New spotting scope

ADIDAS69 · July 1, 2018, 09:22 AM

So for a hundred years I’ve been suffering with a Barska spotting scope. It’s finally time for a bit of an upgrade. Whilst like me I’m sure you’re all saving up for the new 100mm objective Leica, till I have $5K I have narrowed my options to the following 3 and would love some thoughts from persons with possibly more knowledge than me. The Redfield 20-60 80mm I understand they’re made in Oregon and are a subsidiary of Leupold, I had a chance to look through one at my local sporting goods shoppe. I could read, with some difficulty due to image aberration, 12 point font at about 110 yards. The second scope is the Konus 20-60 100mm I understand these are Chinese in manufacture using Japanese made glass though glass made to Konus’ spec to meet a price point. I’ve not been able to find a local retailer that has one I can look through. The third is the Celestron C90 this is more accurately described as a telescope as it uses interchangeable eye pieces and is generally meant for viewing planets. I’ve not discovered much about their manufacture and have not have a chance to look through one. Thoughts and ideas welcome.

straightShot · July 1, 2018, 11:32 AM

Go with the most scope that you can afford so that you're not looking to upgrade again in a couple of years.

Scoits · July 1, 2018, 02:11 PM

Have a bushnell Sentry that I could afford in 1975. Have packed it on many hunt and countless hours on the bench at ranges.
Have a 20 x fixed with a 32x lense for times when I thought I needed it. It is beat and rough looking today but does all I need in any big game hunt. Have been on many because the weight was minimal

RC20 · July 1, 2018, 03:02 PM

You have to watch Redfield products, Leopold started out making lower cost versions of their stuff, then bought tout a Philippine (memory?) made one. They quit, I think they realized it was not going to fly quality wise.

I don't know that even Leopold other non scope stuff is US made, kind of doubt it.

Even if not for the most part it is going to be good stuff. I would sleauth and look at labels, Japan puts out good optics, China and Philippines not so much.

I have two Cabella made in Japan scopes and love them, better than Leopold (have an eye problem with Leopold, that is my eyes not them - I do have a Leopold rimfire and for the most part it does fine for me but the cross hairs fade out )

I do have a couple of the Redfield Reovltion US made scopes, those are solid hunting scopes and good enough for Mil Surplus shooting down to around an MOA.

Chainsaw. · July 1, 2018, 05:01 PM

Im gonna glom onto your thread here Amigo. I took am looking for a spotting scope, my budget is pretty low but, I was able to check out a friends Vortex Razor line scope, 20-44 IIRC, niiiiice clarity. Good peice, but, $1100. He says he is after the ability to count antler points to keep hunts legal. Me, Im after being able to see "Is that my steel plate?" Or "is that a coyote or not".

Dufus · July 1, 2018, 05:45 PM

Take a look at the Celestron C5.

It is a little more money than the C90 and larger, but it is a good spotting scope for the range AND if you get bored, you can look at Jupiter and Saturn.

ADIDAS69 · July 2, 2018, 01:28 AM

Dufus yeah I’ve been teatering towards maybe the C5. My daughter is 4.75 years old and loves astronomy and mars will super close here in a few days. I’ll get a lot less greif from what’s’er’name if the item is dual purpose and not just a toy for me, plus I love my wee princess. The C90 does seem a bit more portable. Do you have a C5 and love it?

ms6852 · July 3, 2018, 10:52 PM

Depending on what distances you want to see with it , here is a link with a great write up on spotting scopes that can help you get a perspective on what to expect from the scopes based on a dollar value. This article can help you narrow down your prospects. Hope it helps.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/h...-shooting.html

HiBC · July 3, 2018, 11:54 PM

I like Kowa

std7mag · July 4, 2018, 07:18 AM

I got tired of the Simmons 20-60X60.
I ended up getting the Celestron C70 Mini Mak.
Love the thing! Also bought the eyepiece and filter kit.

I don't think you would go wrong with the C90.

Ricklin · July 4, 2018, 11:05 AM

I have a Celestron Nexstar 5....too much for a spotting scope.

The higher your mag goes the greater the need for a rock solid mount. The tripod for my Nexstar is a beast.

I would stick with refractor type scopes for spotting. Compact and much more rugged than hybrid reflector scope designs.

If your choice uses 1 1/4" eyepieces, don't skimp. A good scope will really be compromised by a cheap eyepiece.

Don Fischer · July 4, 2018, 11:25 AM

Lot of people think the standard of a good spotter is cost. Why don't you make an offer on the Hubble scope! :-)

Jim Watson · July 4, 2018, 01:27 PM

Because they screwed it up.

