So this has long pissed me off. But why the hell isn't the spotting scope balanced? As soon as you put the eyepiece on its very back heavy. The tripod mount is way too far forward in the design. Makes it a super pain in the ass when trying to use a small or light tripod.

Or am I simply missing something obvious?

Bobby, are you sure you're looking through the right end? :-)

crap

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
http://www.swarovskioptik.com/...-scope-rail-p5198127

So you have to spend an extra 2 bills to make your 2K spotter balance right????

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
http://www.swarovskioptik.com/...-scope-rail-p5198127

So,you have to spend an extra 2 bills to make your 2K spotter balance right?

OB, we heard you the first time :-)

Swarovski spotters are engineered close to perfection. That apparently means that they don't balance well on their own. the engineers seemingly realized that and determined it would be better to use an accessory to correct the problem rather than to change the design of the spotter.

Which would you rather have, a piece of crap spotter, or a great spotter? If you have $2000 to spend on the spotter you probably have a couple hundred more to spend on the balancer.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
OB, we heard you the first time :-)

I was in shock!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
Swarovski spotters are engineered close to perfection. That apparently means that they don't balance well on their own. the engineers seemingly realized that and determined it would be better to use an accessory to correct the problem rather than to change the design of the spotter.



Which would you rather have, a piece of crap spotter, or a great spotter? If you have $2000 to spend on the spotter you probably have a couple hundred more to spend on the balancer.

Jeez ,I have a Meopta that has no problems and I would put it up against a Swaro any day.

I would write to Swaro and complain, Bobby. If there is some sense in their set-up, they might tell you what it is. If there isn't, maybe they'll offer you some deal to keep you from rubbishing them on forums

And if they do nothing, at least venting your spleen should be theraputic.

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
Swarovski spotters are engineered close to perfection. That apparently means that they don't balance well on their own. the engineers seemingly realized that and determined it would be better to use an accessory to correct the problem rather than to change the design of the spotter.



Which would you rather have, a piece of crap spotter, or a great spotter? If you have $2000 to spend on the spotter you probably have a couple hundred more to spend on the balancer.

Jeez ,I have a Meopta that has no problems and I would put it up against a Swaro any day.

Right on. The Meopta S2 takes a back seat to no one.

I actually did contact swarovski, the only reply I got was a link to the same adapter posted above.

I was hoping for some explanation of how its better off being back heavy, etc... guess not.


It's ok. I don't want the adapter rail thingy, I'd rather just make myself a little string and lightweight sack to hang off the front. Throw a couple rocks in it if need be to balance it out.

Still weird that they wouldn't design it in a way that would be balanced. Maybe the larger size 80 is balanced (heavier in the front) and they just kept the design the same for the 65 to save a few bucks in production?

Maybe you could photograph your home-made weight, send it to Swaro, mentioning that your buddies on AR can't wait to see it. That might be too much for their Teutonic OCD to countenance

I have written to them in the past and found there are human beings there and some do speak English and are quite helpful.

I'll do that

I just finished looking at the new models they have come out with (ATX, STX) and it somewhat confirms my suspicions. The back half (eye-piece) of the scope remains the same while the objective half varies quite a bit in size and weight. Even though its a completely different design, I think its the same concept. Anyone out there have an older model STS or ATS 80? I bet it balances just fine, and I bet the new 65 models still do not!

I have the previous model AT80HD, mounted on a steel Manfrotto tripod with an oil filled ballhead. Perfect for range work and very stable and balanced but too heavy a package to lug around in the field.


Anyway, I agree that balance should be achieved by help of the proper tripod. If I had to redo it today, I'd take a hard look at Manfrotto's (I believe it's sold by Bogen in the U.S.) latest carbon tripods (I believe the tripods marketed by Swarovski are made by Manfrotto).

Did yours come with a moggy, too, Bobby?