Looking for advice onp

How are you planning to use it ? Are you driving around on the roads trying to judge heads, or are you back pack hunting ? How much are you willing to spend ?
As a rule, you really need to be careful with the really cheap spotters. My ex-wife bought a 25X60, $150 spooter that wouldn't show us her .243 or even my .308 bullet holes at 100 yds. In contrast, I just shot both my '06 and my .280 at 300 yds. The spotter was a very small 50mm but it still showed me where the bullets went.
The bigger spotting scopes allow one to use more magnification for a good quality image as a rule. So, if weight isn't an issue, or the very best performance is a requirement, I'd suggest a big 82mm class spotter. E

nolting,

The only way for you to get the best from you money for your eyes is to start with the cheapest and compare side by side until you notice one is better than another; no matter what the price. My gunsmith spent a Saturday and did this. To his surprise He discovered the only one noticeably better than the Tasco 20-60X80 was one that cost about $500. He purchased the Tasco.

To the annoyance of some of our .com friends I posted my findings after comparing some rifle scopes with it by setting the rifle scope to its highest setting and the Tasco to match each in turn. There were four guys in age from 83 down to 30 and all agreed with the findings. The object of our test was "HIGH VOLTAGE" on a power pole over 400 yards away.

The scopes included Leupold, Bushnell 4200, Sightron II, and some others. The only one better than the Tasco spotting scope was a Nightforce 12-42X56. This Nightforce is noticably and way better than my Swarovski z5 5-25X52 and my Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50.

oh my gawd...

If you have the money a Leupold 12-40x60mm in HD or Non-HD.

if that is out of your price range I would look for older fixed power Leupold in 20x, 25x or 30x.

Dink

I just picked up a Zeiss Dialyt from Doug and I am really impressed with it so far. Built super tough. If Doug has a pre-owned one you can it get it at a real good price. Something to consider

Kowa prominar. Pick up a used one. Not a better glass for the money

The Zeiss and Swaros are great too but quite a bit more $$$

I have the TSN 883, I chose it over the Swarovski 80HD.

Do you wear glasses? With spotters in also price ranges, eye relief is a major consideration.

if writing a big check isnt an issue then buy one of the more
expensive brands and you wont be sorry.
if it is an issue then some research will be necessary.
most people reccomend what they have or have seen.
very few will have done any side by side test and evaluation.
the more expensive coatings such as prominar in the kowa brand
is not worth the cost for a hunter.
during normal daylight hours most people wont see the difference in side by side evaluation. but its your money.

excellant quality optics have been being made for over a half
century. people have been using spotting scopes to see bullet
holes on long range targets for many decades. likewise some have been using those same scopes to identify very distant game animals.
in pa most serious long range hunters use twin spotters in brackets for hunting. by far the most popular scope is the old
bushnell spacemaster.
i personaly have 6 sets ranging from 77mm kowas to 50mm bushnell sentrys (old ones).
if i were forced to surrender all but one set, the set id keep
would be the 50+ year old bausch&lomb balscopes.
those scopes and the spacemasters can usually be bought on ebay for less than $200. sometimes far less.
but again its your money.

How 'bout telling the OP about your side by side comparisons with different scopes?

Ringman, what part of "Spotting Scope" don't you get ? You compared a bunch of rifle scopes to a far larger spotting scope.
If you want to post something of value, how about a comparison at a couple of miles with spotting scopes with the same objective sizes ? E

need to know what he's looking for before comparing apples to oranges.

sorry, E, you posted while i was writing, but that's what i was getting at.

So then, you boys haven't compared anything side by side to help the OP?

This is almost as good as the Hunters Campfire.

The best spotter will be the biggest you're willing to pack and the most money you're willing to spend. If your purchasing "mail order", be sure the seller has a generous return policy. You might not like it after you look through it and send it back.

i've compared a surveyor's transit to a Polaroid veiwfinder. maybe i'll get some buddys to read a power pole so i can have some 'wisdom' to share too...

Perhaps I missed where the OP asked about either of those.

But if you think they would help him make a decision let us know what you and your friends come up with.

Here's what I'd say, without knowing your budget:

Sub compact-Nikon ED50
Toughest/Best Eye relief/great glass--Leupold 12-40x60 HD
Best65mm class for the money-Kowa Prominar 663/664
Best 85mm class money no object-Kowa Prominar 883/884
Great Value--Vortex Razor 85 HD
Best Compromise between 65mm-85mm--Kowa Prominar 773/774

http://www.usoptics.com/optics/field-spotting-scope.html


dave

Not trying to be a wise guy, but the best spotting scope for hunting is one that will actually go in the field with you and allow you to see more than you can with your binoculars.
Lots of great suggestions already.
Size, weight and money all matter.

I agree with JG's list in general. I have no experience with the Leupold though as they tend to only come in straight configurations. In addition, though I do agree the Vortex Razor is a great value it is still an expensive scope at $1500. It is a great value in comparison to the most expensive spotters such as the Leica, Zeiss and Swaro but isn't in comparison to some of the mid-range models such as the Celestron Regal, Theron Mag82 or even the Zen Ray ED2 82 mm.

Also, word has it that the new Swarovski Modular spotting scopes may unseat the Kowa Prominar in terms of top dog. I haven't looked through one myself yet but plan to eventually.

