Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Looking at a new spotting scope

The truth is that I have owned lots of optics over the years and at this time own 3 branded Leica. I prefer Swarovski, but I am not afraid to own Leica. I did have a pair of Leica Trinovid compacts that got out of columation, sent them back without a warranty card and they were repaired with no problems.

People still throw salt over their shoulder for good luck, but there is little evidence that it helps. People also worry more about Leica than they need to, I have owned plenty with good luck and no warranty issues...

If the Chuck Norris of Montana sent me a warranty repair, I'd dam well fix it no questions asked.

Used Meopta S2's are hard to find.

The meopta is the best spotter I have ever seen. I had the gold ring HD and it works best below 30x above that and the image dims too much. If they did a huge glass upgrade I would be interested again however the 500 viper HD has better optics than the gold ring HD

The problem with meopta is when you sell to upgrade if you paid anything close to retail your gong to take a beating on resale I hate that

We've had the Cabelas Euro 20x70 for five months and are very happy with it. Sharp, edge to edge without color fringing at the edges, bright, and easy to focus well.

This is a great thread. I'm trying to decide on a spotter, although mine will be used for both range work as well as checking things out on my property and the occasional hunt in Montana.

The Swarovski's and the Meopta / Cabela's models seem to get a lot of praise. If going with one of the bigger models, 20-60x80, what tripod do you use?

SamOlson, I'll sell you mine, in mint condition, for $1750 shipped and insured. Mine has the 20-70 eyepiece.

BigSky, thanks for the offer but I better not spend anymore money!

No problem Sam. I know that feeling.

10-4.



Curious to hear what Laker thinks of this thing.

I have 5 Manfrotto aluminum tripods. That's three too many. I'm planning to post the extras on here, but haven't gotten around to it. PM me if you want me to quit procrastinating.


I usually use this setup from the bench.




It's a Manfrotto 410 geared head on a Manfrotto 649 Quick-Release C-Clamp.

that's pretty fancy, fella. I use a quick-grip clamp with a 1/4 inch bolt welded on it.....



.....grin

Nice setup. Simple yet effective.

Absolutely.

I'm a fan of the geared head, my old school spotting scope had one built into its tripod. I guess I couldn't live without it.

Will be here Monday Sam and then I'll give it a run through.

Sweet!

Two of my hunting pards had to go through multiple phone calls and no small amount of frustration to have Leica repair/refurbish their Ultravids. And they have to go back by slow schooner across the pond. Took 5 months round trip.

A 'fire member is currently doing battle with Leica over his Geovids with the Passport warranty. His focus knob is stiff and Leica is telling him the electronics warranty is expired. They said they would repair it for $300+ He keeps telling them it's the friggin' focus knob and should be repaired under warranty.

Contrast that with both pairs of my 1st gen SLC's. A phone call to Swaro's repair facility in Rhode Island and 5 weeks later my SLC's came back better than ever. All for free. One started growing the dreaded crystals, the other I simply sent in for insurance.

I really like Leica, but I've listened to other stories about their less than stellar CS. Not even Swaro/Leica/Zeiss are immune to breaking.


Casey

My focus knob is stiff as well.




Travis

This is a good thread and I'd like to hear how the Meopta works for the OP. But I love the look of that portable bench.

Is it tripod? Is that a granite top? The storage shelf looks great to store rifles out of the way.