Thread: 65 or 85 spotting scope for the Sourthen Alps?

For those fellas who have been and seen. What's the go for scopes?

Originally Posted by Jit

For those fellas who have been and seen. What's the go for scopes?

Either or. If looking at high end stuff, the bigger you go the bigger the cost.

Can't go past Swarovski or Leica but they are pricey. Unless something better comes along I wouldn't use any other brand than those 2.

I spend ages during the winter months carting and sitting behind binos and a 65 swaro and don't have a complaint.
You can age and score chamois and thar pretty accurately from a long way out.
Other brands I have used don't compare.

I have heard the vortex razor is not too bad but I havent looked thru one.

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Zeiss victory diascope 65 is missing from that list

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Originally Posted by Jpayne

Zeiss victory diascope 65 is missing from that list

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Good point. Totally forgot about the Zeiss brand. Although I have never looked thru one of their spotters. I imagine they would be as good as the 2 I mentioned.

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Originally Posted by Jpayne

Zeiss victory diascope 65 is missing from that list

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Yup I like the 65FL . Looks tough and quite compact.

Don't want to lug around more weight than strictly necessary but equally don't want to let go of the image....

I have used every one of them at some stage. The zeiss and swaro are even players in my opinion. Both almost identical weight and image quality the same. The leica is probably just that little bit clearer at the fringes, but is a compromise as it's a bit more bulky than the other two.
The 85's are all quite a bit brighter and clearer as to be expected. But I wouldn't wanna lug one of them around a mountain.
As for the razor, it will do the trick just fine for most people and save a lot of money, it will disappoint in low light though. Or if one of your buddy's comes along and puts his zeiss, leica or swaro beside it on the hill

All personal preference between the 3 frontrunners though I think

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I went with the Swarovski ATX 65.
Its all you will probably need and is a great balance between weight and optical performance with a good carbon fiber tripod.
Don't forget that the tripod is just as important and the 85mm scope will maybe need a similarly bigger/ heavier tripod ?

If Im with someone I know can shoot well and has good gear, Im happy to carry the spotter and only one rifle between two of us.
You use the binoculars and spotter vastly more than the rifle.
Saves countless hours of stalking into bino range only to be disappointed about the animals trophy quality.
Can count deer points at 1km easily.
Great for looking in detail at potential access routes for a stalk or recovery.
Add a set of two way radios and its a great place to be sitting behind the spotter directing a mate onto the animal.

I sold an ATX 85 as part of a mates estate. If it had been an ATX 65 I would have kept it myself. The 85mm was a big unit and the light gathering was amazing, but the bulk put me off.