Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Spotting scope is next!

Last week I broke down and ante'd up the cash to purchase a pair of Swarovski 10x42 EL binos. Everybodies' help was much appreciated in my search. Next on the agenda is a top notch spotter. I'm thinking Swaro, or Leica. It will be a year or so before I can save the $$$, so I have plenty of time to research. I'm thinking something with a 60mm Obj. 20-60 power range. I'm equiping myself for a Sheep hunt that is on my bucket list. Any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated.

First question: When talking about Swarovski is the HD version really worth the extra $600? I see I can get a ATS 65 from Doug for around $1500, while the HD version is $2200.. any thoughts?

Before you buy anything in that class check out the Kowa Prominar 663/664. Fantastic glass for less $$$. To answer your last question. Buy the HD if you're into taking pics through the spotter. Otherwise it's debatable if it's worth it IMO. 60x is rarely usable in 65mm class spotters.

Davis I think your right on track. I have a zeiss 65mm with 15 to 45 power eye piece and I am amazed how often I can use the 45 power. I think the swaro with the 60 power eye piece would be ideal.

Dink

JGRaider....Have you used one of these Kowa spotters? Get a chance to do a side by side comparison with a comparable unit?

Thanks

I have a Kowa and love it. Go to a highpower match sometime and you will see that the line is full of them.

Kowa, for all its quality is rarely if ever advertised in the gun rags but is hugely popular with birdwatchers.

Maybe Mule Deer will put his 2 cents in on them.I hope so.

Interesting thread as I am in the market for one as well. THinking Zeiss 65 with Lotutec but never considered Kowa. Selling some stuff to get funds, in next 30 days or so am pulling the trigger.

Just keep in mind that all Kowas are not the same. I don't recall the exact model that is common among high power shooters, but IIRC it sells in the $800 range (TSN?), considerably less than the high end Euro scopes and the Prominar. I have never looked through a Prominar, but a buddy has a Kowa and I have looked through it on the firing line along with Leicas and Zeiss, and the Kowa isn't in the same league. I have seen one review of the Prominar by folks whose opinion I respect, and they say the Prominar is the new gold standard, edging out their former favorite, the Zeiss.

I'm not sure why the Kowa is the scope of choice among HP shooters, but I suspect that it meets their spotting needs at a reasonable price point. Watching mirage and seeing target disks are not the most demanding tasks for a spotter. Birdwatching is a whole different league, as is trophy assessment.

Paul

Check out this website, http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php, written by Ilya Koshkin, who posts on Optics Talk Forum. He covers spotting scope, binos and scopes by price categories. He is an optics engineer and a shooter, and has posted reviews of what's new at the Shot Show. Also, http://www.birdwatching.com/optics.html, a birdwatching site, for reviews of spotting scopes. Be aware that birdwatchers prefer angled scopes for comfort, since they tend to be looking up, whereas shooters often prefer straight scopes because they tend to be looking straight ahead, but the desirable optical qualities are similar. In both sites Kowa Prominars are top rated, along with Leicas, Zeiss and Swarovski. The Prominars use a special fluorite objective which results in unsurpassed resolution. The Vortex Razor has also gotten some great reviews at a lower price point, but I don't know if it comes in 65mm size. If you're seriously looking at top glass, you'll want to try them out for yourself, as you may prefer the "look" or "feel" of one scope to another, and that is something only you can decide.

I've looked through a Kowa 663 (the angled model) as my taxidermist had his Swaro 65 non HD. Maybe not a fair comparison, but I preferred the view through the Kowa. Kowa Prominar vs Swaro HD or Zeiss Fl may tell a different story, but the Kowa is world class glass for sure. I prefer sraight eyepieces (Kowa 664) myself.

I've posted this before, and it bears repeating. Pay close attention to the eyepiece, especially eye relief. Don't take the manufacturers' eye relief specs for gospel, look through them yourself if possible.

I sense that, from a marketing standpoint, a big honkin' objective lens has customer appeal. But in terms of overall function, a quality eyepiece is at least as important. It may be that some manufacturers cut quality in the eyepiece to hold a price line.

A big part of the appeal of the Kowas for HP competitors is the availability of the 27X LER eyepiece. It seems like a great balance of power and ease of use for that type of shooting.

Just another $.02 from me.

Paul

To take that one step farther....Given the same quality glass, a 85mm class spotter will resolve better and give more detail than a 65mm class spotter every time. Physics at work. It may not make any practical difference when hunting, but it is there.

That's the key, or sometimes the catch.

Paul

Ok,

Tell me again why the HD version is worth more than the non HD. I'm not really getting it. I was surfing Doug's website. He has a Swarovski ATS65 with 20-60 eyepiece for $1499.00 The HD version is $2049.00 without eyepiece, which cost $699. So I ask you is the HD worth $1200???? Somehow I doubt it. Convince me!

I have never looked at a swaro HD so take this for what its worth. I have been told several times that if you don't take pictures through your spotting scope you will never need HD. I have been told there is a very slight difference between HD and non-HD to the human eye but in a hunting/shooting situation you will never need the HD.

Dink

Ok I know these prices are closeout deals, and aren't going to last for long. I'm tempted to max out the CC and get this non HD model Swarovski. someone talk me into the HD so I will wait?!!!

Ok,

Doug could you weigh in on this delima? Is the HD model worth the extra $1200? I plan on using this for a sheep hunt in the not too distant future.

Davis the HD model is not worth it in my opinion. I have looked through leica's and there is a difference but not that kind of money difference.

Call Doug he will tell you the same thing I think.

Dink

JG, I can't seem to find a price on the Kowa Prominar; I found the 66mm on line though.How much are they?

Opticsplanet had the 663/664 Prominars with zoom for about $1100 package deal the last time I looked.