July 1, 2018, 09:22 AM	#1
ADIDAS69 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 381	New spotting scope So for a hundred years I’ve been suffering with a Barska spotting scope. It’s finally time for a bit of an upgrade. Whilst like me I’m sure you’re all saving up for the new 100mm objective Leica, till I have $5K I have narrowed my options to the following 3 and would love some thoughts from persons with possibly more knowledge than me. The Redfield 20-60 80mm I understand they’re made in Oregon and are a subsidiary of Leupold, I had a chance to look through one at my local sporting goods shoppe. I could read, with some difficulty due to image aberration, 12 point font at about 110 yards. The second scope is the Konus 20-60 100mm I understand these are Chinese in manufacture using Japanese made glass though glass made to Konus’ spec to meet a price point. I’ve not been able to find a local retailer that has one I can look through. The third is the Celestron C90 this is more accurately described as a telescope as it uses interchangeable eye pieces and is generally meant for viewing planets. I’ve not discovered much about their manufacture and have not have a chance to look through one. Thoughts and ideas welcome. __________________ "...I would walk with my people if I could find them..."

July 1, 2018, 11:32 AM	#2
straightShot Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: MI, USA Posts: 668	Go with the most scope that you can afford so that you're not looking to upgrade again in a couple of years. __________________ Take a kid shooting.

July 1, 2018, 03:02 PM	#4
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	You have to watch Redfield products, Leopold started out making lower cost versions of their stuff, then bought tout a Philippine (memory?) made one. They quit, I think they realized it was not going to fly quality wise. I don't know that even Leopold other non scope stuff is US made, kind of doubt it. Even if not for the most part it is going to be good stuff. I would sleauth and look at labels, Japan puts out good optics, China and Philippines not so much. I have two Cabella made in Japan scopes and love them, better than Leopold (have an eye problem with Leopold, that is my eyes not them - I do have a Leopold rimfire and for the most part it does fine for me but the cross hairs fade out ) I do have a couple of the Redfield Reovltion US made scopes, those are solid hunting scopes and good enough for Mil Surplus shooting down to around an MOA. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

July 1, 2018, 05:01 PM	#5
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Im gonna glom onto your thread here Amigo. I took am looking for a spotting scope, my budget is pretty low but, I was able to check out a friends Vortex Razor line scope, 20-44 IIRC, niiiiice clarity. Good peice, but, $1100. He says he is after the ability to count antler points to keep hunts legal. Me, Im after being able to see "Is that my steel plate?" Or "is that a coyote or not". __________________ Just shoot the damn thing. Last edited by Chainsaw.; July 2, 2018 at 10:45 AM.

July 2, 2018, 01:28 AM	#7
ADIDAS69 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 381	Dufus yeah I’ve been teatering towards maybe the C5. My daughter is 4.75 years old and loves astronomy and mars will super close here in a few days. I’ll get a lot less greif from what’s’er’name if the item is dual purpose and not just a toy for me, plus I love my wee princess. The C90 does seem a bit more portable. Do you have a C5 and love it? __________________ "...I would walk with my people if I could find them..."

July 1, 2018, 02:11 PM	#3
Scoits Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2017 Posts: 178	Have a bushnell Sentry that I could afford in 1975. Have packed it on many hunt and countless hours on the bench at ranges. Have a 20 x fixed with a 32x lense for times when I thought I needed it. It is beat and rough looking today but does all I need in any big game hunt. Have been on many because the weight was minimal

July 1, 2018, 05:45 PM	#6
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	Take a look at the Celestron C5. It is a little more money than the C90 and larger, but it is a good spotting scope for the range AND if you get bored, you can look at Jupiter and Saturn.

July 3, 2018, 10:52 PM	#8
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	Depending on what distances you want to see with it , here is a link with a great write up on spotting scopes that can help you get a perspective on what to expect from the scopes based on a dollar value. This article can help you narrow down your prospects. Hope it helps. https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/h...-shooting.html __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

July 3, 2018, 11:54 PM	#9
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	I like Kowa

July 4, 2018, 07:18 AM	#10
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	I got tired of the Simmons 20-60X60. I ended up getting the Celestron C70 Mini Mak. Love the thing! Also bought the eyepiece and filter kit. I don't think you would go wrong with the C90. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

July 4, 2018, 11:05 AM	#11
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,011	Celestron Good stuff I have a Celestron Nexstar 5....too much for a spotting scope. The higher your mag goes the greater the need for a rock solid mount. The tripod for my Nexstar is a beast. I would stick with refractor type scopes for spotting. Compact and much more rugged than hybrid reflector scope designs. If your choice uses 1 1/4" eyepieces, don't skimp. A good scope will really be compromised by a cheap eyepiece. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

July 4, 2018, 11:25 AM	#12
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	Lot of people think the standard of a good spotter is cost. Why don't you make an offer on the Hubble scope! :-)

July 4, 2018, 01:27 PM	#13
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Because they screwed it up.