After all my hunting kit was nicked, but thankfully insurers are covering me , I need some help on what spotting scopes are being used succesfully.

I had a 2 draw Optolyth 30x80, which I liked. But am looking at one of the Swarovski CTC 30x75, anybody use one of these.

I don't want an angled eyepiece - do a lot of scanning from a landrover with scope on the window, unless I can be persuaded otherwise...

Input would be greatly appretiated.

Cheers

Optolyth are good as are the Opticron range. Swarovski are over priced IMO

You might want to take some time reading whats been posted on here http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=10

This lot have loads of info on spotting scopes as well.www.birdforum.net Just ignore the anti game shooting fraternity that inhabits the site.

I much prefer an angled eye piece. It saves having to screw myself into a knot whilst spotting out of the truck window.

the swarovski CTC 30x75 is great, go on you know it makes sense.

you know what swaro glass is like, excellent.

you know what swaro after sales service is like, excellent.

it doesn't matter if they are overpriced, firstly you know what your getting and if the insurance is picking up the tab then all the better.

ive used one and like it.

shame you didn't get a chance to put a bit of boot polish round the eyepiece of your old one, you could have got a right laugh thinking of those in bred, ferret fiddling, thieving pikeys getting a black eye trying to figure out what it was.

Y use Leica APO Televid 62 is very good for my alpine Hunting



it is much luminous and clear one especially for the hunting chamois!!

10,3x60r had thought about the Leica - I love the Leica stuff! What eyepiece do you have on yours? Is it waterproof? This might be a great suggestion as one day I might venture into the world of digiscoping??

The waterproofness is the only downside to the straight draw scopes.

Mr Yates are you sure you have used a Swaro? I thought the 3 draw scope you used was an old relic from a pirate ship!!

I personaly thought £599 for the Swaro was an ok price Jacobs? What straight pull rubber armoured scope have you seen of that quality that would compete with the Swaro?

I would have to agree with Alex. Even if the Swaro is a little over priced which is subject to debate anyway, remeber the old addage you get what you pay for.

I would never compromise on any kit and have to say either Lieca or Swaro after sales has been exemplorary. This born from direct experience.

In my opinion if you compromise in the first place you are only disappointed there after.

Actually I am not sure why I even comtemplated considering the opinion of them being over priced. At £599 what a bargain!!!

quote:

I personaly thought £599 for the Swaro was an ok price Jacobs? What straight pull rubber armoured scope have you seen of that quality that would compete with the Swaro?

£599 is a reasonable price. However I have never considered straight pull scopes ideal for use as spotting scopes in the circumsatnces in which I use one. Perhaps for those that do their fair share of open hill stalking but not for me. It could be one of the contributing factors for is budget price, it just doesn't appeal to the majority of spotting scope users.

You might find you chosen model unsuitable for digiscoping though. But at £599 you could always buy something else to fill that role.

What about Minox?

http://www.minox.de/index.php?id=173&L=0

Bought the vector for the range.

Now I still use it for hunting

The price is very good, the optic bright and clear.

http://www.eschenbach-optik.com/de/Spektive.759.0.html

If the price doesnn't count - ZEISS.

With a digic am, if you want.

http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A80033D63E/Contents-Frame/193...AAA0C1256F470032A0A9

Try either a Pentax ED or a Nikon ED you will NOT be disapointed.IMO they give nothing away to the swaro,i could tell you more but would only get shouted down ,so will keep to my self and the others that now!!

quote:

Originally posted by bumscratcher:
Try either a Pentax ED or a Nikon ED you will NOT be disapointed.IMO they give nothing away to the swaro,

I had the opportunity to compare the Pentax, Nikon and Swaro at one of the RSPB events in 2006.

I have to say I'm in your circle in regards to the quality of the optics and build quality.

I have two theories here that may be relevant and help in your decision.

Firstly:

If you are out very regularly and often in harsh condiditions it is a false economy to buy anything but the best. As a result I would buy the Swarovski.

Second Scenario:

If you do not stalk regularly and only go out sporadically, then it is vital to make those few opportunities you have count. As such you are handicapping yourself by having anything but the best optics. As a result I would get the Swarovski.

I've used the draw tube the few times I have been on the hill and they are amazing. Last time I was there the ghillie told us that of the 200+ deer bedded about a mile away, there was only one shootable stag in there. I took his word for it.

We put a stalk on and shot the only shootable stag in the herd, just like he said. It was my mates first deer and without those optics he would not have been sure enough to bother making the stalk so close to last light.

We spent all afternoon saying how great the Swaro's were and how he could see so well over such a distance. We went for dinner and bumped into the ghillie in the pub later that evening when he was well on his way both in the beer and with a "young" lady. The only comment I made was that it was a shame that Swarovski couldn't make him some glasses too!!

FB

Was the "young" lady perhaps but a cull?

FB- I agree wholehearted in how you adress the issue of selecting gear.

Here in Sweden, the land of "lagom" one of the most common heard excuses are, it´s good enough for me, or it has always worked well in the past.

I find that form of excuse rather lacking.

Best regards to you all.

Chris

quote:

I have two theories here that may be relevant and help in your decision.

Firstly:

If you are out very regularly and often in harsh condiditions it is a false economy to buy anything but the best.

If we were to accept your theories as the definitive word on the selection process. We would all be owning Zeiss optics.

I once had the pleasure of stalking with a fantastic old stalker on the west coast of Scotland who owned a prewar Zeiss draw scope.

We had climbed to the top of the beat andhe had been spying for about 30minutes whilst smoking a pipe of the most foul smelling tabacco I have ever been down mind of. He then about turned and spied out to sea. I asked what he was up to and he said checking on the weather. When I asked for an explanation he stated that he could see the cottages on the north east coast of Northern Ireland and was checking to see if the women had their washing pegged out on their washing lines.

I called his bluff thinking he was just taking the mick. But sure enough having handed over the scope you could clearly see the cottages. They must have been 20 odd miles away.

I always find it interesting how different people approach a subject. It is purely for the reason of using a spotting scope in harsh conditions that I might be tempted away from using a draw tube scope because its very easy to "push" water inside the tube when closing it up wet.

It is for this reason that I might be tempted to go for a scope such as 10,3x60r suggested (a Leica APO Televid 62).

Jacobs, I am no newcomer to optics, in my mind (or eyes!) Zeiss simply are not the best. Sorry

Don´t be sorry Nightwalker,

some of the best boat/sea binos ever made was made by Zeiss in the early 30´s and 40´s.

Today lenses are just not cut and coated the same way.

These are not just my words but one of the foremost knowledgable optics and firearms people in Sweden Håkan Spurh´s.

I really have no clue myself, but I do know that I really like a draw tube styled scope, had any real use for one I would have one.

Best regards Chris

My "sorry" was to Jacobs, in regard to not areeing with his comment that

[QUOTE] ]"If we were to accept your theories as the definitive word on the selection process. We would all be owning Zeiss optics."
[/QUOTE

What a massive statement to make !!

Ooooohh second language and all that, well I rather we all choose optics based on need of performance.


Best regards Chris