Smallest Quality Spotting Scope
- Thread starter sscoyote
- Start date
To save weight during international travel, I bought a compact Kowa TSN-501 with 20-40x eyepiece. Much smaller and lighter than the Kowa 82SV that I usually use for high-power/long range. Even though the 501 is extremely tiny, it worked great for scoring spotting, watching mirage, and watching bullet trace in team matches from 300 to 1000 yards. On one calm cool morning at Bisley, I was able to see 308 bullet holes at 600 with it which blew my mind for a ~$350 scope. The only down side I saw to it was that it didn't have a rotating mounting band which made it a little tough on my scope stand setup. They also have a straight eyepiece version (502). For size, price, quality, weather proof, durability and performance (for my needs), this scope really exceeds expectations.
If you're pockets are deep, Kowa makes TSN-553 Prominar scope with Flourite Crystal lenses. You'll shell out $1,800 for one of these, but that glass is something else.
Somewhere in the middle price range is the Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50 that is also a nice compact package.
To me, it is all about the purpose and how deep your wallet is. Scoring, hunting at dusk, mirage reading, or whatever. All depends on the purpose and budget.
If you're pockets are deep, Kowa makes TSN-553 Prominar scope with Flourite Crystal lenses. You'll shell out $1,800 for one of these, but that glass is something else.
Somewhere in the middle price range is the Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50 that is also a nice compact package.
To me, it is all about the purpose and how deep your wallet is. Scoring, hunting at dusk, mirage reading, or whatever. All depends on the purpose and budget.
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
Ditto on the Kowa 501
Athlon sells an Ares 15-45x65ED spotter in either straight or angled body; I've not seen one in person, but the catalog shows one beside their full-sized 20-60x85 spotter, and it looks pretty compact. I've read so many positive reviews of the Ares line of spotters that I would expect either of these scopes to compare favorably to Athlon's top tier Cronus scopes - I have both Cronus 7-42x60 Tactical & 20-60x86 spotters, and am in the process of trying to sell a couple of other mid-priced spotters since buying the two Cronus scopes.
MatthewsCarbineCo
Home of the K.E.A.D.
Lucid Optics SC9 is a very nice compact unit.. $428.53 on Amazon
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
Are those lenses gluten-free?
The Prominar has fluorite crystal lenses, something you just don't find on riflescopes.
I have a Kowa TSN-501 that rode around in my pistol box for years. It is still a great compact optic and suitable for way more than the pistol case.
@std7mag
Compared to its predecessor the C65 mini mak. 30x60 magnification. Wish you luck with your. Mine died at the beginning of the year.
Below are the details of the Celestron warranty for their optical products.
1.) This warranty is valid to U.S.A. and Canadian customers who have purchased this product from an authorized Celestron dealer in the U.S.A. or Canada.
2.) Celestron warrants most of its products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the product’s usable lifetime to the original owner.
3.) Celestron will repair or replace the product which, upon inspection by Celestron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship and within the definitions of the limits described below.
4.) Celestron shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any binocular or spotting scope covered by this warranty within thirty calendar days of receipt. If it takes longer, the customer will be notified.
Between 15 & 20 years ago, I purchased a C65 mini mak spotting scope 30x60 magnification with the 65mm objective. This scope was only used for reading targets at the shooting range so I would not have to walk the 100 to 200 yards to save time verifying my shots during load development.
The scope looks brand new, like I just took it out of the box. It was never dropped or even bumped. Early this year I took it to the range. As I was taking it out of the Celestron carry bag, I heard a clunking sound. When I tried to line it up with the target, all I could see was black. It was not functioning.
I called customer service. They informed me that my model was a discontinued product.
If I could produce a sales receipt, they would replace it with the C70 mini mak spotting scope. They requested pictures of my scope, as further verification, which I e-mailed to them. Somewhere during the conversation, I mentioned I had mailed in the warranty card.
But, we never got past the first article of their warranty. If I could not produce a sales receipt, they could not honor the warranty. It seems since I did show proof that I owned a Celestron spotting scope, that they would at least sell me the C70 mini mak at a reduced price of 25%.
They never offered to inspect or repair the scope at any time during our conversations. They never even made the attempt to determine if it was repairable. All I was offered was the replacement scope.
How can they expect anyone to purchase another one of their products through their limited lifetime warranty by offering the same limited lifetime warranty is beyond me.
This is not a quality company to do business with....
Compared to its predecessor the C65 mini mak. 30x60 magnification. Wish you luck with your. Mine died at the beginning of the year.
Below are the details of the Celestron warranty for their optical products.
1.) This warranty is valid to U.S.A. and Canadian customers who have purchased this product from an authorized Celestron dealer in the U.S.A. or Canada.
2.) Celestron warrants most of its products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the product’s usable lifetime to the original owner.
3.) Celestron will repair or replace the product which, upon inspection by Celestron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship and within the definitions of the limits described below.
4.) Celestron shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any binocular or spotting scope covered by this warranty within thirty calendar days of receipt. If it takes longer, the customer will be notified.
Between 15 & 20 years ago, I purchased a C65 mini mak spotting scope 30x60 magnification with the 65mm objective. This scope was only used for reading targets at the shooting range so I would not have to walk the 100 to 200 yards to save time verifying my shots during load development.
The scope looks brand new, like I just took it out of the box. It was never dropped or even bumped. Early this year I took it to the range. As I was taking it out of the Celestron carry bag, I heard a clunking sound. When I tried to line it up with the target, all I could see was black. It was not functioning.
I called customer service. They informed me that my model was a discontinued product.
If I could produce a sales receipt, they would replace it with the C70 mini mak spotting scope. They requested pictures of my scope, as further verification, which I e-mailed to them. Somewhere during the conversation, I mentioned I had mailed in the warranty card.
But, we never got past the first article of their warranty. If I could not produce a sales receipt, they could not honor the warranty. It seems since I did show proof that I owned a Celestron spotting scope, that they would at least sell me the C70 mini mak at a reduced price of 25%.
They never offered to inspect or repair the scope at any time during our conversations. They never even made the attempt to determine if it was repairable. All I was offered was the replacement scope.
How can they expect anyone to purchase another one of their products through their limited lifetime warranty by offering the same limited lifetime warranty is beyond me.
This is not a quality company to do business with....
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