Hi!
I'm going to purchase a spotting scope. I'm not as up to snuff on them as I am binoculars. Probably the easy choice is to hunker down and buy a ATX and objective and be done with it but...I like a challenge. Looking to spend $2000ish more or less. BTW...I have a STS-80 non-HD that I've had for years with 20-60 eyepiece. It has been a faultless performer. I wouldn't object to a sister ATS HD but it's a little more than I want to spend at this time. BTW...uses will be primarily birding with some astronomy mixed in for good measure... Also, I wear glasses.
I've picked out THREE that seem to be in the price range I want to spend and these three seem to all be well thought of. I'll give you these three and am willing to consider other(s). I'm sure my three won't surprise anyone...
1. Vortex Razor HD 20-60X85, $1600. I've owned several pairs of Vortex binoculars. Their "better" models have shown to be great products and almost always a good bang for the buck. If these are as good as what I have read, they are well worth their asking price. I have always noticed a big difference between Japan and China Vortex binoculars. My understanding this spotting scope is made in China. Is this an issue with this scope? Any quality issues?
2. Meopta Meostar S2 82 HD, $2200 w/ 30-60 or 20-70 eyepiece. Looks to get rave reviews. I have some Meostar binoculars, which are great quality.
3. Kowa TSN-773, $1500 + eyepiece of choice($350ish). Kowa seems to be the choice of my competition shooter friends. They love 'em. This one features an objective slightly smaller than the two scopes above. The price shown is from Eagle Optics and really no one is close that I've seen.
So there you go. That's the ones that impress me the most around that price.
What say you?
I'm going to purchase a spotting scope. I'm not as up to snuff on them as I am binoculars. Probably the easy choice is to hunker down and buy a ATX and objective and be done with it but...I like a challenge. Looking to spend $2000ish more or less. BTW...I have a STS-80 non-HD that I've had for years with 20-60 eyepiece. It has been a faultless performer. I wouldn't object to a sister ATS HD but it's a little more than I want to spend at this time. BTW...uses will be primarily birding with some astronomy mixed in for good measure... Also, I wear glasses.
I've picked out THREE that seem to be in the price range I want to spend and these three seem to all be well thought of. I'll give you these three and am willing to consider other(s). I'm sure my three won't surprise anyone...
1. Vortex Razor HD 20-60X85, $1600. I've owned several pairs of Vortex binoculars. Their "better" models have shown to be great products and almost always a good bang for the buck. If these are as good as what I have read, they are well worth their asking price. I have always noticed a big difference between Japan and China Vortex binoculars. My understanding this spotting scope is made in China. Is this an issue with this scope? Any quality issues?
2. Meopta Meostar S2 82 HD, $2200 w/ 30-60 or 20-70 eyepiece. Looks to get rave reviews. I have some Meostar binoculars, which are great quality.
3. Kowa TSN-773, $1500 + eyepiece of choice($350ish). Kowa seems to be the choice of my competition shooter friends. They love 'em. This one features an objective slightly smaller than the two scopes above. The price shown is from Eagle Optics and really no one is close that I've seen.
So there you go. That's the ones that impress me the most around that price.
What say you?