bi-spotting scope set up

[halflife65]

High Country - what did you like best and why?  I have the $$ (after a couple of years of saving) to finally being really close to purchasing one.  If I want a Swaro 80mm I need to save a bit more but everything else (including the 65mm) is in range.  I'm kind of hoping someone will pipe up with something that I haven't thought about (like you saying the EDG scope body sucks) since I already will be looking through all of them before I make a final purchase.

Swaro, Leica, Leupold, Zeiss, Nikon - what other medium to higher-end scopes should I be considering?  $1k+ type range.

[high country]

I have not seen an edg spotter, just the binos.....the binos optics are tippy top shelf. The body design is stupid. I like the big binos for hunting. When hunting you spend or should spend hours behind your glass. The binos allow me to do it without fatigue. I can spot a bullet hole in paper at 300 yds with my 15x56 binos, and I can tell a good buck from a few miles if the light is right. I would not give up a spotted for binos on a sheep hunt where I had to count rings, but for picking a 150 buck from a 130 I can do it from a mile any day. I was most impressed with my 12x50 leica binos for the size vs weight....they are not swaro 15's but.....VERY close. I found the pf80ed to be the best bang for the buck in spotters before the Chinese stuff showed up. I have never looked through Chinese glass, but hear it is decent. If I were buying a spotted today I would go kowa tsn for a big one, NIKON or big 3 for mids and in binos the big swaro is tops by a wee bit. A pair of 12x50 leicas or minox 13's would make my cut for value too.

[halflife65]

Thanks high country.  I'm the proud owner of a pair of 10x42 SLCs already (although I may upgrade to 10x or 12x50 ELs - depending on what I spend for the spotter).  At this point, it's probably between the Nikon and the big 3, although I'll take a look at the Kowa if I can find a place that sells them.

[Bean Counter]

I happen to like the body on the EDG, so I'm curious what's not to like about it 

What blows me away about my pair of EDG is that it is 10x32 and has a field of view of around 340' at 1,000 yards. Many mid-range 8x42s only boast a 340' FOV. So I have something that is lighter, more compact, magnifies more, and I don't have to sacrifice FOV or brightness

Half--you should look into the Pentax. Only because I'm selfish and I want to hear a review of those things 

[high country]

I would vet sick trying to use my 12x50 binos without a tripod, I would consider 8,10x as your primary and the big eyes for detail work....as stand alone they are too tough to hold still.

The edg body chips easy. The had a total brain cramp when they left out the 100% armor. Mine will be one year old soon and look 20, but they flat work. If they were armored like leica geovids, they would be the absolute envy of all.....oh, and the obj covers fall off and butler creeks will not fit like on my leicas. Far from a deal breaker,  but annoying.

[MtnMuley]

halflife65 -- I researched and looked through every spotter before I bought mine.  Overall, I liked the Zeiss HD 20-60x85mm the best. 

You need look through them all before pulling the trigger.

[halflife65]

Yeah, I'll definitely look through them all, mtnmuley.  What made you pick the Zeiss?  Just optical quality or were there other features that factored in?  Size, weight, etc.

high country - I was worried about the ability to hold them still and even heat waves with the 12x so I'd most likely go 10x.

[MtnMuley]

Optical quality.  I wanted a big HD spotter, so size and weight wasn't a factor.  Also, it was much cheaper than my next choice, the Swaro.  I've got some in's on some demo European glass also if you're interested.  Full warranty is included. 

[jjhunter]

I thought these were cool.
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-votrs-kit-2

 The outdoorsman quick detach system does the same thing, but more functional.  I can be glassing with my 15's, spot a buck way out, release my 15s and replace with my spotter and be right on the critter on 20x.   Slight tweaking and power adjustment and I am golden in seconds.   When scouting, I just keep my 15s/outdoorsman together and my STS 80 HD/Swaro tripod together and grab whatever I need at the time.   I also have an adapter for my Zeiss RF 10x45 if I just want to pack my 10s and spotter into the high country.

[halflife65]

Optical quality.  I wanted a big HD spotter, so size and weight wasn't a factor.  Also, it was much cheaper than my next choice, the Swaro.  I've got some in's on some demo European glass also if you're interested.  Full warranty is included.

Well, ended up with a 20x60 x 80 Swaro HD.  Got a screaming deal on it, so I'm pretty happy.

Thanks for the offer, MtnMuley - in fact, I bought a Leica 1600 demo model earlier this year from cameralandny and got a good deal.  I'll try to remember this so that when I save up for the upgrade from the 10x42s to the 10x50s maybe I can find a deal...    Between the range finder and the spotter I've spent enough money until next year, though. 

[MtnMuley]

One feature I really like about the Swaro, is you can add the flip up camera adapter and shoot the best quality digiscope pics with your pack camera while on your hunting/scouting trips.  Also, that 1600 is Leica's best by a landslide so far.

[Bean Counter]

Optical quality.  I wanted a big HD spotter, so size and weight wasn't a factor.  Also, it was much cheaper than my next choice, the Swaro.  I've got some in's on some demo European glass also if you're interested.  Full warranty is included.

Well, ended up with a 20x60 x 80 Swaro HD.  Got a screaming deal on it, so I'm pretty happy.

Thanks for the offer, MtnMuley - in fact, I bought a Leica 1600 demo model earlier this year from cameralandny and got a good deal.  I'll try to remember this so that when I save up for the upgrade from the 10x42s to the 10x50s maybe I can find a deal...    Between the range finder and the spotter I've spent enough money until next year, though.

Halflife65: my new huntin' guide! 

[halflife65]

I don't know about being any sort of guide   

However, I'm a bowhunter that just likes to hunt.  If a rifle hunter wanted someone with a pair of binoculars, a spotting scope, a good pack board and no weapon to come along just to help spot game I'd be happy to do so.  Just to be clear - I'd be asking NOTHING in return other than the chance to see someone shoot something.

I am trying to work around a couple of buddies schedules that are also rifle hunters and I'm planning on a trip to Idaho in late Oct. so it would all hinge on timing.

[Bean Counter]

LOL well I feel the same way. Even if  I hunt solo I've noticed changes in the ways I hunt. Normally to get up as high as I can and just glass