Leupold spotter recommendation

[Bean Counter]

Nothing, and I mean NOT A THING, in the spotting scope world will best a 15x56 Swaro SLC or Vortex Kaibab or 15x60 Zeiss bgat for looking for chucks, prairie dogs or most all big game. 

You're entitled to like whatever you want in the optics industry, but I'm wondering how many different brands you've actually looked through. I've held my Nikon EDG next to Swaros in the same quality of light and the Nikon blew the Swaro away.

[JDHasty]

Nothing, and I mean NOT A THING, in the spotting scope world will best a 15x56 Swaro SLC or Vortex Kaibab or 15x60 Zeiss bgat for looking for chucks, prairie dogs or most all big game. 

You're entitled to like whatever you want in the optics industry, but I'm wondering how many different brands you've actually looked through. I've held my Nikon EDG next to Swaros in the same quality of light and the Nikon blew the Swaro away.

I happen to own an 8x42 Nikon EDG II binocular and purchased it after comparing it to the best Leica, Zeiss & Swarovski have to offer.   I have not only looked through them  in a store, I own them and I also own and use use Swaro, Leica, Zeiss, Leupold, Vortex and other quality optical instruments in the field.

 I'm wondering if you've actually compared a high quality big eyes binocular, such as a Swaro or Vortex or Zeiss 15x56 roof or a Zeiss bgat or Docter 15x60 porro, against any spotting scope IN THE FIELD.  My guess is that you have not.  You are  entitled to your opinion, irrespective of how that opinion was developed.  When I offered my opinion, that opinion was based upon actual field experience. 

I don't know what "quality of light" you were comparing a Nikon EDG to a Swaro in, but nothing blows a Swaro SLC or EL away.  I personally preferred the Nikon EDG, but it most certainly didn't "blow away" any of the other binoculars I was considering at the time.   

The individual who is asking for advice here would probably appreciate it if people who are trying to give him a bit of helpful advice "keep it real." 

[Bean Counter]

Sure have, along with Leica, Zeiss, etc 
Chromatic aberrations (lateral color fringing) were far, far worse with the Swaro that I looked through. The Nikon was much crisper all the way to the edge, as well. Just my experience.

[carpsniperg2]

I bought the Kenai spotter kit. comes with a fixed 30 lenses and 25-65. I really like it the only think I wish is a bigger tripod in the kit. Most are only sitting height of course.

With his discount it will 50% off full msrp. So make sure you shop around. Sometimes you can find sales and better deals then 50% off full msrp.

[Bob33]

Differences between the images in alpha glass (Swarovski, Leica, top end Nikon, top end Zeiss) are slight and are most likely due to differences in the viewer’s eyes. While everyone is entitled to an opinion, it’s not credible to state that objectively speaking any one of the alphas blows away any of the other alphas (not that anyone here has.)

There have been far too many objective reviews, and professional opinions expressed to conclude anything other than the differences are slight.

I know people that think the image in a $50 Bushnell is better than the view through a Swarovski EL binocular.

Back on topic, Leupold is not considered to be “alpha glass”. The Gold Ring HD spotting scope optics are very good, and offer some compelling advantages with respect to size, eye relief, and other factors.

[Bean Counter]

I think how someone uses their glass will affect their perception, in addition to brand loyalty of course  If Vandeman needs something extremely portable for a backpacking hunt the Leupold may be the best spotter on the market for him as they're incredibly compact.

When I'm in northern Arizona's elk country I don't even bother to bring my spotter, but for a deer hunt in the southern half of the state I often hike up one single hill in the morning and then spend 8-9 hours that day with my optics glued to my ugly mug. a quick glance through at mid day won't often yield perceptible differences, but for sustained glassing the binoculars collimation as well as all the myriad optical characteristics will definitely identify what works and what doesn't.

[JDHasty]

Differences between the images in alpha glass (Swarovski, Leica, top end Nikon, top end Zeiss) are slight and are most likely due to differences in the viewer’s eyes. While everyone is entitled to an opinion, it’s not credible to state that objectively speaking any one of the alphas blows away any of the other alphas (not that anyone here has.)

There have been far too many objective reviews, and professional opinions expressed to conclude anything other than the differences are slight.

I know people that think the image in a $50 Bushnell is better than the view through a Swarovski EL binocular.

