waterwagen
Active member
Done with Viper HD - current best scopes for under $1000?
I currently have a Vortex Viper HD 80mm which I've had for a couple years and is now coming apart. Since I'll need to send it in for repair, I've started using my old Bushnell Spacemaster and that has reminded me of my lack of satisfaction with the Viper. As a near $1000 scope it seems disappointing. The spacemaster has better focus, is less finicky about eye position, and has less CA. The eye position issue on the Viper has bothered from day one. It's hard to describe, but it seems very hard to keep my eye in the sweet spot where the image is in sharp focus (it seems to drift in and out). This was not an issue with the Bushnell.
I'm planning on selling the Vortex when I get it back from repair. A comparably priced scope will be in the $1000 or less range, and I'm looking for suggestions on the best options. I'm not set on sticking with 80mm as my 60mm Spacemaster served me well for a long time, but I would lean toward the brighter scopes.
At the moment I'm seriously considering the Pentax PF80-ED-A with the Pentax XW20 fixed eyepiece for 25x power (or maybe the XW14 for 35x). That would put me at right about the $950 mark. Also tempted to splurge for the 65mm Vortex Razor HD at about $1200, as unlike the Viper scope, I'm very happy with my Vortex Razor binoculars (original model), and I've heard very good things about the Razor scopes.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
I currently have a Vortex Viper HD 80mm which I've had for a couple years and is now coming apart. Since I'll need to send it in for repair, I've started using my old Bushnell Spacemaster and that has reminded me of my lack of satisfaction with the Viper. As a near $1000 scope it seems disappointing. The spacemaster has better focus, is less finicky about eye position, and has less CA. The eye position issue on the Viper has bothered from day one. It's hard to describe, but it seems very hard to keep my eye in the sweet spot where the image is in sharp focus (it seems to drift in and out). This was not an issue with the Bushnell.
I'm planning on selling the Vortex when I get it back from repair. A comparably priced scope will be in the $1000 or less range, and I'm looking for suggestions on the best options. I'm not set on sticking with 80mm as my 60mm Spacemaster served me well for a long time, but I would lean toward the brighter scopes.
At the moment I'm seriously considering the Pentax PF80-ED-A with the Pentax XW20 fixed eyepiece for 25x power (or maybe the XW14 for 35x). That would put me at right about the $950 mark. Also tempted to splurge for the 65mm Vortex Razor HD at about $1200, as unlike the Viper scope, I'm very happy with my Vortex Razor binoculars (original model), and I've heard very good things about the Razor scopes.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
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