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Author Topic: Light weight spotter suggestions  (Read 5748 times)

Offline zwickeyman

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Light weight spotter suggestions
« on: December 09, 2022, 02:54:35 PM »
I have a 80MM Swaro and a 88MM Kowa but lm looking for a lighter weight spotter for under 1000.00

Any first hand experience would be great. Trying to stay under 1000.00 and under 40 oz and of course decent glass

Thanks
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Offline haftard

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2022, 03:05:44 PM »
i have a vortex razor 22x48x65. it gets the job done and i pack it around. the way i look at it all spotting scopes are gonna be frustratingly expensive and frustratingly fuzzy. but when conditions are prefect the razor has a really sharp image 

Offline b23

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2022, 03:07:34 PM »
It's been a few years ago so there may be others out there that are much better but I used a little Nikon ED50 for awhile and was pretty impressed with its optical quality.

Offline Stein

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2022, 03:08:30 PM »
Well, you have the Kowa 553 or the Razor 50, the former is better, the latter is under your $1k price.

Offline D-Rock425

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2022, 03:40:27 PM »
I have the maven c1 it's pretty small and decent glass for the price.

Offline highside74

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2022, 03:53:01 PM »
Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60mm only 2lbs 5oz. I've been using my non HD for many years and it has been great. 

Offline zwickeyman

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2022, 04:23:20 PM »
All great suggestions guys and I have owned or researched all of them

 I havnt looked through the Nikon or Maven or Leupold. I have a 30 year old fixed Leopold 30x50 but its just not quite clear enough for me
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Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2022, 04:31:04 PM »
Im looking at the new swarovski 17-40 35oz one but double ur budget - maybe trade the 65 for it is what Im considering.

Offline hughjorgan

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2022, 04:32:56 PM »
Maven s2 12-27x56 is a nice little compact spotter with fluoride glass that weighs 34oz.

If your interested I sell you the one I have for 900.

Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2022, 04:37:34 PM »
I did compare the Maven CS2 - 80mm vs my Swaro 65mm and it blew my swaro away for light gain - could see 10 mins longer at night with the Maven.  Clarity was a tossup, Maven maybe a hair better but tough to say. 

Offline zwickeyman

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2022, 04:40:54 PM »
Maven s2 12-27x56 is a nice little compact spotter with fluoride glass that weighs 34oz.

If your interested I sell you the one I have for 900.
[/quote

Please tell me your opinion on it , comparable optically to what other optics you have owned

Thanks
The mountains are calling and I must go

Offline zwickeyman

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #11 on: December 09, 2022, 04:43:44 PM »
Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60mm only 2lbs 5oz. I've been using my non HD for many years and it has been great.


I have heard good things about the HD but I think they are 1400
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Offline hughjorgan

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2022, 06:27:36 PM »
Maven s2 12-27x56 is a nice little compact spotter with fluoride glass that weighs 34oz.

If your interested I sell you the one I have for 900.
[/quote

Please tell me your opinion on it , comparable optically to what other optics you have owned

Thanks

Comparing it to an angled swaro hd 65 mm spotter I have it’s image is crisp and bright, the focus knob has a lot more resistance compared to the swaro which is very smooth. It has a 3 position eye piece and it is much more compact being a straight spotter: it fits nicely in my pack. I feel they went really basic on the eye piece and objective cover and the cover that comes with it, the stiff focus knob and the straight eye piece are ergonomically something I don’t care for. But overall the glass is very nice to look through in a compact package at affordable price for many folks.

Offline zwickeyman

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2022, 07:08:52 PM »
Maven s2 12-27x56 is a nice little compact spotter with fluoride glass that weighs 34oz.

If your interested I sell you the one I have for 900.
[/quote

Please tell me your opinion on it , comparable optically to what other optics you have owned

Thanks

Great info thank you

Comparing it to an angled swaro hd 65 mm spotter I have it’s image is crisp and bright, the focus knob has a lot more resistance compared to the swaro which is very smooth. It has a 3 position eye piece and it is much more compact being a straight spotter: it fits nicely in my pack. I feel they went really basic on the eye piece and objective cover and the cover that comes with it, the stiff focus knob and the straight eye piece are ergonomically something I don’t care for. But overall the glass is very nice to look through in a compact package at affordable price for many folks.
The mountains are calling and I must go

Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: Light weight spotter suggestions
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2022, 07:11:25 PM »
Im sure the eyepiece cover is better than the swaros - mines a joke.

 


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