I still want a Kowa. mtmuley
Spotting scope questions
- Thread starter CBender09
- Start date
VOLhunter
Well-known member
A guy at my shooting club is an optical engineer and used to work for Kowa in grad school. He had almost every spotter in their lineup including those giant highlander binos. I got to try them all. I went with the 774 and couldn't be happier.
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I have a new kowa 884 unbelievable! Got about 30 hours on it now. It was either a swaro STX or kowa 884 (both blow away swaro hd's) like the color clarity tiny better in kowa and seemed lighter, like the 2 knob tune adjustment system, and a whole lot cheaper and available. Buy once cry once... Even if looking for more compact spotter, look thru some of the kowa products, nice glass!
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PorterHouse
Well-known member
Shangobango
Well-known member
Third. I bought an Athlon riflescope and spotter from @schmalts and couldn’t be happier.
N
ntodwild
Guest
Many of the comments have been pretty good including renting a scope (although this to me is throwing away money unless you plan on purchasing a very high end scope. Renting a high end scope when you having no intentions of spending the kind of money on such a scope is like test driving a Ferrari knowing you will never own it), contacting Schmalts on this site for the best pricing as well as knowledge is a solid piece of advice. I am very happy with my Athlon. Surely DID NOT pay 700.00 for it (Manufactures suggested price). Super happy with it's price point, glass clarity, size and weight for packing around and it's multitude of uses. Don't forget the price of a tripod in your purchase..... Kowa's are a very nice option and I have looked through them as well as some others have mentioned (honestly I didn't see the difference in price with my eyes. Yes better BUT that kind of price better????). As many have said I am no optics genius myself, just a life long hunter who is looking for the best bang for my buck (and money is an object!). A spotting scope is NOT a must to hunt any big game animal but it's surely a nice thing to have when you need it (mostly making decision in tough country that require decision before commitment). In a 15x45 power scope I am not sure I would pay more than I paid for my Athlon Ares even if I could afford it. Just my .02
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Thanks.
I’ve been looking at tripods as well, and it looks like that can add up quick too if you need to buy a head separately or something. I do have an older Nikon tripod that I think would work if need be. Probably not the most robust and stable legs out there, but may be able to make it work
I have an Athlon Ares. and I am very happy with it. Compared it side by side on a coues hunt, With a Leupold 12-40x60 non HD. The Leupold had a little warmer color, but the Ares was slightly sharper. As others have said. Schmalts will have the best prices.
I have a sx2 kenai and I am not impressed with it tbh. My $300-$400 binos put it to shame for the most part.
If I were you I'd up my budget for a spotter. You'll gain better focus, better eye relief, clarity, fov, quality, and less edge distortion.
If I were to rank reasons to upgrade this specific spotter eye relief, focus, and edge distortion, and quality would be the main reasons.
Eye relief isn't a a big deal if spotting from the truck window. If your sitting on a hill it sucks to try and position your eye perfectly everytime. Or, it gets dark and you're pressing your eyeball into the eyepiece trying to see everything.
The focus wheel on the specific spotter is so tight it moves the spotter and shakes everything when focusing. Since its tight you can never really get that sweet spot when it starts getting dark.
Edge distortion really doesn't bother me during the day but it starts blurring out the image as darkness comes. Which leads me to trying to focus that stupid wheel more, to which I can never get the sweet spot. $%$#
Clarity for the specimen is ok with the fixed 30x but my $400 binos still resolve better. I did use this scope for a few days comparing the zoom eyepiece to the fixed and I could resolve better with the fixed 30 than I could the zoom. This really could be a focus issue, but thats how it worked.
Quality is important. I've taken this spotter on 3 hunts and the twist eye ups are now loose and won't hold a position. The oring that held them steady pulled out. There are some plastic pieces in the obj end that bent, when the obj cover popped off.
One nice thing is that leupold will fix the issues so I am not worried there.
I list my grievances with this scope because I was hoping to get into something.. acceptable... at this price point. FOR ME, I think I need something more. I just wanted this to pair well with my binos, which it didnt.
If I were you I'd up my budget for a spotter. You'll gain better focus, better eye relief, clarity, fov, quality, and less edge distortion.
