Spotting scopes

[scudmaster]

The Forums on www.OpticsPlanet.com has great reviews and no apparent brand loyalty.  Anyone can post and Joni, who does the spotting scope testing, comparisons and reviews will respond.  I bought a scope they recommended based on the low weight requirement for backpack hunting.

A Kowa 602 with the TE-9z 20-60 eyepiece.  Whole thing under 3 lbs for around $750.  

Can't beat a Swaro or Leica for clarity, but sometimes that is not the only requirement to consider.

Scud

[elk311]

I'm surprised that everyone is very adiment about buying the Lieca or Swaro spotters when someone talks about a lightweight durable scope.  I know these high dollar scopes are very clear and have great morning/evening glassing features but what about that fact that they are big and heavy.  It doesnt seem to be a concern to most.  Must be doing quite a bit of hunting close to the pickup on the flat land??  You spend most of your time glassing with binos and spotters are used most of the time to zoom in on an animal to see whether it's worthy of a stalk or not.  I can tell the difference between a good animal at 1500-2000 yds with a $700 scope, if you can't then he's probably not worth going after.  I would say buy the $700 light Nikon or Leupold and spend that extra money you were going to spend on the Leica and put it into your binos since they are pressed against your face 75% of the time your glassing.  I have been without a spotting scope all season struggling with which one to buy as well.  $2,000 or $700? back and forth I have struggled also and I have no problem spending money on good gear but this just doesn't make all that much sense to me especially being a backpack type hunter where weight and size is a big concern.  I would think the Leica or swaro was great also if it's mounted to the window of a pickup or a mule packs it in for you.  Just my

I have bought about 6 scopes over the years starting with $29 bushnells. Finally I absorbed what everyone else was writting about, bit the bullet and bought an HD Swaro 80. It is by far the lightest scope of all of them and I will continue to pack it whereever I go. Tripods far outweigh my scope.

[MtnMuley]

I'm surprised that everyone is very adiment about buying the Lieca or Swaro spotters when someone talks about a lightweight durable scope.  I know these high dollar scopes are very clear and have great morning/evening glassing features but what about that fact that they are big and heavy.  It doesnt seem to be a concern to most.  Must be doing quite a bit of hunting close to the pickup on the flat land??  You spend most of your time glassing with binos and spotters are used most of the time to zoom in on an animal to see whether it's worthy of a stalk or not.  I can tell the difference between a good animal at 1500-2000 yds with a $700 scope, if you can't then he's probably not worth going after.  I would say buy the $700 light Nikon or Leupold and spend that extra money you were going to spend on the Leica and put it into your binos since they are pressed against your face 75% of the time your glassing.  I have been without a spotting scope all season struggling with which one to buy as well.  $2,000 or $700? back and forth I have struggled also and I have no problem spending money on good gear but this just doesn't make all that much sense to me especially being a backpack type hunter where weight and size is a big concern.  I would think the Leica or swaro was great also if it's mounted to the window of a pickup or a mule packs it in for you.  Just my

Agreed. Good wrtie up.