Post by: silverdalesauer on January 27, 2012, 08:30:07 AM
What are your thoughts on makes, models, brands? Price ranges? I'll be hunting with long distances in mind and plan to carry it with me in my hunting pack as well as use at the shooting range.
Suggestions for someone who knows very little on this topic? :dunno:
Post by: bullchaser on January 27, 2012, 08:41:49 AM
Post by: Hawgdawg on January 27, 2012, 09:16:55 AM
Post by: 400out on January 27, 2012, 09:26:58 AM
I have a nikkon ed 50 super light good price and its really clear. i have tried bigger more expensive scopes but i get tired of carring them my little ed 50 can go anywear with you. my :twocents:the problem with bigger is heat waves :bash:
Post by: MtnMuley on January 27, 2012, 09:45:59 AM
Post by: 400out on January 27, 2012, 10:05:29 AM
It would be nice if you could give us a price range. That'd narrow it down. It is very important to spend the most you can afford on good glass if you plan on hunting big country. If it takes a couple years to save up, do it. Buy the right glass once, and you won't ever have to buy it again. :twocents::yeah: Well put!
Post by: silverdalesauer on February 04, 2012, 06:51:19 PM
Post by: JLS on February 04, 2012, 07:04:23 PM
If you're trying to find a scope for $300, my recommendation is to skip it. The optical quality won't be good enough to do what a spotting scope is really meant to do, IMO.
The Nikon ED scopes are also very good scopes.
Post by: colockumelk on February 04, 2012, 07:47:57 PM
I have a nikkon ed 50 super light good price and its really clear. i have tried bigger more expensive scopes but i get tired of carring them my little ed 50 can go anywear with you. my :twocents:
This will be my post-Afghanistan present to myself. This scope is the best scope in the world. It weighs a pound and is small enough you can actually take it with you instead of leaving it in the truck.
Post by: JLS on February 04, 2012, 07:51:45 PM
http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/nikon.pl?page=nikon8320
Post by: Bob33 on February 04, 2012, 08:04:13 PM
http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/kowa.pl?page=kowa_tsn-602
Kowa makes some of the world's best spotting scopes.
Post by: jackelope on February 04, 2012, 09:52:21 PM
I have a nikkon ed 50 super light good price and its really clear. i have tried bigger more expensive scopes but i get tired of carring them my little ed 50 can go anywear with you. my :twocents:
This will be my post-Afghanistan present to myself. This scope is the best scope in the world. It weighs a pound and is small enough you can actually take it with you instead of leaving it in the truck.
You ought to look at the little Minox and save yourself a few bucks. A lot of the reviews on the Minox put it in the same category as the Nikon for a few hundred bucks less. I've got one and love it. The 30x is limiting, but the quality of the glass is awesome.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/598408-USA/Minox_62226_MD_50_2_0_50mm_Spotting.html
Post by: HairTrigger on February 05, 2012, 08:54:54 AM
Post by: JohnVH on February 05, 2012, 09:22:49 AM
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on February 05, 2012, 10:13:16 AM
Post by: huntnnw on February 06, 2012, 05:04:02 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 06, 2012, 12:01:41 PM
Post by: silverdalesauer on February 07, 2012, 04:42:00 PM
Post by: C-Money on February 07, 2012, 05:10:54 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on February 07, 2012, 07:02:02 PM
Post by: colockumelk on February 08, 2012, 04:43:26 AM
IMHO, a guy is better off with a smaller scope, as I feel the larger ones often get left behind in the truck due to their size...
:yeah:
That's why I want a compact. I don't need 60x scope to decide whether a Pronghorn is 15" or 17". I need one that is small and light so I can fit it in my pack and with enough power so I can determine if that buck on the otherside of that wilderness drainage is legal or not. A big normal size scope is too heavy and big. I am looking at the NIKON , Minox and Leupold compacts but like the NIKON the best. Admittedly I Havnt been able to look through a minox yet.
Vortex...everything Ive read in reviews and people I have talk to say they are great.
I have read the same but ALL their spotters are way way way too heavy. They weigh 3x more than the NIKON ED50. If I did more open country spot and stalk or antelope hunted I would definately buy one. But I don't so the "mini" spotters suit me best.
