Straight or Angled???

Big TULE · 02-12-2007, 07:21 PM

Going to hunt Colorado next year. I am going to get a Leupold Sequoia spotting scope 20x60x80. What i want to know is pro's and con's of either.
We have a straight bushnell's. I think i would like the angled, but i havn't made up my mind yet.
And i am talking about the eye piece.

baltz526 · 02-12-2007, 07:51 PM

if the focus ring and zoom ring are not smooth as butter, it is real hard to stay on an animal at long range. to me that would be more important than angle or strait

oregonoutdoors · 02-12-2007, 07:58 PM

Not to rain on your plans, but I have two buddies that have bought that spotting scope. On returned his and the other threw his in the back of the truck after one morning. IMO lower end spotting scopes are not very helpful. Maybe only for comparing horns, but definetly not for spotting animals. Now their gold ring spotter is worth its weight in gold.

Maverick Maxcat · 02-12-2007, 08:31 PM

I've used both, now own an angled Swarovski 20x60x80. Angled is the only way to go! I have it on a low tripod in front of me, so I can lean forward and look into it. The straight scopes require a higher tripod, (with more unintentional movement of the scope), or that you lay on your belly and crane your neck backwards to see through it. If you are comfortable you will look longer and harder, and use it more.

adobe wall · 02-12-2007, 08:46 PM

try each and pick what works. I've got an angled Kowa. Top end scopes have eyepieces that can be swapped out to fit your needs, I use around 27x (or therabouts) long eye relief. The LER is really nice, especially if you wear glasses.

Low-mid end glass is never a bargain, top tier spotting scopes hold their value and even appreciate a bit. I used a cheap scope for a couple of years but wish I'd have gone to the Kowa from day one.

Kowas have a variety of eyepieces and you can buy rugged armoring for the eyepiece that will really save wear and tear on your scope. Buy good glass, cry once. Buy cheap glass and you'll cry twice.

jmho, aw

huntinfool · 02-12-2007, 08:48 PM

Angled suck UNLESS you're on the bottom of the mountain looking up at the top. It also requires a very low tripod. You won't be able to see over the top of the brush. It is also very hard to get lined up on an animal because you are looking down at it rather that straight at it. Have you ever peered over the edge of a cliff at animals below you while using an angled scope? It is extremely hard and very dangerous. Not to mention giving up your position by skylining yourself. My brother-in-law bought the Swarovski 20-60x85 angled and after using it for one weekend, I went out and bought the straight.

adobe wall · 02-12-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Angled suck UNLESS you're on the bottom of the mountain looking up at the top. It also requires a very low tripod. You won't be able to see over the top of the brush. It is also very hard to get lined up on an animal because you are looking down at it rather that straight at it. Have you ever peered over the edge of a cliff at animals below you while using an angled scope? It is extremely hard and very dangerous. Not to mention giving up your position by skylining yourself. My brother-in-law bought the Swarovski 20-60x85 angled and after using it for one weekend, I went out and bought the straight.

Yeah I reckon if you used the angled models like that they wouldn't work too well.

However, if you buy the right tripod and use the scope in the manner it is designed, it's outstanding. Angled eyepiece scopes are mean to be set up to one side, and you can lay much closer to the ground with an angled eyepiece scope than a straight one.

Kinda like this......

That stand isn't practical for hunting but there are plenty of very lightweight tripods available that are. I usually run my scope lower than the shooter in this pic and at almost a true 90 degrees to the side.

If I'm scoring, and it's hot, I'll lay on my back and turn the scope so that the eyepiece is pointed straight down so that I'm underneath it. (hot days, I'd lay a white towel over my face to stay cooler). I've never used a swarovski but I'd imagine that it has the rotating ring built into the body just like the Kowa does.

I've used my Kowa on a window mount and I never hover over the eyepiece- I always rotate the eyepiece to one side.

hth, aw

ps, I have no idea why my attempts to embed a pic are resulting only in links. I'll try to sort that out.

woolybuggerboy · 02-12-2007, 10:39 PM

i picked up the leupold straight lense on sale for 220 a year ago. spotted elk 400 yards away with it. I have been very pleased with it. it will get the job done, but you can always go for better i suppose.

huntinfool · 02-13-2007, 05:29 AM

For hunting, I can't see an angled being practical. I use an Outdoorsmans Tripod, and can sit perfectly behind it. The picture below is of an angled scope. You can see how difficult it can/could be to get lined up on something, even with the cheater alignment tool.

This is what we were looking at. This was on 60x at a distance of 409 yds.

onstep · 02-13-2007, 07:28 AM

I really like my angled zeiss. The angled works great because I'm always sitting when using it and looking either straight up or straight down. I use a compact (ultra light, short) tripod and it works great.

DavidH · 02-13-2007, 08:29 AM

Angled Kowa, eye piece to the side, just like Adobe Wall said.

ElkMaster78 · 02-13-2007, 02:11 PM

I have a swarovski angled and a Leupold straight. Only use the Swarovski!!!!
Tony

Big TULE · 02-13-2007, 04:23 PM

So is the Leupold a cheap piece of glass???

I figured since it was leupold it would be good.

I can not afford Swarovsky, and we have been getting by with bushnell, so leupold will be good.
I also have 500 in cabelas bucks to spend so i can get it for free.

adobe wall · 02-13-2007, 04:35 PM

Leupold isn't cheap but in the realm of spotting scopes it's not premium. If I'm spending your money I'd put it into something with solid resale value.

You're in Washington, right? If you're up Vancouver way give me a holler and check out the features on my Kowa. The two primary markets for top end glass are birdwatchers and competitive shooters. You'd have no problem turning over the Kowa for little if any loss if you decide to move it.

It's easy to look through any particular spotting scope and say it'll do. When you line up the top dozen or so sellers side by side and look out across the range at Camp Perry, the differences in the glass is pretty easy to pick out. That's how I settled on the Kowa- and pretty much every one I shot with.

If you don't need the extra features and if you'll never, ever sell the scope, then it probably doesn't matter. I'd never call Leupold junk- it ain't- and it's my brand of choice for riflescopes. They've never made a serious shot at the top end of the spotting scope market, though.

just my .02 AW

Big TULE · 02-13-2007, 04:51 PM

AW i live real close to vancouver...
No i will probably never sell the spotting scope. I was just looking for something in the 500 dollar range, and something with a higher power.
I have cheap glass right now and i am ready fro something better.

Bait O' Eggs · 02-13-2007, 05:33 PM

The problem with the angled as far as I am concerned is the angled gets rained on, the straight one doesnt.

I dont care what angle I have to stand in to look, as long as I can see thru the lense its all good, with a wet eye piece I cant see squat.

If you only hunt the east side in summer I guess the angled might be more comfortable to look thru