Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics New Vortex Razor Spotting Scope?

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.

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.

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

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.

Supposedly the swaro has a wider field of view. It’s also heavier and more $.

Yes, the Swarovski has a wider FOV and the eyepiece is a bit easier to get behind (not as finicky)

Question is whether that is worth the ~$1000 difference.

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.

Confirming my suspicions...will have to save up I believe.

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.

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 About 75% of MSRP for current products and 50% for out of date products.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.

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.

Wish I had gotten a Swarovski...Man that thing had amazing glass in it, and good eye relief too.

The value of this new guy is undeniable. It’s just like camo. You don’t have to wear just one brand.

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.