Post by: wilsongideon on June 17, 2013, 10:52:11 PM
a 60mm spotting scope that wieghs less then my binoculars? 22 oz is light!!! :drool: So I am a big fan of the saying you get what you pay for, what is the catch with this spotter? I have to admit I do like Nikons I think their glass is extremely clear and bright, but this lightweight spotter at the price seems to good to be true. What do you guys think? I have been doing alot of research on lightwieght spotters but decided that 60 mm was the smallest light gathering end I would consider. I looked at the vortex and leaupolds, nikons because I like what I hear about those brands and have used them myself (except for vortex but I like what I hear) from what I can gather from those 3: Leaupolds are proven, Nikons are semi-proven in the hunting world and liked by many, Vortexs are the new hot commodity due to price warrenty and service. what am I missing. Swaro would be my number one choice but its out of budget. I really dont wanna go with a brand I havent proven, like pentax, alpen, Minox etc although I am sure there are some great affordable scopes in those lines though.
Post by: JoeE on June 18, 2013, 05:25:05 AM
Post by: Huntnfolk on June 18, 2013, 05:22:29 PM
Overall I thought the glass was good. Depending on distance to target, I did find it was hard to focus sometimes when zoomed all the way to 48x. The only thing that I think may have fixed that was if the scope had a fine adjustment focus knob like some manufacturers have. I'm not a trophy hunter, but I used it many times to confirm horns on a buck or a legal bull.
I wish I still had my XL II, but that's another story.
Post by: wilsongideon on June 23, 2013, 12:31:26 AM
Not sure if all the specs are same, but the scope you show looks very similar to what I used to have called the Nikon XL II. Same amount of zoom and objective size. I really liked the scope over all. The slim line made it easy to put in and take out of a pack, and it was pretty light to carry.
Overall I thought the glass was good. Depending on distance to target, I did find it was hard to focus sometimes when zoomed all the way to 48x. The only thing that I think may have fixed that was if the scope had a fine adjustment focus knob like some manufacturers have. I'm not a trophy hunter, but I used it many times to confirm horns on a buck or a legal bull.
I wish I still had my XL II, but that's another story.
thanks for the input, So with your XL II did you use it to glass for animals or did you find animals with your binos then check them with the scope. I am just wondering if its something you ever used for extended periods of time picking apart hillsides, timber ect. I wouldnt be worried about perfect zoom clarity as I am not trying to score animals with it, but use it to find parts of bedded animals at longer ranges. My 10x binos workawesome out to 500 yards and I have spotted parts of bedded deer at 7-800 yards with binos and I am thinking a scope might improve my odds even more at finding deer in the 5-800 yard range midday when they are bedded for several hours. and also when I do spott them bedded at long distances with binos you cannot make out anything alot of times, so with a scope you might be able to confirm horns or not.
how did you lose your XL?
Post by: teanawayslayer on June 23, 2013, 08:09:38 AM
Post by: asl20bball on June 23, 2013, 08:18:44 AM
the ED or HD rating is worth it IMO. My philosophy was to buy a scope I can live with for a long time so I ponied up and got an expensive one and settled on the ED50.
Good luck.
Post by: Elknut1 on June 23, 2013, 04:35:40 PM
One thing to consider is it's tough on the eyes & head to Spot for hours through Spotters that do not have HD glass, just a thought!
ElkNut1
Post by: Alan K on June 23, 2013, 04:52:45 PM
Had been using a Vortex Skyline ED for a couple years, and it has been a great scope, but the size kept me from lugging it around. It's more of a pickup/landing spotter.
This new Leupold is nice and compact for packing. Have several back country hunts planned in the next few years, and it should serve me well!
Weight/packability/HD, are obviously the major things to look for.
Post by: wilsongideon on June 24, 2013, 06:12:57 PM
Post by: deerslyr on June 24, 2013, 06:23:25 PM
Post by: mountainman on June 24, 2013, 08:13:13 PM
Post by: T_L_S on June 24, 2013, 09:06:14 PM
Post by: acnewman55 on June 24, 2013, 09:12:27 PM
New to deer hunting and will be in the market for an inexpensive spotter to start out with. Gotta keep it under $500.
I can live with a few headaches from spotting through lower-priced glass.
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on June 24, 2013, 09:20:18 PM
Just tagging this.Spend another $100 and get the Vortex Vipers.
