Are All Spotting Scopes, Under $2,000, Made in China?

[Baron23]

I just recently bought a Leupold Mk 4 12-40 x 60 with TMR mil reticle (this is a FFP spotting scope) and I'm very happy with it. Very nice performance in a small and light weight package.

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[USMCDOC]

Nah, I doubt you will see enough difference to spend the extra $$. The one you have is great. The glass on the 883 is superb but it is a LOT more $ than what you have. I don't use mine to see bullet holes at extreme distances. It is for mirage and scoring primarily which in truth does not require the very best glass.

the way i understand it.. a Kowa rep said that for reading mirage.. the 82SV was the best scope that they make for that job

 

[johara1]

the way i understand it.. a Kowa rep said that for reading mirage.. the 82SV was the best scope that they make for that job

What did expect them to say ? The old M49 scope I could see mirage just fine.... The Pentax 65mm. is great for seeing mirage with a 20mm. eyepiece and half the 1000 yd. range to boot..... plus made in Japan with ED glass and at 400.00 body a super deal.... jim

 

[USMCDOC]

What did expect them to say ? The old M49 scope I could see mirage just fine.... The Pentax 65mm. is great for seeing mirage with a 20mm. eyepiece and half the 1000 yd. range to boot..... plus made in Japan with ED glass and at 400.00 body a super deal.... jim

well he was comparing the 883 to others..and he did say that if you want to see birds as their best.. use the 883, but if you want to see mirage at its best.. use the 82SV. simple enough

 

[johara1]

The problem with all the high dollar scopes the lack of eye pieces you can get, plus the field of view and lack of eye relief. ...... jim

 

[243Mendoza]

I suspect that the better the glass or size of lens, the easier to see mirage in difficult conditions (cloudy or low winds).

 

[johara1]

Not really, If you know how and where to focus it..... jim

 

[243Mendoza]

Not really, If you know how and where to focus it..... jim

I've looked through my Kowa 820 and a friend's Optolith and there is a significant difference

 

[Kymike]

kowa 660 series or the 82sv's. lot of used eyepieces out there. from long eye relief , wide angle, 20x to 60x. Service from Kowa has been excellent. I have 3 now. all of these are 820 series, but eyepieces are a little harder to come by vs 660 series and the 82sv. I can see mirage a little better with the 820's than i could with the 660. Have bought all my scopes used, one on e-bay and 2 from other competitors. Have not paid over $800 for any of them. Check with Champions Choice in Tenn. or Creedmoor Sports for a new scope. They sometimes run specials in the winter where you can get a scope and eyepiece for less than $1 K. Good luck.

 

[Lesloan]

The problem with all the high dollar scopes the lack of eye pieces you can get, plus the field of view and lack of eye relief. ...... jim

With the Pentax (Japanese-made, BTW) you can use any 1.25" standard astronomical eyepiece. Lots to choose from, and Pentax-made eyepieces are among the best.

 

[johara1]

kowa 660 series or the 82sv's. lot of used eyepieces out there. from long eye relief , wide angle, 20x to 60x. Service from Kowa has been excellent. I have 3 now. all of these are 820 series, but eyepieces are a little harder to come by vs 660 series and the 82sv. I can see mirage a little better with the 820's than i could with the 660. Have bought all my scopes used, one on e-bay and 2 from other competitors. Have not paid over $800 for any of them. Check with Champions Choice in Tenn. or Creedmoor Sports for a new scope. They sometimes run specials in the winter where you can get a scope and eyepiece for less than $1 K. Good luck.

All fixed power wide angle Pentax eye pieces are 20 mm. eye relief power goes well past 90 power..... and they fit all of their spotting scopes