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Opinions on some scopes |
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deadstick
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: August/26/2008 at 13:02 |
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New guy here, just found the forum and appreciate all the great info on here. I'm in the market to upgrade from a Burris Landmark spotting scope. I've looked and hunted using the cadillacs made by Zeiss and Swarovski, but don't have the budget for them - looking in the $500 range but willing to go a tad higher if need be. I will be using the spotting scope primarily for big game hunting in the open prairie of North Dakota. Clarity and light gathering are more important to me than weight, so I would not shy away from an 80mm objective.
Here are some of the options I've looked at. I'd be very interested in any opinions of these, particularly the Bushnell that is much lower priced than any other offering with ED (haven't been able to see much for reviews on it).
competitor Big Sky ED 20-60x66..............$750
Seems to be a good option, but higher priced than I wanted, although I've read reviews saying it's close to the Austrian high-dollar ones (I know to take that with a grain of salt)
Nikon Prostaff 20-60x82.......................$630
Sounds like another good option, clarity has been reported as good and comparable to the Big Sky ED
competitor Big Sky 27-80x80mm..............$600
80 zoom would be nice, but I question whether or not it's going to be very clear at that high of a zoom for this price of optics. Also saw a review saying that for an 80mm objective, light-gathering was poor and it was hard to focus.
competitor Big Sky 20-60x66..................$550
If the 80 zoom isn't going to help me, might as well just go this route if the Big Sky model is good. Saw reports saying that there was a huge difference between this and the Big Sky ED though, and that even 60x was pretty poor on this.
Leupold Sequoia 20-60x80.................$500
Weight on this is 60 oz. (higher than any others - I know I said weight wasn't an issue, but for comparisons sake I mention it), and saw more than one review with it being compared side-by-side to the Big Sky and the Big Sky blew it away in terms of clarity.
competitor Alaskan Guide 20-60x70.......$450
Is this just a slightly smaller ojective version of the Big Sky with a bit cheaper glass?
Bushnell Excursion FLP 20-60x80........$450
Very reasonably priced spotting scope for having ED glass (only other one on this list was the first one), but I couldn't find any reviews. It also had the best eye relief (30mm) of all glass listed here.
Thanks for any opinions you can provide,
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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This Vortex spotter is really nice too.
http://www.swfa.com/pc-12372-2139-new-vortex-20-60x80-skyline-spotting-scope.aspx |
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deadstick
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Thanks, but I should have mentioned that one of the reasons I'm buying one is that competitor sent out those "spend $500, get $150 gift card" things, and competitor doesn't carry Vortex.
However, I appreciate the response and if a non-competitor manufacturer were to come to the top of my list, I can always buy a new muzzleloader with the $500 (which I need to do anyways, just hadn't planned on it this year - the spotting scope is something I could start using today, I don't have a muzzleloader tag).
Thanks again,
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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500 is kinda the floor in alot of ways. Look at Pentax, Nikon and the better Bushnell. A used Minox or Kowa would be my choice over "big sky" (who the heck is that...).
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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The kicker here is going to be whether or not Bushnell is able to market a quality-made FLP scope. They had one of a slightly different design (essentially a scope they imported from [I believe] Russia) once before and it was pretty poor. Of course, it retailed for something like $80 - $100 so; what could you expect? If Bushnell can pull this scope off as advertised, they could put a serious dent in Leupold's market for FLP scopes. I'm actually surprised that they aren't marketing it as a new model in their Elite line. In fact, that they are putting the Excursion name on it - a name that is associated with their lower/mid grade binoculars - is something of a red flag for me. Were I in the market for a scope right now, I would be willing to try the 60mm version of the Excursion FLP but, only from a dealer with a very generous returns policy. The 80mm scope would hold no interest as it defies the very idea of an FLP scope's design which is supposed to provide an optic that is compact and light. Edited by lucznik - August/27/2008 at 13:40 |
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deadstick
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Thanks for the thoughtful replies, I'll have to consider the Bushnell Elite series, which may be made for this store with their name on it, like you suggested the Alaskan Guide was.
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deadstick
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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The C-store has the Bushnell Excursion for sale on their site - haven't been to the store to see if it's actually there though.
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Duce
Optics Master Joined: September/19/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1231 |
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I have been waiting for this one to come out
http://www.swfa.com/pc-13196-2266-new-bushnell-20-60x80-excursion-flp-spotting-scope.aspx I hope when it does it will be available with the 45 degree eyepiece those angled eyepieces seem easier to use on the benchrest.
Duce
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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It will not likely be offered with an angled eyepiece. My (limited) understanding has been that the Folded Light Path (FLP) design is not particularly conducive to an angled eyepiece. I think that if such a thing was readily workable, Leupold would have done it with their FLP scopes long before now. After all, they have been trying for quite a while now to seriously break into the birding market and angled scopes are very, very popular with the birding crowd. Edited by lucznik - August/27/2008 at 13:43 |
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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With a folding path scope, putting an angled eyepiece in would require either an extra mirror, which would end up reversing the image again or a prism assembly which would defeat some of the purpose behind the folding path (and increase cost).
I am also very curious about Bushnell's FLP design. I think it is a pretty good way to make a scope. ILya |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Now that I checked, FLP spotter it seems to be in stock at a number of places. I wonder if SWFA has it.
ILya |
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deadstick
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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FYI, I looked through and handled the FLP today at a major retailer store whose name starts with C. Didn't like the focus and zoom adjustments both on the eyepiece. As for the quality, I only looked in the store so it wasn't a great test. However, it was quite a bit darker (it seemed) at high zoom than the Nikon and Leupold listed in my original posting.
I plan to go back and test them outdoors ASAP.
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deadstick
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/26/2008 Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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FYI, the clerk said they just got them in 3 days ago.
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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The real test is going to be how it compares directly against the Leupold Golden Ring HD (and non-HD for that matter) spotter - as the Excursion is a direct knock-off of this design. |
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Duce
Optics Master Joined: September/19/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1231 |
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This is the one with the ED glass ? I will have to try to find one to look through to compare to my old spotter. It sounds like a good buy for the price , now to figure out how to get it by the wife
Duce
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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I finally got to handle one of these little Bushnell FLP scopes over labor day weekend. It was pretty nice but, I don't think it's exactly going to set the optics world afire.
My basic impressions were: It is larger than I expected. It was light to be sure but, it would take up a lot of room in a daypack. It was at least as bright as most other 60mm scopes though, not more so. Eye relief was fantastic. Even at the highest magnification (45x) I could keep my eye clear away from the scope and still get the entire Field of View. This meant no touching the scope which resulted in greater-than-average stability. Image quality was very good in the center 2/3 of the image. It quickly degraded starting at the outer 1/3 mark going out to the edge, where it was totally useless. The FoV is quite wide however so, this should prove only a minor inconvenience in real-world use. I was not in a position to evaluate the image for CA. It is not, I think, as good as was the similar-styled, though older Leupold Golden Ring (non-HD) I played with earlier this year. I am also glad I didn't hesitate on buying my 50mm Leupold Golden Ring as I don't think the Excursion is quite small enough to adequately accomplish my goals for a dedicated backpacking scope. I've seen this scope selling for $320 and I think it would be worth that price. I definitely liked it better than the 60mm Bushnell Elite. If I were trying to buy a scope in the sub $400 range, it would at least be on my short list. BTW, that huge ugly "B" medallion on the front of the scope appeared to be attached by essentially nothing of substance so; you could probably pull it off with no trouble and no harm to the scope. If I were to buy one of these, that medallion would be the first thing to go. Edited by lucznik - September/02/2008 at 23:11 |
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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