spotting scope

I have a Vortex Viper with an 80 mm lens.
I think its like 20 to 60 magnification.

It's a nice scope with decent optics but I find that more often than not, I leave it behind because it's so big and heavy.
Don't fall into the bigger is better trap if you're not fully committed to dealing with that.

A friend has the Vortex Viper 15-45x65 which I prefer ten to one for practical reasons.
It's small enough and light enough that you wont mind bringing it along and 45X is enough for most shooting applications.

The larger scope with 60X only pulls ahead to spot bullet holes at longer ranges but at that point conditions need to be clear and mirage free for that, which is not very often. So there's rarely a payoff.

I don't think you'd regret something like the 15-45x65. http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-razor-hd-22-48x65-straight-spotting-scope
At least you'll bring it so you can use it.

Plus it will fit in most drag bag pockets. One more reason why it will be there when you need it.

You should check out Pelee Wings (before they close for the winter) they have a large selection in stock for the birders at Point Pelee http://www.peleewings.ca/store.php?categoryID=3&mfgID=4
 
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jessekf said:
The Vortex Razor 65mm and 80mm are both $500 off at wholesalesports right now. I just got 65mm and its awesome.
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I just got back from Pelee Wings 30 minutes ago after a side by side between the old Vortex 65mm Razor and the new one.
The new model is definitely better.

I was impressed with the sharpness and clarity of both the new and old models, but the difference was really in how the eye piece presented the image to the eye. At low power both were great, but as the magnification was increased it became increasingly difficult to find the image in the eye piece on the old model. And once I found the image, again on the old model, it was difficult to get the eye into a position where I could see the full field of view without bumping the scope and moving it off target.

The new version was much more tolerant of eye position especially at or near 45x magnification.

But yes as Jessekf stated, deals are out there as Vortex is clearing out the old version and introducing the new model.

Cost be dammed, after the side by side today, I want the new version. If I never looked through the new one, I would have been pleased with the old one, although slightly frustrated with the eye position thing.
 
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drücker said:
Hi
I am looking for a spotting scope, budget $2,500 + tax
and need to see clearly the hit on the target at 500 meter.
thanks
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Seeing that depends on mirage, especially during summer heat. In mimimal mirage I can see individual hits on a Fig 14 at 500 with my 80mm Pentax ED.

The best thing to do is to go to a store that has several of these optics, line them up side by side and compare.
 
I have a Vortex Viper HD 15-45x65 spotting scope which is alright. I was in Wholesale sports on september long weekend and they had the Vortex Razor HD spotting scopes on sale because they just released a new model. I picked up the 20-60x85 for $1500 + tax. Awesome value and I think it's 10x better than the Viper HD.

for $1500, I don't think there was a better value spotting scope out there.
 
drücker said:
Hi
I am looking for a spotting scope, budget $2,500 + tax
and need to see clearly the hit on the target at 500 meter.
thanks
Click to expand...

Been there, tried pretty much all the top end spotters or at least all those that show up at F class competitions.

Simple answer... NONE will work all the time. If all you want is to see an impact splat on a painted gong, pretty much any decent spotter will work and so will most better scopes.

If you want to see bullet holes and how a group is forming, forget about it. Not saying you can't see this happening. In fact, with our better optics, we have seen the 30cal holes on a white paper at 800m under IDEAL lighting conditions... and that rarely happens.

To see bullet holes on target EVERY TIME, UNDER ALL WEATHER AND LIGHTING CONDITIONS, I can offer a wireless camera set up for 1/5 your budget.

I gave up on optics and went wireless camera system. Stuff just works....

Jerry

PS, the Meopta and NF equivalent ARE very nice spotters and when used as spotters, right there with the better KOWAs and Pentax and Euro brands. Was very impressed.

Also, very impressed with the new Sightron SIIBL20-50x85 HD. For the money, it is a bargain given what you can see at distances approaching 2000m
 
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