Spotting Scope recommendations

[Lesloan]

If you REALLY want the skinny on spotting scopes, go here:

http://www.betterviewdesired.com/70-80mm-Spotting-Scopes.php

I knew him when he started out some 20 years ago.

If you think shooters are fussy about spotting scopes, we are stone blind compared to the bird watching crowd - they are absolutely insane about spotting scopes and think nothing about dropping 4K$ or 5K$ on a scope.

This guy does real tests with resolution targets and color evaluations - go there and read your head off.

Also, read what he says about eye pieces - I bought a very expensive 60 ED scope many years ago, and it was no better than a junky Bushnell 60, because the eyepieces were poor. I finely found a good eyepiece from a German telescope that fit, and now I use it as a tele lens for a video camera.

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise, the Pentax 80mm ED will kill 95% of the scopes out there - in good part, because of the eyepieces.

It may surprise you to learn that this (BVD) was one of the sources I checked out in my search for a fine spotting scope. I was, like you, surprised to learn the importance of a quality eyepiece, and seriously considered (based on info I found both here and elsewhere) just putting a 10mm Pentax eyepiece on my current 65mm Celestron Regal ED spotter. This probably would've been a good combination, and done what I wanted, but then I realized that I'd have nearly as much invested as a complete 80mm Pentax with the 20-60 zoom. Every review I found on the Pentax was favorable, with reviews averaging 4-1/2 out of 5 stars, and mainly the full 5 (where points were deducted, it was as often as not due to something having nothing to do with optics, such as poor service (one), excessive wt. (meaningless to me) and so on.

I completely agree with Ledd Slinger, in principal, anyway, about not limiting oneself pricewise on a spotter. But for me, the Pentax is priced at my upper limit, especially if it'll do what I want it to, i.e., let me see .22 holes at 300 yds. That's as far as I ever shoot competitively, and the overwhelming majority of my shooting is club level and at just 50-100 yds. At my advanced age and poverty level I don't see myself travelling all over the country to shoot the big matches, so the Pentax is it for me. I placed my order for one a couple of hours ago. Cheers! And thanks for the feedback, everybody.

 

[CatShooter]

When you get it, take it out and play with it and come back here and post what you think.

I bought an angled eyepiece and hated it, my friend bought a straight eyepiece and hated it - we worked it out ...

 

[Lesloan]

When you get it, take it out and play with it and come back here and post what you think.

I bought an angled eyepiece and hated it, my friend bought a straight eyepiece and hated it - we worked it out ...

These things seem to be in short supply, so I expect it'll be a couple of weeks (Amazon.com sez early March.) I already know that my preference is for the angled spotter. I've owned a few of these, and one straight one (a really decent little 60mm Kowa I had some years ago), so I speak from experience. But I will post some feedback when I get a chance to use it. Regards.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Sounds great Lloyd. I hope it serves you well. Just glad to hear that folks on this thread were able to help you make a decision that fit your needs and budget. That's what is so great about websites like this. I'm sure you'll be happy.

 

[boltman13]

If you can afford the very best, then by all means do so. It's your money, you earned it. If you can not, or do not want to buy the best, then decide what you want most in a spotting scope. If you need to see bullet holes quickly at 200 & 300 yds. for High Power XC there really isn't an inexpensive scope that will do that. A few in the $400-$600 range will do it in ideal conditions, but not reliably. To score targets almost any scope will do, or even binoculars. To monitor mirage, either sling or F-class in slow fire mid or long range just about any scope will also do the job. I use an old Burris Landmark Long Eye Relief 15X45X60, with an even older Bushnell short tripod. It isn't even an angled eyepiece, which I wish it was, but I can get it close enough to use to monitor mirage in prone slow fire. It is small light and surprisingly clear at 100 yds. but they sell now for well under $200 if you shop around. Mine was $98 years ago. If you need long range, high detail, accurate color rendition for hunting or birding there also is no inexpensive alternative. Also be aware as scopes get better and better they also tend to get heavier.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I know he already purchased the Pentax, but if anyone is interested in the Meopta S2 HD spotter that I have, here are some good reviews that are very thorough and attest to its level of quality that I have experienced with it. Enjoy

http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-05-09-42/optics/245-meopta-s2-hd-82mm-spotter-review

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=2523

http://www.irelandswildlife.com/meopta-meostar-s2-82-hd-spotting-scope/

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Just picked up the latest edition of 'Trigger' Magazine. Here's their take on the Meopta S2 HD spotter as well. Kowa, Leica, Nikon EDG, and Zeiss Diascope all scored lower. The new Swarovski ATX was the only one to best it's score and it was mainly due to the portability and multiple options that the ATX provides.

Even though some preferred the Meopta image to the Swarovski, some also preferred the Kowa 883 TSN to the Meopta. So both are powerhouse scopes in the top levels. Only difference is that the Kowa is about $300 more.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Sorry, I edited my price difference on the Kowa. I accidentally put $1300 more when I meant to put $300 more. So this puts both the Meopta and Kowa scopes below the Swarovski HD price range, but many reviews say that testers prefer them both over the higher priced Swaro. Both excellent values if considering a high end spotter.

