leupold Compact Spotter on the used market.
At this juncture, I am not so certain of what I will buy. It will either be another, or more likely, it will be an angled Vortex or Nikon 12-33x50.
The reason I am considering another Leupold is because I know that that scope can survive anything I can throw at it. The reason for the other is because of the way it treated my back. I also pack a Gorilla Pod along and both would be equal for my purpose when a standing height tree branch or sapling is available to wrap that Gorilla Pod around. But then let us consider wind - getting a spotter down low can be a good thing. Particularly because all compact spotters have such a limited eye box and FOV. Put them up high and fighting blackout is the norm in the wind and vibration will also come into play, having a narrow FOV just makes vibration frustrating even for a guy that keeps both eyes open and ignores optics shake. Keep both eyes open and concentrate on the subject and image shake is not so much image shake as it is optics shake and can be dealt with... with practice.
So there is a choice to be had.
I saw this post that I linked and thought to myself that it is a valuable little bit of info. Then, if we take into account that some of us here own an angled spotter, many of us who bought it for range work - where we have all the time in the world to get it lined up. Hey, that spotter may just be perfectly fine - if they can get it lined up efficiently.
I said: Hey this is worthy of posting.
My Razor has a "straw" peep, as do a lot of contemporary spotters, but have you ever tried to use one in the field? And our old angled B&L has rudimentary sights cast into it front and rear, but this little ten cent trick is a much to be preferred option for field use.
Since you brought it up, when the question is posed to me: Angled or straight? My answer is probably straight, but maybe an angled scope would be better for you. I just cannot give you an answer of what I would suggest w/o discussing what your circumstances are.
Then, if we leave the topic of a scope strictly for hunting behind: Do you have youngsters that you spend time out of doors with? OK, if the question is which - my kids have benefitted from my pre marriage and kids disposable income status to just buy what ever I wanted whenever the itch needed scratching. And as such, except after my THIRD Leupold Compact Spotting Scope was stolen and we only had one scope, I had a 12-40x60 to set up for the kids on a short tripod (you just try to give them the little scope while you are looking through the big one) and the Compact set up at my eye level.
The reason I came to own an angled Razor is because I was chatting with a Vortex rep about replacing the scope that was stolen with a straight 12-33x50 Razor and he said: perhaps your family would benefit more from owning an angled scope and he did not leave it at that - he said "I don't have a compact I can leave you with right now, take my Razor 85 for a couple weeks and I will pick it up next time I am in Tacoma."
The long and short of that interaction is that an angled Razor 85 is now residing in our safe and we, as a family, use it ten times as much as the old Gold Ring. Let's just leave it at: I am still on the fence regarding a scope for packing in on my back. I like my hunting, but I like my kids more. I put off getting a CZ 527 in 17 Hornet and a packable scope for a later date. ABC, Always Be Closing, and even though the deal I cut left Vortex precious little profit - they knew that getting this scope in our family's hands permanently was going to pay off down the road.
Looking at the heavens w/my kids no longer means that I will be on my knees. Sharing one scope now means that I sit in a chair and look down and line it up and my kids (and other tag alongs) just walk up and take their turn after I have lined it up and focused it. My old back most certainly was worth the investment alone. I can sit in a chair or on a stool or even kneel on one knee and line that scope up and focus it on a herd of elk or a bear and then the kids can walk over and take a look without me massaging my back and rubbing my knees while they are fighting over who's turn it is to look.
So, the choice is a legitimate question and when a family makes a final decision, and they have my input to go on, they know what they will be giving up and what they will gain, before money changes hands. My hope is what makes the best sense for that family will be made.
You betcha' you will have to suffer looking down at a far hillside from a landing with an angled scope. No doubt about that, and that is why when I go elk hunting the straight Leupold goes with - unless most of that will be from the driver's seat of my F150. In those cases where I know I will be able to pull up on a landing, I prefer to use the angled scope leaned over, and sit there in relative comfort with my heater running full blast. If I have to get out and set up a tripod, I want that Leupold on the tripod. It isn't even a close call.
I have both scopes in the truck when elk hunting and of this I know which config I prefer for each circumstance. Either is usable, it depends on what is your particular circumstance. If you will only have one scope available which is preferred?
It all depends on your circumstances.
Consider this before you make blanket statements on this topic: I shoot chucks with a man who suffers diabetes. He used to use our old angled 20 power B&L all the time, even though it has a narrow FOV from the truck, even though I had quit using it ~ 1992 when I got the 12-40 Gold Ring.
Now that I have the angled Razor I understand why, it is more comfortable for him to sit in the truck and spot with. He can sit there from dusk to dawn, and when he see's something in his binocular he will line up the scope and get me on target without a lot of twisting himself into a pretzel. And, with the practice he has gotten he is just as fast lining up an angled scope as he would be with a comparable straight through scope. Given that he much prefers that old B&L to my 12-40 Gold Ring with it's massive FOV at 12 power - that say's something for the value of giving consideration to an angled scope depending on what a person perceives their future needs to be. Does it not?
But I diverge. This little ten cent trick is valuable knowledge.