Post by: ICEMAN on February 08, 2012, 07:05:51 PM
Post by: Bigtine96 on February 08, 2012, 07:31:15 PM
You will not be disappointed spend your money on your equiptment and it will take care of you. :twocents:
Post by: jackelope on February 08, 2012, 10:37:03 PM
I am looking at the NIKON , Minox and Leupold compacts but like the NIKON the best. Admittedly I Havnt been able to look through a minox yet.
Colockumelk...
Miles put a great review of the little Minox here a while back. I have the same scope as whats in the pics.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=72861.msg984191#msg984191
Post by: Bob33 on February 08, 2012, 10:47:32 PM
I pack a Leupold 12-40x60 HD while antelope hunting, and it has served me well.
Post by: colockumelk on February 18, 2012, 12:01:10 PM
I am looking at the NIKON , Minox and Leupold compacts but like the NIKON the best. Admittedly I Havnt been able to look through a minox yet.
Colockumelk...
Miles put a great review of the little Minox here a while back. I have the same scope as whats in the pics.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=72861.msg984191#msg984191
Thanks for the tip. I think I will be getting this scope someday.
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 18, 2012, 12:05:32 PM
If you also need binos, Kill two birds and get nice binos with a tripod attachment.
Post by: colockumelk on February 18, 2012, 01:26:41 PM
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on February 18, 2012, 01:39:20 PM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on March 27, 2012, 04:18:10 PM
Post by: huntnphool on March 27, 2012, 04:25:14 PM
It would be nice if you could give us a price range. That'd narrow it down. It is very important to spend the most you can afford on good glass if you plan on hunting big country. If it takes a couple years to save up, do it. Buy the right glass once, and you won't ever have to buy it again. :twocents:
+1 Save for Swaro's and never worry about it again. :twocents:
Post by: Cascade_fisher on March 27, 2012, 04:49:50 PM
Post by: huntnphool on March 27, 2012, 05:01:23 PM
don't have much experience with anything other than Swarovski which I wish I could afford.
I have a lot of friends that hunt and most tell me the same thing. The funny thing about it is they have gone years wishing they "could afford" quality optics and yet I see them daily with their cup of Starbucks, or pack of cigarettes, or couple beers at the local watering hole.
I would venture to guess that most people on these sites really could afford a $2000 scope if they diverted their priorities for a year. Most will try to justify why they "can't" rather than why they "can". :twocents:
Post by: elkaholic123 on March 27, 2012, 05:43:49 PM
Post by: bobcat on March 27, 2012, 06:33:29 PM
don't have much experience with anything other than Swarovski which I wish I could afford.
I have a lot of friends that hunt and most tell me the same thing. The funny thing about it is they have gone years wishing they "could afford" quality optics and yet I see them daily with their cup of Starbucks, or pack of cigarettes, or couple beers at the local watering hole.
I would venture to guess that most people on these sites really could afford a $2000 scope if they diverted their priorities for a year. Most will try to justify why they "can't" rather than why they "can". :twocents:
Supporting a wife and two kids on only one income- nope, I can't justify a Swarovski no matter what I cut back on. If I bought one I'd be sitting out hunting season for a couple years, as I'd have no money for gas.
Yes, I should have bought a good spotting scope 10 years ago, I could have done it then. Instead I spent about $600 and got a Kowa. I guess it'll have to get me by for at least the next 15 years or so. :bash:
Post by: huntnphool on March 27, 2012, 11:18:15 PM
don't have much experience with anything other than Swarovski which I wish I could afford.
I have a lot of friends that hunt and most tell me the same thing. The funny thing about it is they have gone years wishing they "could afford" quality optics and yet I see them daily with their cup of Starbucks, or pack of cigarettes, or couple beers at the local watering hole.
I would venture to guess that most people on these sites really could afford a $2000 scope if they diverted their priorities for a year. Most will try to justify why they "can't" rather than why they "can". :twocents:
Supporting a wife and two kids on only one income- nope, I can't justify a Swarovski no matter what I cut back on. If I bought one I'd be sitting out hunting season for a couple years, as I'd have no money for gas.
