Spotting scope for around $500
- Thread starter mark k
- Start date
coolpoolken
CGN Regular
- Location
- Cold Lake, Alberta
For $500 all you can get in Leupolds is the Sequoia Green Ring. I had two 15X45X60mm,the first I sent back to Leupold and they replaced it with another. The second one wasn't much better. Couldn't get them to focus very well at 100 yds. at the higher power. Don't know about the Gold Ring Compacts. Got rid of it and bought a Swarovski. Much better, but do you ever pay for it!! I couldn't really recomend you getting a Leupold. I have quite a few rifle scopes of theirs and really like them. My 2 cents worth.....Ken
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- Location
- Lloydminster
We've got the 10-20X and the 15-30X Leupold compacts on for under $500.
If you have a good enough camera with enough mega pixels and good zoom, set it up on a tripod and take a picture of your target after every shot. It is a great record keeper. A lot of digital cameras now days have a great focal range, and take great pictures. A friend told me to do this, and since then I have never used a spotting scope at the range. You can use the preview screen on the back of the camera and zoom in. Believe me, it works great! Combined with a chrony you can tell exactly where each load went. Wish I had thought of it years ago!
I was able to compare my Konus 20-60x80 with a Leupold compact fixed 30 power at the range yesterday. It was as easy to see 30 cal. holes in paper at 200 yds. with the Leupold as it was with the far bulkier Konus at 60x, and the brightness and f.o.v. was incredible. The guy with the Loopy didn't know what that particular model cost as he'd borrowed it for the day, but if I had to get another...which I don't...I'd shop around for Leupold prices before jumping to something else.
My eyes are kinda crappy, so take that into consideration.
My eyes are kinda crappy, so take that into consideration.
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
I have a konus 20 - 60 x 80 and am happy with it
X2. For right around $400 this is my my best selling spotter in the store no matter what price. It is compact enough to put in a field pack and the resolution is good enough to see bullet holes at 300 yds on most days. I think it is a better choice at this price level than the Sequoia. I sell both (in stock) so I have no benifit either way other than my opinion. Phil.
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Elite
When Bushnell took over B&L, they kept the best designs for their prestige series then added some niceties such as Rain-Guard while keeping prices in a reasonable bracket.
Many of my friends in birdwatching still have theirs.
Since it is a straight-line design, you don't fiddle as much when trying to find what you've been watching in your binoculars. A 45 degree viewfinder isn't as fast.
PP.
That Bushnell Elite is a direct derivative from the same model Baush&Lomb spotter; it was very fine glass.
When Bushnell took over B&L, they kept the best designs for their prestige series then added some niceties such as Rain-Guard while keeping prices in a reasonable bracket.
Many of my friends in birdwatching still have theirs.
Since it is a straight-line design, you don't fiddle as much when trying to find what you've been watching in your binoculars. A 45 degree viewfinder isn't as fast.
PP.
P P
When exactly did Bushnell take over B&L? All those years I worked for Bushnell and I never knew this?
Bushnell was part of B&L and was sold, the higher end product of Elite was kept the B&L name under a liscensing agreement, a royalty that Bushnell paid to B&L
You are correct in the quality of these fine older scopes. FS