New to deer hunting and will be in the market for an inexpensive spotter to start out with. Gotta keep it under $500.
I can live with a few headaches from spotting through lower-priced glass.
I vote for the Vortex Razors have bothe the binos and spotter bought both from Paul and would say for the money you can't touch them...just my
Post by: haugenna on June 24, 2013, 09:26:18 PM
As for the brands you mentioned, I also heard good things about the Nikon Spotter XL II. I am leupold rifle scope fan but haven't found a good spotting scope in the Leupold line.
Good luck in your quest.
Post by: ORCA_SIX on June 24, 2013, 11:04:55 PM
If you're looking for a scope for backpacking I'd seriously consider the Nikon ED50. I have one, at first i was skeptical due do the size (it seriously almost looks like a kids toy or something) but it packs a punch for size/weight. I started noticing it on hunting shows like Eastmans esp on hunts where they were in the backcountry. I've yet to see a scope of that size/weight that is as quality as the ED50. The downside is the price as you're looking at over 2x the cost of the scope u posted but then again getting an scope that has
the ED or HD rating is worth it IMO. My philosophy was to buy a scope I can live with for a long time so I ponied up and got an expensive one and settled on the ED50.
Good luck.
I have the same one and love it
Post by: MtnMuley on June 25, 2013, 02:51:43 PM
Post by: wilsongideon on June 28, 2013, 05:55:33 PM
Post by: mountainman on June 28, 2013, 06:25:17 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 28, 2013, 07:08:29 PM
Post by: 6haase6 on June 28, 2013, 07:58:35 PM
Post by: wilsongideon on June 28, 2013, 09:09:48 PM
I prefer a spotter that is a bit smaller than most guys like. I have an older leupold 20x inline scope that sits on my tripod and i can stuff it into my pack this way...
So looks like that serves you well Iceman, is that a 60mm? or 40?
I have a twenty power but I dont feel its very effective its the leupold gold ring compact 10-20x 40mm it was a gift and I got some good use out of it but realastically it wasnt enough power to justify packing it with binos, now it is clear enough and light enough you could use it hand held like binos.
Post by: ICEMAN on June 29, 2013, 05:51:53 AM
I prefer a spotter that is a bit smaller than most guys like. I have an older leupold 20x inline scope that sits on my tripod and i can stuff it into my pack this way...
So looks like that serves you well Iceman, is that a 60mm? or 40?
I have a twenty power but I dont feel its very effective its the leupold gold ring compact 10-20x 40mm it was a gift and I got some good use out of it but realastically it wasnt enough power to justify packing it with binos, now it is clear enough and light enough you could use it hand held like binos.
20x x 50mm
Post by: b23 on July 04, 2013, 06:58:23 AM
Post by: wilsongideon on July 07, 2013, 02:37:21 PM
Post by: huntnnw on July 07, 2013, 11:03:21 PM
Post by: wilsongideon on July 08, 2013, 06:28:56 PM
Id rather pack a high quality pair of Binos than a small spotter
I definitly agree with you there....I would like to upgrade my binos but I am happy with my steiners. Last year I spent 3 full days glassing and spotting deer with them and it was a absolute blast. I want to get this spotting scope so that when I do spot a bedded deer I can hopefully get a little closer look without having to change position or have to wait for the deer to move. When a bucks head is in the shade its hard to tell if your looking at one side or bothsides, lots of forked horns sure look bigger from the side.
Post by: huntnnw on July 08, 2013, 10:48:49 PM
Post by: JLS on July 08, 2013, 11:00:48 PM
Well after alot of research and listening to your guys opinions a couple things stood out to me. spending the extra money on a HD and I think I would rather have more glass then less so I think I am going for 80mm Vortex, If it turns out to be to heavy for backpacking I will buy a smaller one in the future. thanks everyone for your input.
Have you already purchased it? I wouldn't go 80 mm for a backpacking scope, they're big. Spend your money on high quality lenses, not bigger ones.
Post by: wilsongideon on July 09, 2013, 06:31:55 PM
I have the steiner nighthunters and love them..little heavy, but nice on the eyes. The question with owning a pair of nice binos is buying a spotter like the nikon above really going to help much (quality of glass) ?
