Plain and Simple: I've got about $1k to spend on a spotting scope. Basically, I'm doing this once and don't ever intend to buy another one. I figure $1k-ish should do the job.

I appreciate the light weight of a compact scope but lets accept the simple reality that I am not likely to carry this on any kind of distance hiking or long-distance backpack hunts. So, it's going to be used primarily at the range, in the blind, and doing some car-camping (stars, animals, etc.).

Choices...oh choice. Right now I'm very heavily leaning towards a CameraLand Leica Televid. Sadly, noone has one of these that I can test anywhere in my area. Actually, the nearest store that MIGHT have anything is still 50 miles away.

Option #1: Leica Televid 62 Angled: $999. (I like the angled option. Seems to make sense to me.)

Option #2: Leica Televid APO 62 straight: $1299. (Is the APO worth it? Is straight vs. angled an issue?)

Option #3: Nikon Fieldscope III ED. $1200 (rated very highly everywhere I've looked.)

Option #4: Leupold HD Gold ring. $1100. (Hey, knock Loopy all you want, their Service rocks and the lifetime warrantee means something.)


My initial though is to go with the Leica Televid 62 from Cameralandny (Yes, I'll be looking to call Doug tommorow!) with the angled eyepiece. However if the APO is THAT much better I'd be inclined to spend a couple extra bucks for the APO model...sadly it appears that Cameraland is out of the APO angled versions.

The Nikon is, well, a Nikon. Good warranty and is very well rated.

Swaro (unless used) and Zeiss (unless used) are out of the price range. Heck, the APO is pushing me. But like I said, do it once...


So, what do you all suggest?

Kowa

I would second the Kowa choice. I have one and love it. Can easily spot even in bad lighting.

Well, this is what I just bought. I'm using it for the range 200yards, and it works very well for that.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/re...-spotting-scope.html

Kind of big, but works and was fairly inexpensive.

Saving my money for rifle scopes.

The Leupold is the one used at our range. They take incredible abuse and keep on truckin' and, as you know, the warranty can't be beat. I love my Leica binos, 10x42 & 8x32, but if buying a spotter I'd go with the Leupold with no second thoughts.

Swarovskis are the best I've seen. You won't get one for $1K but make sure you look through one for comparison sake.

I have a 60mm Nikon Fieldscope III with a 30mm WA eyepiece. It is a $1K scope and is good for my uses (digiscoping, hunting, birding). It has decent optics, but I really bought it because I'm interested in digiscoping and Nikon has the best support for that.

If I were to buy a dedicated $1K hunting scope I think it would be the Leupold 40x60 HD. Leupold takes a beating on this forum in particular, but my brother in law has one of those Leupolds and I've borrowed it from him a few times. It seems more durable than a lot of the competition and is certainly one of the most compact 60mm scopes I've seen. Finally, you just can't beat Leupolds service.

Another scope that I'd own is the 60mm Kowa ED. A friend of mine has one that he swears by.

Hello,
Since portability is not an issue, would highly suggest the Kowa's spotting scopes. You will be near the 1K mark for the upper end version, but well worth it in every respect. 82mm obj. version w/ either fixed power or variable eyepiece is an outstanding piece of work. Kowa's are the preferred spotting scope for match shooters and basic reason is high performance/value for the dollar invested. My old 77mm some 20 years now is a fine instrument. Might further add that a used Kowa is a rare item on the open market, people just hang onto them.
martin

martin

Kowa! I have the 661 which is a 66mm with the 45 degree eyepiece. I have the 25x Extended Eye Relief (EER) eyepiece. I use it for competiton. It is a bit more compact than the larger 77 and 82mm models, but has never left me wishing I had one of the huge ones.

I have the Leica Televid APO 77 straight and the 20-60x variable powered eyepiece. The optics are incredible, but the mechanics of the eyepiece are junk.

Some kind of ball bearing in a grooved plastic housing set up for changing focal length. Damned thing broke and binds all the time now.

I have to send it back for servicing, but have been too lazy to do it.

I think I'd get the Swarovski if I had it to do over again.

I have the Swaro 80mm HD.
But, to fit your budget of $1K, I'd go straight to a big KOWA. If you go to Camp Perry Matches, you'll see KOWAS, LOTS of 'em. That speaks highly of the KOWA line up as those guys are just like us, they want the best. People like Champions Choice, Champion Shooters Supply, and Creedmore all sell KOWA's...

Don

I wouldn't write off Zeiss or Swarovski without talking to Doug at Cameraland and keeping tabs on Cabelas bargain cave. I got my Zeiss 85 with 20-60 ocular for $1100. I am certain I wouldn't be giving up enough to think about if it were a 65.

I have seen a fair number of Zeiss and Swarovski 65s for right on $1000

Well, I looked at a few of the 80mm scopes - DAMN, those things are HUGE! Ok, for pure range work, yeah, that's cool. But that thing takes up some real estate in a blind.

I've ruled out the 80mm class. The 60mm class scopes are a more packable size and much more manageable to me. I don't suspect I will do much backpacking with one but...after looking at the 80's it really changed my mind as to what might best fit my little world. IF I ever did decide to pack one a bit I sure wouldn't want one on my back!

I've decided to give a shot to the Leica 62 Rubber coated Televid. Actually it was the Rubber coating that pushed me over the edge. That rather makes sense to me - especially since this will be used in the hunt. I expect it to take a few knocks and bumps.

I spent more than a few minutes on the phone with one of Doug's guys and it was rather enlightening. Good stuff! Anyway, I'll post up my thoughts soon enough...

Thanks for the input guys.

If you go to 6mmbr.com/spotterreview.html you can read an interesting article about high end spotting scopes. Form this article I decided to go with the Pentax 80-ED with a Pentax SMC 8-24 zoom Eyepiece which gives you a 20-60 power spotting scope that easily resolves 30 caliber holes at 300 yards. I chose the straight version but I believe the scope is also available in an angled version. Don

The most important use is spotting bullet holes at the range. If you compromise this function your scope with be just another piece of mediocre equipment. Make sure you can spot bullet holes well. If you have to pack it buy a chumpy little scope for packing.
Buy a big Kowa for use at the range. All those competitors are not wrong. The Kowas are raely found used and when they are they still bring a high resale price.