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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
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What say you guys?
Best bang for the buck?
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Joined: Apr 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
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What are your thoughts on economics?
Most inexpensive spotters work good at the lowest power range but suffer quickly as the power ring is turned up.
I have a 12-40x60 Gold Ring non HD and IMO this is probably considered the low end of good to better spotters
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,308 Likes: 9 |
Is this a leupold gold ring?
I was thinking about 300-500 or so?
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
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http://theronoptics.com/SAKER_ED_60MM_SPOTTER_HKQ5.phphave a pair of their binos for my truck. Great performance for little money. Birders are big on them. My field glasses are Leica Geovids and my spotting scope is a Vortex Razor HD. Planning on a Saker for rangework .
Last edited by sidepass; 09/18/16.
Never take life to seriously, after all ,no one gets out of it alive.
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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
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Joined: Apr 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
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Is this a leupold gold ring?
I was thinking about 300-500 or so? Yes it is In the past decade I have owned 3 other spotting scopes. All 3 were low-ish cost spotters at about $250 to $350 each....Wind River/Leupold and Nikon....all disappointed me. With hindsight being 20-20 I recomend not/never wasting your hard earned money on any of the spotters below "mid" range.....mid-range is debatable The lesser spotters will disapoint in low light and clarity using the variable and waste your money....spend money on great glass and never look back
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I've got a Sightron SII 20-50x80 I'd be willing to part with. Shoot me a PM if you have any interest.
Those who must raise their voice to get their point across are generally not intelligent enough to do so in any other way.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I just picked up a brand new Kowa 601 and 20-60 eyepiece from B&H for under $550. I am truly impressed with the optics and while it's not armored it is truly a lightweight spotter and feels very well made.
I have no regrets and in my mind it represents the best bang for my buck under $750. Not ED glass but CA seems fairly well controlled in high contrast situations and while hunting I don't intend on it being an issue at all.
Nick
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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My experience is similar. I have a Bushnell (Spacemaster, I think) 15-45. It works great up to just under 25X, then it gets finicky. I read years ago, may have been by MD, that it was more difficult to make a good variable eyepiece than it was to make a good fixed.
For example, I can see the moons of Jupiter at high power, but focus is critical. At about 22X, I can study the rack on a desert mule deer a mile or so away, but focusing at 30X or more is difficult. If you can find one, I would suggest a fixed 20 or 25 in a moderately priced unit for hunting.
Best wishes,
Jack
"Do not blame Caesar, blame the people...who have...rejoiced in their loss of freedom....Blame the people who hail him when he speaks of the 'new, wonderful, good, society'...to mean ,..living fatly at the expense of the industrious." Cicero
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I had a Vortex Viper for about a week. Took it back. Decided I'd rather have 15x56 bins for hunting or a spotting scope I'm not willing to pay for for use at the range.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I picked up an old Leupold 25X50 Gold Ring a few months ago. Love it. Small and easy to carry. Clarity is at least as good as any of the $300 range spotters I have tried. Best part is that I take it with me because it is small and light. A big old spotter that gets left at the truck is pretty much worthless.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
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There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Campfire Outfitter
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I'll second this suggestion. Very good for the price IMO.
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Campfire Tracker
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Minox MD50. you can get them for around 200. good as it gets for that price.
All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well.
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I'll second this suggestion. Very good for the price IMO. I will 3rd the recommendation. For the under $300 price tag that these sell for they have no competition.
Frank
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Campfire Tracker
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What you decide on. Been glassing the airport 5 miles away with my binos. Blue angles due to fly fleet week exercises in next 30 minutes. Still amazed how good these Theron binos are in spite of their price.
Last edited by sidepass; 10/08/16.
Never take life to seriously, after all ,no one gets out of it alive.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I'll second this suggestion. Very good for the price IMO. I will 3rd the recommendation. For the under $300 price tag that these sell for they have no competition. 4th it.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad." ---------------------------------------------- "Jimmy, some of it's magic, Some of it's tragic, But I had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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New Member
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New Member
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Hello! It can be daunting can't it? I've been looking into scopes of all types for my blog. There are some Nikons that might be a good fit for you. You can check out my review www.habitathacks.com here. Good luck! Keep us posted as to what you decide on.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Vortex viper HD. Don't pay full retail either call around
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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How about a 15x bino for a spotter? I've been very impressed with the Nikon Monarch V 8 x 56 bino. It is also available in 16 x 56 and 20 x 56 bino. In my 8 x 56 the glass and the consequent image is very, very good. I've looked through the 15 x 56 bino and the image is excellent. Just a thought.
Jordan
Communists: I still hate them even after they changed their name to "liberals". ____________________
My boss asked why I wasn't working. I told him I was being a democrat for Halloween.
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