Suggestions on spotting scopes

knoxville · March 30, 2010, 09:11 PM

what do you guys recommend as far as spotting scopes weight and money are both factors. I'm looking at scopes in the range of $300-$700 and trying to decide between the20-60x82 and the 16-45x65

bobelk99 · March 30, 2010, 09:37 PM

I hope you don't have to carry the size stated very far.

Is this for hunting or spotting at the range?

Daryl · March 30, 2010, 09:43 PM

These days, I dunno.

I'm using a 25x fixed power Leupold that gets me into more than enough trouble.

How does it do that? By sending me on LOOOONNG journeys after animals that are so far away that it sometimes takes a half day to get into the same canyon with them. It really sux when that "couple of canyons over" turns out to be 10-15 miles.

It's hard to believe how far away you can spot critters with a decent spotting scope.

BTW-I read my reply to my wife, and she giggled. She's watched me take a couple of those jouneys.

Daryl

Fat White Boy · March 30, 2010, 10:18 PM

For the bench, I use a Leupold 20-60X80 Green Ring, $389.00 on Hayneedle. To carry in the field, I have a little Jason Model 346 20-50X50mm- $30.00 from a friend who doesn't use it anymore. Very light and surprisingly capable for a low-end spotting scope.

LaserSpot · March 30, 2010, 10:32 PM

What brands are you looking at? Sharpness is more important than magnification; 60x is worthless if the image is hazy and fuzzy.

Regolith · March 31, 2010, 01:26 AM

Generally, a larger objective is better; it gathers more light, making for a brighter, sharper image.

Unless the 82mm scope has much worse glass than the 65mm one, or the extra weight is a big problem, I'd take the 20-60x82.

knoxville · March 31, 2010, 08:08 AM

I've been looking at the nikons prostaff's, i have always loved my nikon optics but i'm open to other suggestions. This spoting scope will be on three backpacking trips this year and a horseback elk hunt thats why i was even considering the 16-48x65

grubbylabs · April 3, 2010, 12:26 AM

I have a 20X I think is what it is. I got it off ebay, but you can sometimes find them around town for about the same price. I was less than 20.00 for mine. It isnt all that great but it is light and small and lets you see farther than the 10 X bino's. Plus if a horse rolls on it your not out much. Its a Bushnell. I think I have seen one at the pawn shop on main in old town.

LaserSpot · April 3, 2010, 09:14 AM

82mm is going to be a pretty big scope, I think you would want a lighter one for backpacking.

I took the cheap 20-60x zoom eyepiece off my cheap scope and put on a fixed 20x; it's much sharper now. Nikon is good brand, they shouldn't have that problem.

Scorch · April 3, 2010, 11:59 AM

Very portable variable spotting scopes for hunting (lighter weight, compact):
http://burrisoptics.com/compactspot.html
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-s...ng-12-40x60mm/

Traditional spotting scopes (heavier, bulkier, you may need to take the neighbor's kid along to carry it):
http://www.bushnell.com/products/sco.../elite/780080/
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-s...ia-15-45x60mm/

Outrageous spotting scopes (definitely see way out there):
http://burrisoptics.com/xts2575spot.html

hogdogs · April 3, 2010, 12:18 PM

As for what to buy, i have NO CLUE!!!

I will say that I can see the difference in optical quality and my vision has gone down hill badly in the last 10 years...

As for objective lens size, I would say that for a hunting spotter scope you don't need the same thing as for long range target shooting.

Keep in mind that those folks need to see the dinky hole in paper at several hundred yards to make corrections. You only need to see the animal to make the decision to shoot or not shoot. You don't need to count the dingle berries on the tick's butt.