Yes, I should have bought a good spotting scope 10 years ago, I could have done it then. Instead I spent about $600 and got a Kowa. I guess it'll have to get me by for at least the next 15 years or so. :bash:
I hear ya Bob, and that's why I said "most" on the sites fall into this category. I still believe that even you with two kids could prioritize your output, if you really had your goals set on a particular piece. :twocents:
Post by: Miles on March 27, 2012, 11:54:13 PM
more emphasis is put on the latest "whizemagadgets", and less and less on actual hunting skills.
Post by: huntnphool on March 28, 2012, 12:02:54 AM
Then there's the whole do you really need a $2,000 spotting scope argument. I know of MANY successful hunters that have taken above average animals without even using a spotter. I think it's more of a "status" thing with the whole SWARO crowd, but that's just my opinion. I also think in todays world of "hunting"
more emphasis is put on the latest "whizemagadgets", and less and less on actual hunting skills.
Its always a matter of opinion Russ, thats why we each give our :twocents: . Whats funny is when hiking in with friends and setting up on a critter, they never fail to be amazed at the difference looking through my Swaro and their spotter.
I will be the first to tell you that any spotter is better than no spotter, but lets get it twisted, looking through a Swaro spotter is completely different than looking through a $500 spotter of any make! :twocents:
Post by: bobcat on March 28, 2012, 12:06:20 AM
Quote
looking through a Swaro spotter is completely different than looking through a $500 spotter of any make!
I wouldn't know, since I've never once looked through one.
I have looked through a 12-40x Leupold and I can't imagine it would be much better than that.
Post by: huntnphool on March 28, 2012, 12:09:51 AM
Quotelooking through a Swaro spotter is completely different than looking through a $500 spotter of any make!
I wouldn't know, since I've never once looked through one.
I have looked through a 12-40x Leupold and I can't imagine it would be much better than that.
You know me Bob, all you have to do is ask and you can take mine out whenever you want. ;)
Miles, you PM box is full, call me or send me a text. ;)
Post by: Miles on March 28, 2012, 12:18:01 AM
Post by: huntnphool on March 28, 2012, 12:20:06 AM
Try it now, I just deleted a bunch.
You popular guy you! :chuckle:
Post by: Miles on March 28, 2012, 12:21:27 AM
Try it now, I just deleted a bunch.
You popular guy you! :chuckle:
:chuckle: Someone must have changed the allowable number of PM's since I was at 338%.
Post by: huntnphool on March 28, 2012, 12:23:39 AM
Someone must have changed the allowable number of PM's since I was at 338%.
LMAO :chuckle:
Post by: MtnMuley on March 28, 2012, 09:36:31 AM
Then there's the whole do you really need a $2,000 spotting scope argument. I know of MANY successful hunters that have taken above average animals without even using a spotter. I think it's more of a "status" thing with the whole SWARO crowd, but that's just my opinion. I also think in todays world of "hunting"
more emphasis is put on the latest "whizemagadgets", and less and less on actual hunting skills.
I know it's your opinion, but that isn't the case with me or many of my friends. Hell, I had the Zeiss HD and the Swaro HD side by side when I made my decision. I personally thought the Zeiss was superior, so I went with that. Same with the binos. After budgeting a small amount every month and selling cord wood after work, I finally threw up every superior glass available, and chose the EL's after they dominated the rest -- in my opinion. Funny thing is, most friends forget I even have the Zeiss spotter, because my 12-40x60 Leupy is always with me and can NOT be beat for what I use it for. Again, my opinion. Lastly, I do enjoying seeing all the truckloads of "hunters" with all their "whizemagadgets" still on in the bars in the evenings. :chuckle:
Post by: Snopczynski on March 29, 2012, 04:00:28 PM
So, I'm in the market for a spotting scope - either new or used. But I don't have thousands of dollars to spend.I hate to say it, but the guy at Sportco at the optics counter with glasses, and always wearing his hat knows his stuff. Go see him, he will let you look through them out the window, and give you his opinion on them.
What are your thoughts on makes, models, brands? Price ranges? I'll be hunting with long distances in mind and plan to carry it with me in my hunting pack as well as use at the shooting range.
Suggestions for someone who knows very little on this topic? :dunno: