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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,269 Likes: 41
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,269 Likes: 41 |
Anyone have experience with the Kowa mini spotter? If it is the 554 you are referring to - yes. It is in a different league; as it should be for the price. Absolutely fantastic optics for the weight.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,133 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,133 Likes: 6 |
Vortex changes their models a lot. Blowing out the previous model with low pricing. This means facing greatly diminished resale cams at upgrade time. That keeps me from buying vortex anything very often. I like to preserve my investment on optics so I can upgrade later. Buying optics isn't an investment like your 401k. no but my nearly 15 year old swaro el range are worth 2 grand still. I bought used latest generation el range, for $2800. it cost me only $800 to have and upgrade. YES resale value matters. I don't think high end vortex preserves that. I think their mid to lower tier your not spending enough to really matter on the loss.
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Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30 |
yes, the 554/553. I wonder what the difference, if any, there is between those Kowas and the Swaro 17-40. would be interesting to see
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,584 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,584 Likes: 1 |
If that's a big concern for you, great, but I personally buy glass based upon desired features not potential resale value.
Same goes for rifles and pistols.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,269 Likes: 41
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,269 Likes: 41 |
yes, the 554/553. I wonder what the difference, if any, there is between those Kowas and the Swaro 17-40. would be interesting to see Supposedly the swaro has a wider field of view. It’s also heavier and more $.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,411
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,411 |
Yes, the Swarovski has a wider FOV and the eyepiece is a bit easier to get behind (not as finicky)
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Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30 |
Question is whether that is worth the ~$1000 difference.
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Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3 |
My experience so far with Spotting Scopes - skip Vortex. If you want a decent pair of $100 Binoculars, maybe Vortex is a good option, otherwise some of their scopes WHEN on Sale are good value.
But the Spotting Scopes are not.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069 |
My experience so far with Spotting Scopes - skip Vortex. If you want a decent pair of $100 Binoculars, maybe Vortex is a good option, otherwise some of their scopes WHEN on Sale are good value.
But the Spotting Scopes are not. Wait, what? Aren't you the guy in an earlier thread who was comparing his Tasco spotting scope to his new Vortex Diamond Back spotting scope? Ol' Son, the $100 binocular thread is a page down or so.
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Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30 |
Confirming my suspicions...will have to save up I believe.
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Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3 |
My experience so far with Spotting Scopes - skip Vortex. If you want a decent pair of $100 Binoculars, maybe Vortex is a good option, otherwise some of their scopes WHEN on Sale are good value.
But the Spotting Scopes are not. Wait, what? Aren't you the guy in an earlier thread who was comparing his Tasco spotting scope to his new Vortex Diamond Back spotting scope? Ol' Son, the $100 binocular thread is a page down or so. Yes, I was, before I went and LEARNED and checked out other spotting scope options by physically going to sporting and camera stores and peering into various spotting scopes from a dozen different companies. The Vortex stuff at the same price points, was inferior visually (especially in long-range glass quality.) The only way Vortex is a good buy is at half-MSRP. (which is how i got my Diamondback,) but at regular MSRP I wouldn't consider anything from them - Rifle, or Spotting scope.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,332
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,332 |
My experience so far with Spotting Scopes - skip Vortex. If you want a decent pair of $100 Binoculars, maybe Vortex is a good option, otherwise some of their scopes WHEN on Sale are good value.
But the Spotting Scopes are not. Wait, what? Aren't you the guy in an earlier thread who was comparing his Tasco spotting scope to his new Vortex Diamond Back spotting scope? Ol' Son, the $100 binocular thread is a page down or so. Yes, I was, before I went and LEARNED and checked out other spotting scope options by physically going to sporting and camera stores and peering into various spotting scopes from a dozen different companies. The Vortex stuff at the same price points, was inferior visually (especially in long-range glass quality.) The only way Vortex is a good buy is at half-MSRP. (which is how i got my Diamondback,) but at regular MSRP I wouldn't consider anything from them - Rifle, or Spotting scope. Are you saying your views on a Diamondback line have anything to do with the Razor line?
“Lighten up Francis”
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Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3 |
My experience so far with Spotting Scopes - skip Vortex. If you want a decent pair of $100 Binoculars, maybe Vortex is a good option, otherwise some of their scopes WHEN on Sale are good value.
But the Spotting Scopes are not. Wait, what? Aren't you the guy in an earlier thread who was comparing his Tasco spotting scope to his new Vortex Diamond Back spotting scope? Ol' Son, the $100 binocular thread is a page down or so. Yes, I was, before I went and LEARNED and checked out other spotting scope options by physically going to sporting and camera stores and peering into various spotting scopes from a dozen different companies. The Vortex stuff at the same price points, was inferior visually (especially in long-range glass quality.) The only way Vortex is a good buy is at half-MSRP. (which is how i got my Diamondback,) but at regular MSRP I wouldn't consider anything from them - Rifle, or Spotting scope. Are you saying your views on a Diamondback line have anything to do with the Razor line? on the low end yes, and on the high end after side-by side reviewing a razor, and a nikon, and a zeiss, and a leupold.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,817 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,817 Likes: 5 |
My experience so far with Spotting Scopes - skip Vortex. If you want a decent pair of $100 Binoculars, maybe Vortex is a good option, otherwise some of their scopes WHEN on Sale are good value.
But the Spotting Scopes are not. Wait, what? Aren't you the guy in an earlier thread who was comparing his Tasco spotting scope to his new Vortex Diamond Back spotting scope? Ol' Son, the $100 binocular thread is a page down or so. Yes, I was, before I went and LEARNED and checked out other spotting scope options by physically going to sporting and camera stores and peering into various spotting scopes from a dozen different companies. The Vortex stuff at the same price points, was inferior visually (especially in long-range glass quality.) The only way Vortex is a good buy is at half-MSRP. (which is how i got my Diamondback,) but at regular MSRP I wouldn't consider anything from them - Rifle, or Spotting scope. Has anyone ever paid MSRP for a Vortex product? I sure have not. About 75% of MSRP for current products and 50% for out of date products. This new spotter MSRP is $1299, Street price $999, Good deal around $850. FWIW: Just the eyepiece for my ATS runs about $650, so if you are expecting this little spotter to be better than an ATS - you will probably be disappointed. But if you need a compact, serviceable spotter for 1/3 the price of a Swaro then I think this fills a niche.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
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Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 30 |
There’s a big reason why Vortex has a no questions asked warranty
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069 |
There’s a big reason why Vortex has a no questions asked warranty Whaddya mean? Vortex offers a great warranty, you know, kinda' like Swarovski.
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Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 488 Likes: 3 |
Wish I had gotten a Swarovski...Man that thing had amazing glass in it, and good eye relief too.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,797 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,797 Likes: 1 |
The value of this new guy is undeniable. It’s just like camo. You don’t have to wear just one brand.
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,962
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,962 |
I like my small 50 mm Nikon ED spotter for taking in pack, almost the identical twin to the 50 razor. I know it’s limitations, but its size makes up for them.
That being said I am going to check out the new 56 razor. I've had Zeiss, Leica and Swaro ATS 65 HD but they're now gone. I'm still using my Nikon 50 ED and it's been outstanding in that size range. My next purchase will be something with an MRAD eyepiece.
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