Large scopes not only take up alot of space but are harder to protect from falls as well as being quite heavy compared to a smaller unit... GLASS IS HEAVY STUFF!!!
Brent

March 30, 2010, 09:11 PM	#1
knoxville Member Join Date: December 31, 2009 Location: pocatello,Id - rock springs,wy Posts: 83	Suggestions on spotting scopes what do you guys recommend as far as spotting scopes weight and money are both factors. I'm looking at scopes in the range of $300-$700 and trying to decide between the20-60x82 and the 16-45x65 __________________ To hunt the ghost in the darkness you must first find were he sleeps

March 31, 2010, 01:26 AM	#6
Regolith Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 400	Generally, a larger objective is better; it gathers more light, making for a brighter, sharper image. Unless the 82mm scope has much worse glass than the 65mm one, or the extra weight is a big problem, I'd take the 20-60x82. Last edited by Regolith; March 31, 2010 at 04:00 AM.

March 31, 2010, 08:08 AM	#7
knoxville Member Join Date: December 31, 2009 Location: pocatello,Id - rock springs,wy Posts: 83	I've been looking at the nikons prostaff's, i have always loved my nikon optics but i'm open to other suggestions. This spoting scope will be on three backpacking trips this year and a horseback elk hunt thats why i was even considering the 16-48x65 __________________ To hunt the ghost in the darkness you must first find were he sleeps

April 3, 2010, 12:26 AM	#8
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,465	I have a 20X I think is what it is. I got it off ebay, but you can sometimes find them around town for about the same price. I was less than 20.00 for mine. It isnt all that great but it is light and small and lets you see farther than the 10 X bino's. Plus if a horse rolls on it your not out much. Its a Bushnell. I think I have seen one at the pawn shop on main in old town. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)

April 3, 2010, 11:59 AM	#10
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Very portable variable spotting scopes for hunting (lighter weight, compact): http://burrisoptics.com/compactspot.html http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-s...ng-12-40x60mm/ Traditional spotting scopes (heavier, bulkier, you may need to take the neighbor's kid along to carry it): http://www.bushnell.com/products/sco.../elite/780080/ http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-s...ia-15-45x60mm/ Outrageous spotting scopes (definitely see way out there): http://burrisoptics.com/xts2575spot.html __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 30, 2010, 09:37 PM	#2
bobelk99 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Central KY Posts: 220	I hope you don't have to carry the size stated very far. Is this for hunting or spotting at the range?

March 30, 2010, 09:43 PM	#3
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	These days, I dunno. I'm using a 25x fixed power Leupold that gets me into more than enough trouble. How does it do that? By sending me on LOOOONNG journeys after animals that are so far away that it sometimes takes a half day to get into the same canyon with them. It really sux when that "couple of canyons over" turns out to be 10-15 miles. It's hard to believe how far away you can spot critters with a decent spotting scope. BTW-I read my reply to my wife, and she giggled. She's watched me take a couple of those jouneys. Daryl

March 30, 2010, 10:18 PM	#4
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	For the bench, I use a Leupold 20-60X80 Green Ring, $389.00 on Hayneedle. To carry in the field, I have a little Jason Model 346 20-50X50mm- $30.00 from a friend who doesn't use it anymore. Very light and surprisingly capable for a low-end spotting scope.

March 30, 2010, 10:32 PM	#5
LaserSpot Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 311	What brands are you looking at? Sharpness is more important than magnification; 60x is worthless if the image is hazy and fuzzy.

April 3, 2010, 09:14 AM	#9
LaserSpot Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 311	82mm is going to be a pretty big scope, I think you would want a lighter one for backpacking. I took the cheap 20-60x zoom eyepiece off my cheap scope and put on a fixed 20x; it's much sharper now. Nikon is good brand, they shouldn't have that problem.

April 3, 2010, 12:18 PM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	As for what to buy, i have NO CLUE!!! I will say that I can see the difference in optical quality and my vision has gone down hill badly in the last 10 years... As for objective lens size, I would say that for a hunting spotter scope you don't need the same thing as for long range target shooting. Keep in mind that those folks need to see the dinky hole in paper at several hundred yards to make corrections. You only need to see the animal to make the decision to shoot or not shoot. You don't need to count the dingle berries on the tick's butt. Large scopes not only take up alot of space but are harder to protect from falls as well as being quite heavy compared to a smaller unit... GLASS IS HEAVY STUFF!!! Brent