 

[JamesnTN]

Sorry, I edited my price difference on the Kowa. I accidentally put $1300 more when I meant to put $300 more. So this puts both the Meopta and Kowa scopes below the Swarovski HD price range, but many reviews say that testers prefer them both over the higher priced Swaro. Both excellent values if considering a high end spotter.

Where are you finding the kowa at 2500.00? The best price I've found the TSN883 with 20-60 eyepiece is 3050.00 and the Meopta is 2200.00 with either the 30-60 or 20-70 eyepiece.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

BH Photo and Video. Scope body is $2099, eye piece is $599. Comes with a free Kowa aluminum tripod and pan/tilt head and free shipping as well. Heck of a deal.

So I guess it's abot $2700 all together making it $500 more than the Meopta. The Meopta package on their website with a tripod and carrying case is about the same price. So not really sure if the Kowa tripod is actually 'free'. Nothing is really free...

I just got the Meopta scope with the 20-70 eyepiece and bought my own tripod because I wanted something nice. Got a really good deal on a carbon fiber Manfrotto, but that cost me another $450.

Anyhow, here's a link to the Kowa on their website.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/470680-REG/Kowa_TSN_883_TSN_883_Angled_88_mm.html

 

[JamesnTN]

Thanks for the info,

I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if I can get a greater discount if they just keep the free tripod and just buy the scope and lens.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Thanks for the info,

I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if I can get a greater discount if they just keep the free tripod and just buy the scope and lens.

Thats what I would do. Hopefully that works. Good luck

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I know this topic is pretty much over, but I thought I'd share another review of a comparison between the Meopta S2 and the Swarovski HD. Really do think that Meopta is the best kept secret in high end optics and gives you the best alpha glass for your money. Enjoy the read.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=268749

 

[Lesloan]

Sounds great Lloyd. I hope it serves you well. Just glad to hear that folks on this thread were able to help you make a decision that fit your needs and budget. That's what is so great about websites like this. I'm sure you'll be happy.

Ledd slinger: I finally got a chance to give the new Pentax spotter a decent trial. It hasn't been easy. The first time I took it to the range there was no match scheduled, so I took a black-on-white "mini palma" target with me that had a few .22 LR sighter holes in it, and stapled it to the 200-yd. target board. Sadly, I had underestimated the fog we had that morning. I thought I might get away with it, but it turned out to be thick enough to make the whole target nearly invisible. Ah, well. Better luck next time. For that, I planned to use the scope in a centerfire match, but the match got canceled on accounta snow. So a week or so later I took it out to a rimfire bench rest match, 50 and 100 yds., where it performed very well. But so what? Seeing .22 holes at 50 and 100 yds ain't exactly challenging, even for a mediocre spotter, which the 80mm ED Pentax definitely is not. But this morning I finally got another chance. Fog again, but it burned off by about 0900 so, accompanied by 3 shooting buddies, I took spotting scope & .223 Savage mod. 12 out. Success at last! I shot black & white targets at 200 and 300 yds, and had no trouble at all seeing .22 holes in the black at both distances. Conditions were good, overall, with clear skies, low wind and only moderate mirage. I couldn't be more pleased--this was exactly what I bought the scope for! (FWIW, I also could clearly see one of my fellow old fart's bullet holes (.223, I think) very clearly at 600 yds. Now, though, I gotta spoil it by admitting he was shooting Shoot-and-See targets. Now I guess I'll have to go back & try ordinary targets at 600, but maybe orange & white rather than B&W.)

Many thanks to you and everybody else on this thread who provided input to this decision. I think I got it right this time.

 

[dreever]

My current and hopefully last spotting scope upgrade is the Kowa TSN 884 to which I've added the new 25-60X wide angle zoom eyepiece with extra low dispersion XD optics.
This is my fifth and last spotting scope upgrade.........I hope!

Danny

 

[Ledd Slinger]

My current and hopefully last spotting scope upgrade is the Kowa TSN 884 to which I've added the new 25-60X wide angle zoom eyepiece with extra low dispersion XD optics.
This is my fifth and last spotting scope upgrade.........I hope!

Danny

I currently have the 20-70 zoom eyepiece for my Meopta S2, but am going to order the 30-60 wide angle eyepiece this week. I use my scope mainly for hunting, so I think the wider field of view will benefit me. The 20-70 has a very wide field of view as it is so I'm really looking forward to what Meopta considers a wide angle view

I expect that the 30-60 eyepiece will be the last thing I ever buy for a spotting scope as well. The Meopta glass is just so good. Really is some of the nicest glass Ive ever had the pleasure to look through. Not sure how anything in the future could be nice enough to ever make me consider upgrading. But you never know...

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Lloyd,

So glad you are happy with your Pentax and it is performing as you had hoped. May it serve you well for years to come

 

[Syncrowave]

How about doing a search on Vortex Razor HD85 spotter. It has top class optics at a much lower price than the Kowas. I bought one going off reviews and am extremely happy with it, great for finding bullet holes and reading mirage . So far I have only used the 20-60x eye piece, but have ordered a 23x LER eye piece for it also.

+1

They also have a 30X eyepiece with either MRAD or MOA stadia lines on it for range estimation. I got one with the MRAD stadia and it works GREAT.