It is time to get a new spotter, and the Meopta S2 HD 82 mm spotter has been getting excellent reviews. I've talked with, and hunted with several guys who have them and love them. Plus the price is right vs the Swaro ATX/STX series.

My question is which eyepiece should I go with? You can get a 30x-60x Wide Angle or a 20x-70x variable magnification eyepiece. Unfortunately nobody in town carries Meopta so I can't go compare them.

The higher magnification would be nice for coues deer, but lots of guys have raved about the view through the wide angle eyepiece.

Anyone have any experience with either?

I'd get the 70x if it were me, as that's what I did. I see you're from the desert, so granted there are days when the atmosphere will not allow use at 70x, but when it does, 70x is still very sharp and detailed with no tunneling. Amazingly so actually. 20x on the low side give me all the FOV I'd ever want or need anyway.

I've had mine side by side with my Kowa 884, Zeiss 85 T FL many times, Swaro's 80HD, a Nikon 82ED, and a Vortex Razor 85 HD, though not all of these at the same time. The S2 proved superior to my eyeballs, so that's what I kept. The closest thing I've personally used that's close is the Kowa 884, but the image at max magnification sold me on the S2.

I just finished using my Cabela's version, to shoot photos and video of three Ospreys feasting on herring on the restoration. I have the 20x-70x and it is fantastic. My only wish would be a separate extra long eye relief eyepiece for the range (similar to Kowa's).

Looks like I will go with the 20x-70x. Are you guys using angled or straight? I've always used angled but am thinking straight would be easier to get on target when I pull the binos off the tripod and attach the spotter for a closer look.

Is the Cabelas version the same as the Meopta? I see it is on sale.

Angled for me. The Cabela's is the same except the eyepiece isn't removable.

I have both eyepieces and I like them both about equal. If I am doing a lot of digiscoping I use the wide angle, if not I use the 20-70

That is good to know, I was going to go with the Cabelas version to save a couple 100 but I want to be able to use both eyepieces.

[quote=STS45]Looks like I will go with the 20x-70x. Are you guys using angled or straight? I've always used angled but am thinking straight would be easier to get on target when I pull the binos off the tripod and attach the spotter for a closer look.

Why not put a pair of the Meoptas on the tripod and always have
a better look? Call Euro Optic and see if I'm blowing smoke at you.

Easier to just buy a set of the Doctors than to set up dual spotters