Back on topic, Leupold is not considered to be “alpha glass”. The Gold Ring HD spotting scope optics are very good, and offer some compelling advantages with respect to size, eye relief, and other factors.

   Good synopsis.  What the Leupold 12-40X60 gives up in optical quality is obvious to me when looking through it side by side (in the field) w/alpha spotters.  But it has other features that IMHO make it one of the best options for a hunting spotting scope.  We have a Unertl Team Spotting scope and the view through it is pretty skookum, like I have never seen anything that compares, but it most definitely isn't even in the running when the topic is what is the best scope for chuck and PD shooting and big game hunting or even for range sessions.

 

[JDHasty]

.... While everyone is entitled to an opinion, it’s not credible to state that objectively speaking any one of the alphas blows away any of the other alphas (not that anyone here has.)

"I've held my Nikon EDG next to Swaros in the same quality of light and the Nikon blew the Swaro away."

Yes someone has. 

[Bob33]

.... While everyone is entitled to an opinion, it’s not credible to state that objectively speaking any one of the alphas blows away any of the other alphas (not that anyone here has.)

"I've held my Nikon EDG next to Swaros in the same quality of light and the Nikon blew the Swaro away."

Yes someone has.

I took that as an opinion.

[jstone]

Ok i have been on the fence to. Most of these coments have answered my questions BUT i am going to spend 600-700 on a spotter. Vortex HD or Leupold?

[Bean Counter]

Whether X brand is better than Y can become quite subjective based on the totality of someones priorities  out of their optics. Color fidelity seems to top the list for bird watchers.  Relative brightness  and exit pupil might be more important to one user than another, particularly if their hunt hinges on the first and last moments of daylight. To me, nothing is more frustrating than attempting to discern antler points at a distance and that being spoiled by lateral color fringing turning the points fuzzy. Maybe the Swaro I looked through was a bad copy but by any objective standard the Nikon controlled chromatic aberration far better than Swarovski. I don't see how a specific trait like that can be subjective 

Ok i have been on the fence to. Most of these coments have answered my questions BUT i am going to spend 600-700 on a spotter. Vortex HD or Leupold?

Both companies would take care of you service wise. I'd go with whichever you can find a used HD copy at a screaming deal. 

[Bob33]

Ok i have been on the fence to. Most of these coments have answered my questions BUT i am going to spend 600-700 on a spotter. Vortex HD or Leupold?

Without some form of discount you're not going to get a Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60 scope for $600 to $700, so if that's you budget you're better off with Vortex.

(Leupold does offer discounts to hunter education instructors....just a hint.)

[JDHasty]

Ok i have been on the fence to. Most of these coments have answered my questions BUT i am going to spend 600-700 on a spotter. Vortex HD or Leupold?

You are probably looking at a Viper HD and it has a really neat, short, piece of Weaver rail that you can put an old pistol scope on and use that to line it up with.  I have used that scope so outfitted and it worked great for that.  I am not familiar w/the Leupold offering at that price point, so cannot offer a comparison on the two and when I used the Viper it was mid day on a chuck colony so my observations would not going to be of much use other than I really liked that Weaver accessory rail.

Hopefully there are individuals who have used the Viper 65 HD Spotter during the twilight hours.  i.e. dusk and dawn who can give you an honest assessment of how well it performs under field conditions.   

[WAcoueshunter]

I think what got missed in the banter about brands was what I took as JDHasty's main point, i.e., that 15's are more useful than a spotter.  I couldn't agree more.  Unfortunately for the OP, I don't think Leupold makes a high end pair of larger binos that you'd put on a tripod.  But for others that are not limited to a certain brand because of the discount, the 15's will help you see a lot more animals at normal glassing distances. 

[JDHasty]

I think what got missed in the banter about brands was what I took as JDHasty's main point, i.e., that 15's are more useful than a spotter.  I couldn't agree more.  Unfortunately for the OP, I don't think Leupold makes a high end pair of larger binos that you'd put on a tripod.  But for others that are not limited to a certain brand because of the discount, the 15's will help you see a lot more animals at normal glassing distances.

Everybody that has used ours says they are a game changer.   I could not agree more, I thought about it for north of a decade before finally getting them and sure wish I had done it earlier.