Spotting Scope Recommendation

[FlyGuts]

Can anyone recommend a good 20-60 spotting scope in the $100 - $200 range?

Thanks.

[OpticsPlanet]

In that range I would check out the Redfield Rampage. Its decent optics for that price point that wopuld certainly work at a range out to 250+ yards with good conditions. I havent used the Rampage beyond that distance so thats all I can speak to

http://www.opticsplanet.net/redfield-rampage-20-60x60mm-spotting-scope-kit.html

Trevor B.

[LBDamned]

Konus Konuspot-80: http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAQ#scoring=tp

gets great reviews across the board... I picked one up a while back for right a little over $200 shipped (can't remember where though)

[bigdrunk92037]

+1. To my eyes, much better than the Redfield Rampage, which was only the only other scope I looked through.

Konus Konuspot-80: http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAQ#scoring=tp

gets great reviews across the board... I picked one up a while back for right a little over $200 shipped (can't remember where though)

[LCE]

Konus Konuspot-80: http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAQ#scoring=tp

gets great reviews across the board... I picked one up a while back for right a little over $200 shipped (can't remember where though)

+2 Good scope for the money.

[FlyGuts]

Thanks for the input. At the risk of putting my ignorance on full display, I am amazed at the prices I'm being told I must pay for a decent scope. Raising the bar a bit, but not quite to $1K, is there anything you can recommend in the $300 - $500 range?

[edlacy]

I have a Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60X80.
The best I could find for the money.
No regrets what so ever.
It's heavy and will take a good tripod, but the optics are top notch.
It's the 45 deg angle model, but with the mounting collar it can be turned so it can be used on the bench as well as standing.
Well pleased with it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MYESEC/ref=asc_df_B001MYESEC1814520?smid=A3SPLR0MSOYZ8O&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395129&creativeASIN=B001MYESEC

[LBDamned]

Thanks for the input. At the risk of putting my ignorance on full display, I am amazed at the prices I'm being told I must pay for a decent scope. Raising the bar a bit, but not quite to $1K, is there anything you can recommend in the $300 - $500 range?

personally I havent reviewed anything beyond 200-300... I really dont think you'll get anything worthwhile from $100-$200 (as you original post) - but for right around 200 (or a little more) the Konspot 80 that several of us mentioned is probably the best bang for buck out there...

I know Kowa is among the best of the best - but it's very pricey... believe it or not, several expert reviews compare the Konus80 to Kowa - none of them say they are comparable, but just about all that I have read say Konuspot80 is surprisingly respected in comparison... I havent read any other sub 300 (or 400) spotting scope get that kind of accolades.

Not sure how much better glass you're gonna get for another 100-300... but I dont think it's gonna be so much better (if at all) to warrant the price difference.

There is a TON of info on the internet (beyond this forum)... If you spend a few days researching I'm sure you'll be confident in making an informed decision... And I'm pretty sure you'll find there isnt much worth spending an extra $100-$300 for (I could be wrong though).

[thai562]

oop.

[carnelianbay]

Unless you need 30X or more I'd spend the money on a good set of binoculars. They're much more versatile too.

[zoid52]

Kowa- once you look thru one everything else is just a blur. Buy once;Kowa!!!

[LBDamned]

Konus Konuspot-80 on sale for 3 days at DVOR for $145! Smokin Deal!!!

http://www.dvor.com/konus-konuspot-20-60x80mm-3-1-spotting-scope-7120.html

if you sign up with this link I get $10 credit : http://www.dvor.com/s/6o3mo6.html

[Black Majik]

Thanks for the input. At the risk of putting my ignorance on full display, I am amazed at the prices I'm being told I must pay for a decent scope. Raising the bar a bit, but not quite to $1K, is there anything you can recommend in the $300 - $500 range?

Honestly, for $300- $500 stick with the Konuspot 80. As odd as it may be the Konus seems to out resolve the scopes in this price range, it's that good.

Lets be realistic though, what are your intended uses for a spotting scope? If a nice image is what you're after there are many scopes availalbe without needing to drop Kowa prices.

My recommendation would be to stop by a birding/astronomy/optics store and check out a few of their scopes they have on display. Go in without a price in mind yet. This does not include stopping by Bass Pro shops or Gander Mountain, which you are limited to viewing instore. If you're in SoCal or the Orange County area, check out Scope City in Costa Mesa or Optics4Birding in Lake Forest. They'll take a couple scopes outside for you to glass and A-B-C between different scopes. Check out the different levels of optics. After A-Bing a few scopes from a couple different price ranges, see which scope would really fit your needs best. Pick the salesman's brain too, they love to talk about this stuff. After glassing through a few scopes, you'll gain a better idea of what each scope level would cost, and whether the extra benefits such as resolution, color contrast, or chromatic abberation control is worth it. There is a level of diminishing return, so find which works best for you.

Do be aware that what you may not notice before, you may start to see after having a salesman show you. Instead of just comparing "clarity," you'll start to notice small things such as spherical abberations around the edges or color fringing around high contrast images. However, you can also start to appreciate the little things found on the higher end spotting scopes.

The biggest difference will be noticed in higher magnification of variable zoom eyepieces. Around 20-30x, many good quality scopes will resolve pretty damn well. The difference is at the max magnification, most spotting scopes with 80mm objectives with max at 60x. Differences between scopes become significantly more noticeable at higher magnifications.

If you do check out a local birding/optics store, I'd recommend to check out these optics:

Konuspot 80: $200
Bushnell Excursion: $450
Vortex Viper 80mm $800
*Pentax PF80ED: $1200
Vortex Razor HD 85mm: $1500
Nikon Fieldscope 82mm: $1800
Zeiss Diascope 85mm: $3000+
Kowa Prominar 883 88mm: $3000+

*With the Pentax, ask to try their XW fixed eye piece as well. In a 80mm scope, try the XW14 fixed focal length eyepiece, which will yield a magnification of ~35x. The XW20 will offer a 25x, so it may also be worth it to try out, comparing it to other scopes at low magnification. Another cool tidbit on Pentax scopes, they use 1.25" eyepieces, so a lot of telescope eyepieces are also compatible.

Either way, have fun. The list above, while shocking in price will give you a rough idea of differences between each scope at different price points. From there you can gather an idea of what may work for you and what isn't needed.

Good luck!

[damndave]

I use the Konus Konuspot-80 for my personal use and love it.

[gmcal]

Konus Konuspot-80: http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAQ#scoring=tp

gets great reviews across the board... I picked one up a while back for right a little over $200 shipped (can't remember where though)

This spotting scope was recommended to me by a competitive shooter.

Konus Konuspot-80 on sale for 3 days at DVOR for $145! Smokin Deal!!!

http://www.dvor.com/konus-konuspot-20-60x80mm-3-1-spotting-scope-7120.html

if you sign up with this link I get $10 credit : http://www.dvor.com/s/6o3mo6.html

That's a great price. I think I just found my Christmas present.