If I were to rank reasons to upgrade this specific spotter eye relief, focus, and edge distortion, and quality would be the main reasons.
Eye relief isn't a a big deal if spotting from the truck window. If your sitting on a hill it sucks to try and position your eye perfectly everytime. Or, it gets dark and you're pressing your eyeball into the eyepiece trying to see everything.
The focus wheel on the specific spotter is so tight it moves the spotter and shakes everything when focusing. Since its tight you can never really get that sweet spot when it starts getting dark.
Edge distortion really doesn't bother me during the day but it starts blurring out the image as darkness comes. Which leads me to trying to focus that stupid wheel more, to which I can never get the sweet spot. $%$#
Clarity for the specimen is ok with the fixed 30x but my $400 binos still resolve better. I did use this scope for a few days comparing the zoom eyepiece to the fixed and I could resolve better with the fixed 30 than I could the zoom. This really could be a focus issue, but thats how it worked.
Quality is important. I've taken this spotter on 3 hunts and the twist eye ups are now loose and won't hold a position. The oring that held them steady pulled out. There are some plastic pieces in the obj end that bent, when the obj cover popped off.
One nice thing is that leupold will fix the issues so I am not worried there.
I list my grievances with this scope because I was hoping to get into something.. acceptable... at this price point. FOR ME, I think I need something more. I just wanted this to pair well with my binos, which it didnt.
Just throwing this out there, we use our spotter at 60x all the time. If buying, go with a 60x spotter, variable power.
You will not be able to use the highest power all the time but when heat waves permit it's use you will like having the extra magnification.
We have a Leupold Gold ring and it is nice and light, upgraded to a Swaro years back and it is much better but heavier.
Lots of good spotters out there now, I would talk with Schmalts and get his recc. too, great guy to deal with.
You will not be able to use the highest power all the time but when heat waves permit it's use you will like having the extra magnification.
We have a Leupold Gold ring and it is nice and light, upgraded to a Swaro years back and it is much better but heavier.
Lots of good spotters out there now, I would talk with Schmalts and get his recc. too, great guy to deal with.
BuzzH
Well-known member
If you can find a used leupold goldring in the 12-40x60 I'd give that scope more than a serious thought.
I've had one for close to 20 years and IMO, for clarity, compact size, weight, magnification, etc. its tough to top for backpack hunting.
I picked mine up for about $500 and when I drew my basically once in a lifetime sheep tag, I used it over my swaro. I like the swarovski for picking apart pronghorn, etc. when I'm close to a vehicle, on short hunts, etc. But for backpacking the Leupold is what I grab every single time.
Probably one of the most under-appreciated, fairly priced spotting scopes on the market.
I've had one for close to 20 years and IMO, for clarity, compact size, weight, magnification, etc. its tough to top for backpack hunting.
I picked mine up for about $500 and when I drew my basically once in a lifetime sheep tag, I used it over my swaro. I like the swarovski for picking apart pronghorn, etc. when I'm close to a vehicle, on short hunts, etc. But for backpacking the Leupold is what I grab every single time.
Probably one of the most under-appreciated, fairly priced spotting scopes on the market.
I look for used ones daily...not a ton of luck yet. There is a Leupold gold ring (I believe) for $310 where I’m at, but looks like it’s fixed 25x, 50mm
I did see a used S2 somewhere the other day, but I think I’d lean towards a little more magnification. Really wish it went more around 35-40x.
We’ll see. May have convinced my wife that the budget needs to increase a bit
time will tell.
Schaaf
Well-known member
What about an Opticron MM4 60 with the 15-45 eyepiece?I did see a used S2 somewhere the other day, but I think I’d lean towards a little more magnification. Really wish it went more around 35-40x.
We’ll see. May have convinced my wife that the budget needs to increase a bit
Get the maven doubler for your binos. Saves you some weight too. Other than that I would demo a spotter on your trip and save your shekels for the good spotter down the road that you really want. No goat and sheep hunting experience so wtf do I know
WasatchRanger
Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2022
- Messages
- 24
@CBender09 what did you end up going with? Looking at similar scopes - would love your input
