Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Spotting scope...65mm vs. 85mm

I usually only admire my own stuff and self. But I wish I had noticed them so I could have checked them out. That's one of the nicest things about that gathering is being able to try gear you don't have.

I think the first year I went I was able to look through a Leica, a Zeiss and a Swaro. It was then that I decided I couldn't tell the difference between any of them, so I just bought the best deal I could find which ended up being a Zeiss.



Travis

I have owned both the Vortex Razor 85mm and the Meopta S2 82mm scope and the Meopta is a better spotter IMO. Does it blow it away in side by side comparisons? Nope. Its just a better quality spotter from front to back and top to bottom.

To the OP, If you can get a screaming deal on the Razor then get it, theres nothing wrong with it and the warranty is pretty damn amazing. It'll do anything you'll want it to do

Get a life.All your questions were answered in my posts.You are just looking for an internet bitchfight.

You didn't reply to me or my question...

As you know, Vortex doesn't make anything. Kind of like Bushnell. You can get Vortex (or Bushnell) products ranging from bottom-tier stuff made in China, like the Crossfire, Sportview, etc, to products that compete with top-tier stuff, like the Razor, ERS, LRHS, etc, which are all made in Japan.

I wasn't going to chime in again, but since they are now made in China, you may as well save a few bucks and look at the Zen Ray ED spotter, and the Vanguard ED. Both are Chinese as well, cheaper, and just as good optically.

Do not have anything against Vortex products by posting this- just clarification and accuracy.

The Vortex Razor spotting scopes are definitely Made in China. Originally the 85's were first Made in Japan. But ever since the introduction of the 50 mm Razor; all of the Razor spotting scope line has been manufactured in China. Says so on the spotting scopes and Vortex will confirm. I think it says something like "Made in PRC" - ie People's Republic of China.

Now, regarding the Razor line of binoculars- they are a Made in Japan product.

Is this an assumption, or have you compared them?

I've personally had my S2 side by side with the Kowa 884 Prominar, one of the best spotters on the planet. I kept the S2, sold the 884....it's that good.

Here's what Outdoor life said about it in 2013...

http://www.petersenshunting.com/featured/bes-spotting-scopes-of-2013/

Using the 30–60X WA EP, the field 
of view was incredible with virtually undetectable color fringing. This is a damn fine scope. The image is expansive. Controls are easy to manipulate but a bit stiff when fine-tuning.

The MeoStar offers a very sharp, crisp image with a hint of warm tint. In fact, this scope posted near-perfect scores during the two 100-yard resolution tests. Edge sharpness was excellent, but missed perfection due to curvature at the very edge of the field. Normally, a wide-angle EP gives up eye relief, but not with this one. Four-eyed observers rejoice.

Color fidelity was true and even better than the more expensive Nikon EDG. The friction in the adjustment wheel is perfect, and the MeoStar offers a perfect weight balance, which translates to minimal 
image distortion when panning, focusing, or tracking moving objects.

At 46X, we observed reduced brightness, but sharpness remained excellent through 58X. It was no problem reading signage placed at one mile. In fact, it bested the Leica in this aspect of our comparison. The Meopta is an incredible optic. It’s so good some of our testers almost preferred the Meopta to the mighty Swarovski. That says a lot.

Priced at $2,200—less than Leupold’s GR—the MeoStar earns our Best Buy Award for offering an image that rivals scopes costing twice as much.

SCORE: 93
Price: $2,200

I've not owned a Razor HD, but I've spent a little time behind one. It was nice, but I sure wouldn't pay full retail for one. At the end of the day, it's still a Vortex.

My Razor doesn't say that. On one accessory piece it says that it's made in China, so I've got an email in to Vortex to ask if the entire spotter is made in China, or just the accessory piece. It'll be disappointing if the manufacturing of the line of Razor spotters has indeed been moved to China from Japan.

Although there are parts in most major optics brands and models that come from China, regardless of what many wish to believe...

Getting back to the actual topic,

The real difference between 65 and 85mm,

is the actual fact that the 85 tends to get left behind way more often, due to weight and size. That is fact.

You want a truck scope? go 85.

Portability, backpacking, go 65.