Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Leupold Kenai Spotting Scope?

Anybody seen one yet?

pretty sure EdT thats always over on the backpack forums had his hands on one...

I called Leupold inquiring about the HD part, as their website makes no mention of the type of glass used in the objective lens, only says "High Definition" in the advertising. The tech on the phone said that they were using ED/extra low dispersion/fluorite glass in the objective.

After reading in the OL tests, showing the Kenai tied for first in the low light tests with the $3000 Zeiss, I'm not surprised. Regardless of what people want to believe, China can/does produce amazing ED quality glass nowadays, cheaply.

has anyone tried new Redfield 20-60x60mm scope?

The Kenai is very close to my Zeiss 85.
The fact that it comes with two eye pieces, a 25x-60x and a 30x wide angle makes it an even better value.

Here are a couple pictures of elk on the mountain at about 3/4 of a mile away. They were taken with a digital camera just hand held in front of the scope looking thru a picture window so the relative sharpness isn't really there. What it does show is the difference between 60x and 30x wide angle.

Taken at 30x WA


Taken at 60x


The 30x WA is ideal for long sessions of spotting where the finest detail isn't necessary or the atmospheric conditions don't allow higher powers.

EdT, how does the build quality look to you? Smooth moving parts, fit & finish, etc look good? Thanks.

The fit and finish of mine is very good. Focus is smooth and crisp and the zoom ring smooth with enough resistance to be well controlled but not so much as to jerk the scope around.

Eye pieces change out quickly.

Probably the only negative is the neoprene case is kind of flimsey, but in fairness when I bought my Zeiss in didn't come with any case. An aftermarket like a Crooked Horn would be a good investment. I will likely sew up a case that is trim but water resistant. I don't worry too much about padding.

It is also available with a hard case.

Thanks again Ed. I may have to pick one up as my big spotter. I have a Leupold 15-30x50 compact and Swaro 65 with a 30x WA. May sell the small leupy and pick this up. Would be a decent battery I think.
Lee

I've wondered about this spotter too. It looks identical to the Vortex Nomad, weighs the same and lists the same FOV. Does anyone think they could be a rebadged version of the Vortex? If so, it would be a good buy.

Anybody using one of the Kenai SX-2s? Curious about them...

Tanner

I have a Kenai, I got it used last summer from a member here. Good scope. I sold that member my Zeiss Diascope for cash plus the Kenai when a Supergrade Winny just made me want it THAT bad.

I like the Kenai. I think the Zeiss is better, but the Kenai is quite good.

I own the Kenai.

Side by side with other Alpha's it gives away nothing in clarity/resolution.

In fact, it is good enough that I may sell my Pentax PF 100 ED.

At its MAP it is the bomb.

Really? I must have used a lemon. It wasn't as good as my Vortex 65a HD, which isn't as good as my swaro 65a HD.