After hashing it out I dont think it will help as much as I would like
Post by: wilsongideon on July 09, 2013, 06:36:28 PM
Well after alot of research and listening to your guys opinions a couple things stood out to me. spending the extra money on a HD and I think I would rather have more glass then less so I think I am going for 80mm Vortex, If it turns out to be to heavy for backpacking I will buy a smaller one in the future. thanks everyone for your input.
Have you already purchased it? I wouldn't go 80 mm for a backpacking scope, they're big. Spend your money on high quality lenses, not bigger ones.
No I havent but wouldnt a 80mm let it more light in low light coniditions and be easier on the eyes all day? its less then a pound heavier then the 65.
Post by: deerslyr on July 09, 2013, 07:36:28 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on July 09, 2013, 09:14:18 PM
From what I hear, the guys that pack the 80mms regret it...until they get to there glassing point and can glass for miles and not have to move. I think a 65mm is the best of both worlds though. Not as big and bulky as the 80s and far superior optically to the 50s. Im really bored with my 50 and have said to myself at least once on every outing the last year that I wish I had something more.Completely agree had the 80mm vortex and sold it and went to the 65mm and like it better saves 1 pound on the spotter and allows for multiple pounds saved on a smaller tri-pod. The amount of light you save is very minimal. Ask anyone who has spent much time glassing on back trips and I bet nearly all would agree for the overall versatility the 65mm is very tough to beat.
Post by: wilsongideon on July 09, 2013, 09:17:00 PM
Post by: JLS on July 09, 2013, 09:48:23 PM
Well after alot of research and listening to your guys opinions a couple things stood out to me. spending the extra money on a HD and I think I would rather have more glass then less so I think I am going for 80mm Vortex, If it turns out to be to heavy for backpacking I will buy a smaller one in the future. thanks everyone for your input.
Have you already purchased it? I wouldn't go 80 mm for a backpacking scope, they're big. Spend your money on high quality lenses, not bigger ones.
No I havent but wouldnt a 80mm let it more light in low light coniditions and be easier on the eyes all day? its less then a pound heavier then the 65.
I would be more concerned with optical clarity than the amount of light transmission. I've used a Swaro 65mm and a 80mm. The 80mm was a whole lot bigger, and I really didn't see a huge increase in glassing ability.
Post by: Paxer on July 09, 2013, 10:21:05 PM
http://www.opticsplanet.com/barska-20-60x60-blackhawk-spotting-scopes.html (http://www.opticsplanet.com/barska-20-60x60-blackhawk-spotting-scopes.html)
this one looks good
http://www.opticsplanet.com/barska-spotter-pro-22-66x80mm-spotting-scope-ad10352.html (http://www.opticsplanet.com/barska-spotter-pro-22-66x80mm-spotting-scope-ad10352.html)
Post by: huntnnw on July 09, 2013, 10:56:21 PM
Post by: huntnphool on July 12, 2013, 12:31:23 PM
Post by: wilsongideon on July 17, 2013, 11:04:29 PM
Post by: acnewman55 on July 17, 2013, 11:27:44 PM
well as I continue to change my mind I have talked myself out of the 80mm it would just be a beast to carry, So now I ponder the difference between the 50mm Razor and the 65 Razor they both look pretty sweet.
about time you came back around to this. your original post was about a lightweight and inexpensive scope that would be most practical for backpacking and then you let all the gear junkies on the forum talk you into an HD model that cost 5X as much and weighs 1.5 lbs more than the original scope you posted. :o
so typical of this forum...
why don't you buy that original nikon and take it on a scouting trip and see if you get headaches after a several hours of spotting through "inexpensive" glass. if you do, then sell it and you're only out maybe $80-$100 tops?
or you could go ahead and drop another $500, pack more weight and never know if the original scope would have worked for you or not :tdown:
Post by: deerslyr on July 18, 2013, 04:02:43 AM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on July 26, 2013, 01:31:21 PM
Post by: washelkhunter on July 26, 2013, 01:47:31 PM
Post by: Elknut1 on July 26, 2013, 07:57:19 PM
ElkNut/Paul
Post by: wilsongideon on September 10, 2013, 09:30:18 PM
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on September 10, 2013, 09:57:57 PM
Post by: duramax588 on October 15, 2013, 01:53:04 PM
Post by: JPhelps on October 15, 2013, 02:01:55 PM
I prefer straight for ease of target acquisition. One advantage to angled is lower tripod height making a more stable platform. It really boils down to user preference.
Post by: ShaneTyTrey on October 15, 2013, 04:05:20 PM