Spotting Scopes

TheTexan · 10-09-2003, 08:27 PM

What to look for? Any good suggestions? What do you like/dislike about yours? What brands do I need to stay away from?

Mello-Yello · 10-09-2003, 08:42 PM

I bought the top-end Cabela's rubber armored scope a few years ago, but only cuz it was all I could afford. It's been a good scope for the most part, but I use it for bowhunting Mule Deer in late August and early Sept. Once the mornings start getting cold, I have fogging issues. I'd recommend something waterproof, not water-resistant.

My next spotting scope will be a good set of 20x binoculars. Much less eye fatigue if you're going to be spending hours sitting on a ridge watching deer a mile away.

A good set of long-range optics can save you miles of walking. Or, they may instigate miles of walking, but at least you'll know for sure of why your walking so far.

Flatfish · 10-09-2003, 08:45 PM

What is your budget? You usually get what you pay for.

Mark and the 12-40 dog.

blacktail · 10-09-2003, 10:05 PM

Swarovski, Leica and Zeiss are usually considered the best, but they all cost over $1,000.

I have heard that Fujinon has an excellent spotting scope for the money.

Not sure if Bausch & Lomb is still making them, but the 15x45 Elite is/was nice for a "mid-priced" scope.

Mike

salmurai · 10-09-2003, 10:32 PM

I'm with Flatfish. Let your pocketbook be your guide. I've got a Bausch & Lomb Discoverer. It is a nice "car scope" but way too big for packing around. I'm looking at the new compact Leupolds to pack around. They run about $350......

Fish Hawg · 10-10-2003, 06:05 AM

Leupold 12-40 w/mill dot it is the same one our troops are using in Iraq. It has treated me very well; and it is not hard on you eyes and very clear. Just My $0.02

tag-a-long · 10-10-2003, 06:14 AM

Nikon covered in realtree cammo. Came with a tripod that you can stand up behind, and a window mount and soft carry case. 15-45 power. Great optics with a sliding sunshade. Picks up light well in low light. 399 at sportsmans warehouse.

Bait O' Eggs · 10-10-2003, 06:45 AM

My spotting scope is the Leupold double tube looking scope. Very short and easy to carry. 12-40 power, and the eye relief is huge. I dont wear glasses but my hunting partner does and he cant get a full field of view with his glasses on using any other scope.

They are around $700 last time I checked.

Speaking of glasses - If you wear glasses and cant get a full field of view with your glasses on and have a hard time focusing your binoculars without your glasses on you might try what my buddy did (buddy cant wear contacts). He took an old pair of glasses, marked the top, and popped the glass out of the frame, put duct tape on both sides so he wouldnt scratch the lense, slowly ground the lenses round on his bench grounder, removed the duct tape, then taped the edges he ground and popped the lenses from his glasses into the eye cups on his binoculars. They fit snug and stay there permanently. He can now get his eyes close enough to the binoculars to get a full field of view while looking thru his corrective lenses. He has done this a couple times, and has even gone to building a mold to inject a perfect rubber ring for the round lenses from his glasses to fit, and had lenses ordered round to fit them perfectly in his Zeiss bino's. It is not a watertight seal and sometimes wants to fog on him between his glasses and his binoculars, but since he has done this his spotting ability has gone up 100 fold.

TheTexan · 10-10-2003, 07:28 AM

Thanks for all of the info. I would like to spend the least amount I can and still get decent optics. I figured I would spend around $500 to get something that I would enjoy using.

Thanks again for all of the input and keep it coming!

Jignfloat · 10-12-2003, 06:12 PM

check out Binoculars.com, they have many brands and great prices.....take a look at Alpens scopes as they all are waterproof and start very affordable...having seen a couple of them, Im thinking they are one heck of a deal. Russ

crabbait · 10-12-2003, 07:31 PM

I have an older Redfield 20-45 mounted on a cut down rifle stock like the F&G guys use. It is great for quickly looking over animals. I normally don't have time to set up a tripod when I see hair on a distant ridge and spotting scopes must be steadied to be effective.

I also have a Discoverer 20-60 power set up on a tripod. I use it for glassing the bar at Westport from Kims living room. Great light gathering from the huge objective lens but too large for field use.

The Leopold that BOE mentioned is the best quality glass I have seen for the price. It is also by far the most compact. I have checked them all out and it would be my #1 choice. Wish it was available when I bought the Redfield. I think Roy nailed the price, too.

If I were thinking of spending $500, I would go the extra $200 and get the Leopold. You can look through most of the best at Northwest Armory. They have (had?) them set up on tripods looking out a window so you can do a side-by-side comparison.

Boedy · 10-12-2003, 08:12 PM

I picked up a Alpen 18x30x50 the other day and for the price it is hard to beat. $109 at Sportsmens.

[ 10-12-2003, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: Boedy ]

10-12-2003, 08:20 PM

I have a Redfield and it's adequate. The next one will be the one BoE has.