Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Recommend a spotter with these parameters

Looking to upgrade an old Burris.
$400-800 range, decent glass, angled, not made in China.
Does this exist?
Thanks

I think Doug has a Kowa 601 demo at that price with eyepiece. Mine says MIJ.

Ask him where they are made

For an 80mm OBJ, find a used Pentax PF-80ED angled. Made in Japan.

If you want a 65mm OBJ, Pentax PF-65ED angled. Made in Japan.

its going to be used and older if you insist on japan. pentax doesn't isn't in business anymore good luck, a great spotter though. I know you said no china. if its me I get an athlon ares. my son has one and I think its awesome. my spotter is a meopta s2, and I still like the athlon for what it is. I admit to being an optics snob.

WRONG!!!



Pentax was bought out by Richo quite a few years ago, but they are still in business & continue to make spotting scopes & eyepieces. Adorama has the "Angled" 65mm OBJ for under $500 (NEW), but you need to buy an eyepiece separately. And they are still Made in Japan.

Pentax is still around.

I just brought the gimmicky 3-in-1 binoculars/double monocular/16x mono thing

Lately I don't even pull the Pentax out and just use my Bausch and Lomb 20-60x spotter. It was made in 1958. Put a whooping on a newer Vortex the other day. Guy was having issues seeing bullet holes on the 200 yard target!!! Then at the 400 yard target he had set up, he was also unsuccessful. Asked if I could spot for him, then asked how my old spotter was better than his new one. Funny thing, it was older than him. Since the OP is wanting an angled spotter, I'd recommend a Pentax as well. However, what is he wanting to do with it? The Pentax is pretty big. Excellent range spotter, but would not work well for a backpack hunting/spotting scope. Also, wondering where the Burris is not cutting it? Fill us in with some more info.

This is the view through my spotter, made in 1958. Target at 1000 yards. Zoom in if you need to:

Decent glass, angled, but made in China. Like Meatloaf said, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Still a good value.

https://www.happyantelope.com/colle...-optics-razor-spotting-scope-hd-16-48x65

A used kowa 663

Weve been using 2 of those in machined adjustable brackets for more than 50 years for long range deer hunting. Ours also have the 3 eyepiece turrets, allowing for 3 separate eyepieces of different power.
Of coarse they must be mounted on a good tripod.
But i also have a set of older model 77 mm Kowas TSN2 and frankly they are a bit better.
They can be found on places like ebay including the angle model for under $500, sometimes well under that amount.

bsa, the Burris is a fixed 20x50 compact that was part of a combo package with a Fullfield II.
I wasn't in the market for a spotting scope at the time, it just so happened that it came with the scope I was looking for. On sale, I think I paid $168 for the combo.
Not very crisp/clear or bright, but it is light. To be expected at that price point.
Technically there's nothing wrong with it, I just want something better.
Intended use is backpack hunting.
Thanks for the recommendations.

I've got a like-new Pentax PF-80 ED for sale in classified if interested...


Pentax PF-80