Konus Spot 80 or 100?

[broncman]

Going to try one of these until more funds become available for a Kowa. I do not do XTC so other than the initial humping gear to the line, weight is not an issue.

Anyone used both or own either? Primary use will be 1000 FTR for mirage and scoring.

 

[Semaje61]

I use the 80 for XTC and mid range F class, so I can not comment on it's adequacy for 1000 yd, but I have found that it works well for my purposes .

Regards ,

Phil

 

[roninfl.]

I have the 80 and it works fine for me at 1,000, just wish it had a little more eye relief.

 

[DBailey]

I used the 80mm with good results for many years. I didn't upgrade till very recently.
If 1000 yard F-Class is what you are after just keep it turned down into the 20-30x power range.

 

[Catfur]

I use the 80 in F-class. It works fine. A good tripod is just as important as a good scope. I see many people with high end spotting scopes bouncing around on a silly little contraption that holds them up poorly, can't see crap through that.

 

[nhm16]

I use the 80 in F-class. It works fine. A good tripod is just as important as a good scope. I see many people with high end spotting scopes bouncing around on a silly little contraption that holds them up poorly, can't see crap through that.

Same here. Agreed on a tripod - I've got mine in a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and Markins ballhead. Rock solid, and if I touch it I don't have to wait for it to stop vibrating before I look through it.

 

[jrm850]

I have the 100mm version. It is gigantic.

 

[broncman]

I have the 100mm version. It is gigantic.

Do you wish you had chosen the 80?

 

[jrm850]

I have the 100mm version. It is gigantic.

Do you wish you had chosen the 80?

Not really. If I were going to use it in the field, I probably would like the smaller unit, but I just use it at the range so it isn't a big deal.

 

[DBailey]

Just as a heads up. DVOR has the 80mm Konus on sale for $154.99

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

The difference between the 100mm and the 80mm is about 2 pounds according to the SWFA website and a couple inches. What the 100mm model will do is make the picture brighter at the high end magnification and that may be important if you're going to have it set at the maximum magnification.

I have never looked through a Konus so I have not experience with it, but quality glass is not cheap. Cheaper brands try to make their stuff look better by using huge objective lenses to bring in more light and people think they see better when it's "brighter." The reality is that as the magnification increases with these cheap lenses, the resolution will not and while you will see the object as bigger, it will lose sharpness; it's just the nature of the best.

I would think though, that if you kept it in the 20-some magnification, the 80mm should be adequate.

 

[Catfur]

I would think though, that if you kept it in the 20-some magnification, the 80mm should be adequate.

It's true it's no Nightforce or Swarovski, but at 60X it's perfectly usable at 1000yards. You can clearly see everything you need to on the target (rings, spotters, etc...).

 

[broncman]

Just as a heads up. DVOR has the 80mm Konus on sale for $154.99

Dangit.... I paid $180 from BH photo. A buddy of mine has a huge Kowa that I list after. But I decided to get my backup rifle finished first. That only left me enough for the Konus.

 

[broncman]

Just as a heads up. DVOR has the 80mm Konus on sale for $154.99

Dangit.... I paid $180 from BH photo. A buddy of mine has a huge Kowa that I lust after. But I decided to get my backup rifle finished first. That only left me enough for the Konus.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I would think though, that if you kept it in the 20-some magnification, the 80mm should be adequate.

It's true it's no Nightforce or Swarovski, but at 60X it's perfectly usable at 1000yards. You can clearly see everything you need to on the target (rings, spotters, etc...).

My point is that for the usage the OP was talking about it will be perfectly adequate. I don't know about anyone else, by my Kowa has the LER eyepiece and it's fixed at 27X, and I have never wanted more magnification to read wind, discern and guage mirage, score for others or look for my hits at 1000 yards. Using higher magnification introduces all sorts of issues that are not desirable when viewing from position, not the least of which is the criticality of eye relief and the trembling in the scope. In anything less that absolutely perfect conditions, I peer through my spotting scope a great deal more than through my riflescope and I want to have a useful field of view. A spotting scope set at 60X is worthless to me, I can use my rifle scope for that and it will be a rock solid image, something I cannot get from a spotting scope set alongside me.

 

[gaboon]

I have the 100. The only draw back is trying to find a good cover for it. Creedmor 100 cover is too thin for any protection.

 

[broncman]

The 80 came today. Seems to be a nice piece for $180. Played with it on my lunch break and it seems very clear for the money. Should do just fine.