Nolting: I own a bunch of spotting scopes. Including those made by Unertl, several Bausch & Lombs, several Leupolds, a Burris, a Nikon, several Bushnells and a couple of "off brands".
I love spotting scopes.
But the one I end up taking along on back pack archery Hunts, spring bear Hunts, Mt. Goat Hunts, Antelope Hunts, Elk Hunts and open country Mule Deer and Whitetail Hunts is one of my tried and true "older" Leupolds in straight 25 power.
It is light weight, rugged and VERY clear.
It causes me next to no eyestrain after long useage and is capable of discerning antler and horn quality at rather long ranges.
It has a big enough field of view that is does very well when "scanning" for game.
IF, your spotting scope is "going with you" when you leave the truck or the trailhead I highly recommend one of these older Leupold fixed power spotting scopes - I believe they were offered in 20 power, 25 power and 30 power over the years.
Best of luck with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmitGuy, you are saying what I was, too. That little Leupold is so compact it will actually go into the field. That is what makes it so handy. I like the Bushnell/B&L/Nikon 60mm spotting scope for the same reason and it does have a little better optics because in the newer versions the roof prism is phase coated.
I picked up in trade an Alpen 50mm spotting scope that is similar in that it weighs next to nothing but is surprisingly sharp and nitrogen filled. Under $100.
We have two of the 20x Leupolds you were describing mounted permanently at the range and they just continue to work. Great field scope!

If you plan on taking it into the field, take a good look at the Canon IS binoculars, particularly the 18X50 All weather model. Pricey but absolutely fabulous optics and image stabilization that works marvelously well. No tripod needed. Clear edge to edge imaging. Way more portable than a standard spotting scope.
Pete

Gotta agree with PeteD on this one, I have a pair of 10x42L Canon IS binos, they're pure magic. Most of the time, I don't need a spotting scope. It's hard to describe just how much of a benefit an image stabilization does for a binocular's capability. They've got great glass to boot!

That said, I do own, and greatly enjoy my Swarovski 80HD STM. It's an awesome scope and necessary for range work absolutely. I do take it in the field alot and counting brow tines from great distances is it's job.

I just met the Swarovski representative here in Anchorage. Be prepared to be BLOWN AWAY by their new spotting scope system. They have a new 95mm body with a bayonet focuser/zoom system. I want it I want it I want it I want it!!!!!! It blows my 80HD STM away. Expensive as all heck, but it's just freakin' unbelievable! Go check them out when they finally land in the stores.

They have new 65 and 80 bodies too... Both incredible.

+1 for the Zeiss Dialyt. Very simple, versatile and rugged. I really like mine.

Boy,opinions on spotters are like azzholes. Everybodys got one. Mine is the Leupold 12-40x60. Best eye relief I have encountered, small enough to pack around, and tack sharp. I liked my Kowa but the eye relief gain with the Leupold was incredible.

If price is not an concern, go with Zeiss Victory. I really like its design of twin-speed focuser on a single knob.

Personally, I like the swaro focus ring better.....'specially with gloves on.

I went thru a series of upgrades over time as I had extra cash, starting with a old Bushnell then moving to a Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60 HD that was a great little scope that fits nicely in my backpack's side pocket BUT I traded it off for a Zeiss diascope that had better optics but very little eye relief.

Now I have a Swarovski 20-60x65mm good eye relief, great optics but does not fit in my packs side pockets as well as the Leupold did.

All in all if I had $500-750 to spend on a good spotter I would find a used Leupold GR 12-40x60 and if it happened to be HD all the better.

Has anyone used one of the Leupold Mark 4's 12 x 40 spotters? Looking for some feedback before taking the plunge.

Thanks,
Bob

Do you need the reticle? If not, I recommend the GR 12-40x60 HD. I've spent a lot of time behind one and really like it.

I've compared it side-by-side with other Leupold and Nikon 80-82 mm scopes (non HD). The Leupold 60 mm GR had slightly better resolution and contrast. Plus the eye relief is very good. I like the form factor too. The zoom and focus adjustments on the one I use are stiff. I can live with that.

Checking Google Earth, I spotted both my 62" Alaska Yukon moose and the grizzly my best bud shot about 7 miles out with my 15-45x60mm Zeiss spotter. I use this spotter weekly through out the year. I love it. It's never failed me and is a joy to use.

Alan

The OP asked what was the best spotting scope for hunting. He didn't really specify what type of hunting he is doing, so I will give what I think is the best all around spotting scope for hunting... Swaro STM 65.

For backpack hunting it is more compact than an 80 or 85, but still performs dang close to the bigger scopes optically. It is also extremely light for the size/quality. At the same time the size and weight are also handy for using in the truck on a window mount. Like I said above, it isn't much of a step down from the big 80's optically. So if you are hunting from a atv where you don't have carry it much and would be well suited with a big 80, it's not a hinderance. Also I prefer the focus adjustment for the same reason as huntsman22.

If I had to go down in price, my pick would be the gold ring 12-40x60. It has pretty much the same features. More compact that the swaro as far as length, but is heavier and not as good optically.

look through a kowa and then go up or down from there...tough to beat across the board IMO.