From what I have read on spotting scopes everyone suggests buying the expensive brands. Is there really that much of a difference in the image from a $800 spotting scope with say a cheaper $200-$300 spotting scope?
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From what I have read on spotting scopes everyone suggests buying the expensive brands. Is there really that much of a difference in the image from a $800 spotting scope with say a cheaper $200-$300 spotting scope?
Yep, had a barska cheap o and now got a leupold, you get what you pay for with optics
There's a big jump in performance between cheap and mid range. Then you get into diminishing returns although they are still there.
I guess it depends largely on what you intend to do with it. If you just want a spotting scope for the range you might be happy with a cheapy, but if you would like to take photos of game then you will probably want something better.
I had a nice Leupold spotting scope for a while and although it did a good job I got frustrated with the blurry edges. I sold it and have decided to save for a Swarovski instead... mainly because I like the clarity, not so much the price.
I look at some of the photos people on this forum post for our enjoyment and envy both their talent and equipment choices. It's one area where good gear can definitely improve the results.
I will mainly be using it for assessing stag heads and I'm just starting to get in to tahr and Chamois hunting.
At what distance? Cheap one will be ok for 200m.... Swaro, Zeiss, Leica your talking 2kmQuote:
Originally Posted by Lukeduncan
I have binos so i have 200m covered but probably around the 1 km mark. Maybe further. What are leupold spotting scopes like for looking at game
Then don't scrimp mate. Buy the best optics you can and don't rush into it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lukeduncan
Especially for trophy hunting.
Being able to spot a broken tip of a tine or a scrub worn bull thar at distance can save a lot of hard work.
Shadows and certain types of light can lead to over estimating things.
Being able to age an animal at distance is also helpful when making certain decisions on trophy quality.
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Keep an eye out for second hand as well. Some good deals come up.
Start looking in the $700-$800 realm. Think my leupold was $850 rrp (didn't pay that though;)) leupold, nikon, Bushnell, vortex(do they do spotters?) would probably the job, no need for a $2.5K swaroQuote:
Originally Posted by Lukeduncan
As stug says second hand ones do appear. I brought a cheap one and ended giving it away a few years later when I could afford something better
Theres a Leupold 15-45x60 spotting scope on facebook at the moment for $500?
I like the idea of using a good superzoom camera as a spotting device, as you can take a pic, then zoom in even closer digitally.
I got a good condition secondhand Konus 20-60 x80 off the forum, but it must have got bumped in transit after I got it, as it now gives a slight fish eye effect.
As has been said, you get what you pay for
The Nikon ED scopes have a good rep. Nikon ED50-A Angled FieldScope with eyepiece x27 | Trade Me
Are many people using cameras?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pengy
Have one and they are ok.... Find the optics through my leupold are better. Last trip I had both and friend I was wih used his Samsung phone through the spotter and it had better pictures than my sx50Quote:
Originally Posted by Lukeduncan
I have a nikon ED50 very lightweight scope. I bought the body and eye piece separately out of Japan via ebay to save coin and come in under customs limits. They have been around for a while but still rate pretty well Vortex Razor HD 50 vs Nikon ED50 vs Minox MD50
what kind of distance is it good for?Quote:
Originally Posted by yerimaginaryM8
Just adding what others have said , spend more money I had a Bushnell a few years ago & the only thing it was good for is at the range , trying to evaluate a tahr or cham 1k away with cheap optics is hopeless
is it worth starting off with a cheap one or not?
No mate,it's not...... if I had taken the $$$$$ that I've spent on cheap shit over the years and just bought something that was a bit more expensive,had great reviews and the groundwork done by others , I would have been way ahead of the game.The respondents here on this thread have given some bloody good advice,advice that is worth listening too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lukeduncan
I've just purchased the .. Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 binoculars.... $900 US.... let me tell you this ... the clarity and the optics quality is unbelievable compared to the 2 other cheap binocs that I have.... seeing is believing
Something to consider with spotting scopes is their optical clarity is limited by the glass used and build quality. Unlike a given rifle caliber which has an effective range between X & Y, a viewing instruments capability really is endless. While you may have an idea in your mind that you want to view game up to X metres, in reality, when you are sitting in a large braided river bed, or up on a mountain face and you spot something of interest in excess of your predetermined distance, it is wonderful being able to assess it clearly. As an example, a few weeks back I noticed a brown animal which looked like a deer with my binoculars from the lounge window. I pulled out the spotter and confirmed it as a free range hind. I then noticed 3 additional animals. One hind had a small circular ear tag about the size of a $2 coin in each ear. The distance was in excess of 2.5km! (range finder maxed out at 2556 yds). The spotter was a high end brand but this example is to illustrated that with quality optics, you can assess objects a long way out. As has been stated above, you are really throwing your money away if you purchase a cheap spotting scope. You will use it two or three times, realise its not worth lugging around your chosen hunting ground, and leave it behind to save weight. Sadly you have to fork out reasonable coin to get quality. My advise is to save until you can afford a reasonable unit, and then save some more and purchase a quality scope...u wont regret it in the long run! Oh and don't forget about the tripod...no point forking out good coin on a spotter if you then purchase an unstable tripod which wobbles around in the wind or worse still blows over and your expensive spotter bounces off down the hillside...
Regardless of what you end up with, watching and evaluating game is an enjoyable activity so good luck! :)
I experimented with Nikon and Optolyth spotters in the past, however neither make gave me the image clarity I was looking for to be able to ascertain the sex and assess the quality of deer at a few hundred metres.
I restarted my search again this year and looked at all sorts of options having having heard good things about the budget Vortex and also Hawk spotters which are now on the market. A member from a UK forum who lives fairly close very kindly gave me a demo with his Swarovski STS HD spotter and I was sold, took me a few months to save up and buy one but well worth the investment, but you really need to think of it as investing your hard earned cash in good quality kit that will last a lifetime and perform.
A good quality tripod is also essential. You can get some very light carbon tripods but they are expensive for the minimal weight saving over aluminium. The Manfrotto Befree lightweight aluminium travel tripods are well worth a look.
Where's the best place price wise to buy Swarovski or Leica spotting scopes generally?
Have heard rumours taphapi sports is the place for scopes
Ebay is good, especially if you have someone in the states that can receive for you and then send over, or bring overQuote:
Originally Posted by Snowgrass
Forum member sarvo is the man with the deals
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Ssshhh - not so loud :=B:Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiddy
Bloody NZ$ making deals difficult - the Jacinda/North Korea effect hurting imports
Anyone wanting Range Binos at pre "Jacinda effect" PM me ASAP to save 200$ at the minimum - cause next lot be 3800+
Yep the superzoom cameras are very good option and way better than cheap or even mid range price spotting scopes .Quote:
Originally Posted by Lukeduncan
Added advantage is they are light & compact. If your budget is under $1k then I'd go with digital superzoom every time.
They don't quite match the optical quality of a Leica or Swarovski top end spotter. But they are very good.