Which Spotter?

[Wanttohuntmore]

Vortex Viper 15x45hd, Nikon ED50, or Leupold 12-40/60mm HD?  Tell me your experiences w/em.  Currently using an xlspotter by nikon...

[Jason]

I have used Both the Viper HD and the ED50 and both are very good, but I would give the nod to the Viper HD because it's a 65mm objective and has more zoom, but you cant go wrong either way. But the ED50 is lighter and more compact and would be my choice for back country hunts.

[jager]

Here is my 
I have the same Nikon spotter. I've had two in the last 20 years. They have served me well. There are better...that's why you are looking. 
Before my elk hunt this year I decided that I needed a new one...I checked out several brands up to $2500.
I only use a spotting scope a few times a year..unless I'm doing an out of state hunt.
I couldn't bring myself to spend $2500 on a scope. I had already spent a lot for the trip at that point...that and that's a lot of money!
I checked a ton of online reviews and decided to buy a Zen-Ray, ZEN ED2 20-60x82. Just under a thousand bucks....
This thing is fantastic!
Relatively "compact" - nothing like the spotter xl especially with a tripod..but doable. Smaller than most I looked at.
Image was clear even at max power. Virtually no edge distortion. Bright even at max power...comes with a great field case...
I really can't say enough good things about this spotter.
Do a google search...
Here's a couple ...


http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=188349
http://www.opticstalk.com/theron-zen-ray-and-kowa-spotters_topic26955.html

[nwwanderer]

I use my Kowa TSN 663 every day.  Great scope.  Try Liberty Optics in Montana.

[Jason]

Here is my 
I have the same Nikon spotter. I've had two in the last 20 years. They have served me well. There are better...that's why you are looking. 
Before my elk hunt this year I decided that I needed a new one...I checked out several brands up to $2500.
I only use a spotting scope a few times a year..unless I'm doing an out of state hunt.
I couldn't bring myself to spend $2500 on a scope. I had already spent a lot for the trip at that point...that and that's a lot of money!
I checked a ton of online reviews and decided to buy a Zen-Ray, ZEN ED2 20-60x82. Just under a thousand bucks....
This thing is fantastic!
Relatively "compact" - nothing like the spotter xl especially with a tripod..but doable. Smaller than most I looked at.
Image was clear even at max power. Virtually no edge distortion. Bright even at max power...comes with a great field case...
I really can't say enough good things about this spotter.

Glass is almost the same in both the Vortex HD and the ED2, but the major downfall to the ED2 is the weight, that dude is a tank, maybe they will come out with a lighter 65mm model of the ED2.

[jager]

ED2 is 64 oz
Razor is 65.7
Viper is 63 oz
TSN 663 44.92 oz

These are all the same magnification...20x60

ED50 is only 30x and 16 oz

A "good" quality tripod that will steady the vibration is going to be 3+lbs.