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x60 Gold Ring or 60x Excusion? |
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smitty
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/29/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 103 |
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Posted: November/30/2008 at 15:53 |
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What can you tell me a bout these two scopes?
Is there a substantial difference that would justify spending a lot more for the Leupold? Are both scopes designed for use with eyeglasses?
The scope would be used for spotting targets and for spotting game.
Thanks,
Smitty
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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Both are of the same basic design.
Both have incredibly long eye relief which is fabulous for eyeglass wearers.
Both are good scopes in their respective price classes.
The Leupold is definitely the better scope. For example, it has far less edge distortion than the Bushnell. It also seems to be a bit more ruggedly built and is protected by Leupold's absolutely legendary warranty. However, the Bushnell is at least as good, and really better, than anything else in its own price class and would serve you very, very well.
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bigmulie
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/14/2009 Location: Sandpoint ,ID Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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If you are looking for a spotting scope to use for hunting, then you have to buy the Leupold. I have tried the cheaper scopes and they do not compare with the Leupold. You will have this one for the rest of your life. I speak from lifes trials!!!!
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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This might be taking it a bit far.
There are quite a few spotting scopes that retail for less than the Leupold FLP Golden Ring that will give excellent service as a hunting scope.
Just off the top of my head I can think of:
Don't get me wrong, I really like the 60mm Leupold. But to say that it is the only choice or to suggest that nothing less expensive could ever be acceptable just isn't true. |
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tours732
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/23/2006 Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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Lucznik,
Thanks. Very well thought out post. |
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Lucznik,,,Gonna jump in here and hoper it's ok. I have a Leupold 15x30x50 compact for hunting and am looking for a decent spotter for the range out to the 300 to 500 yard distances. What would you suggets as the most bang for the buck for this dedicated purpose.
Thanks
Mark
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Have a great day ...unless you have something else planned
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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"Bang for the buck" is an elusive concept as everybody tends to be a little different about their expectations.
My personal spotting scope battery consists of two scopes.
The first is the Bushnell Elite 20-60x80. I selected this scope because it is (IMO) the least expensive option that still offers top-quality level performance. Eventually I will upgrade this to something like a Kowa 883, but that won't be for awhile. The Elite is used for most general purpose uses, rifle range, astronomy, digiscoping, family camping, hunting/scouting from a vehicle, birding, etc. I paid $654 for my Elite.
My second scope is the Leupold Golden Ring compact 15-30x50. Mine is their newer, brown-armored model. This scope is one of my very favorite optics. It is used for backpacking, travelling, and any occasion when I want a scope, but where size and weight are at a premium. The Nikon ED50 is a slightly better scope (smaller, lighter, offers a variety of eyepiece choices, uses ED glass in the objective element, etc.) but, it is also a lot more expensive (~$700). I paid only $280 (NIB and not grey market) for my Leupold.
I would actually think that either of these scopes would be capable of achieving your 300-500 yard range expectations, though I've not tested them with this specific purpose in mind.
Beyond telling you what my ultimate choices were, I would need some idea of your budget to give any more-concrete suggestions. Edited by lucznik - January/23/2009 at 11:11 |
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Lucznik, Had some things come up and have been off the forum since your last note. My budget as always "is to spend no more than necessay and get the maximum optic" for my dollars. However I know that I keep what I buy pretty much for ever. I'll use the bigger scope very much like you do yours. I need to keep my expense under $1000. I really like my compact Leupold for toting aroud but it's just not enough for the range (with my eyes) out beyond 200-250 yards. I also wear glasses and use them when glassing. As always your input is appreciated by all of us. Mark in Colorado
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Have a great day ...unless you have something else planned
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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For up to $1000 and taking into consideration you already have a compact, I would suggest you look at:
Models that, while not ideal because you already have a compact spotter, would still be worthy of consideration would include:
Edited by lucznik - January/24/2009 at 11:44 |
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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Watching carefully
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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12ptdroptine
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/25/2009 Location: west central Il Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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If I may be allowed to inquire also. I just joined a few minute's ago. I forgot a lesson learned in the past.. There are no bargain's in optic's. You get what you pay for. I have a pair of 8x32 Swarovski's that it took me awhile to take the plunge.. I have all Leupold scope's (but for 1 Nikon) and its a pretty good scope. But I just brought home a Leupold green ring 20X60X80 scope that I am not pleased with. Where I bought it cheerfully offered me an exchange or refund. I wish I had just bought the golden ring to begin with. I assumed the green ring would be good also. But I was wrong. So my next choice will be the 15x30x50 Leupold or the (12x40x60 probably). But I would like some opinion's about these to choice's. The scope will be mostly used at the range and If it turns out to be as nice as My swarovski's then It will see additional use as well. But I dont go out west or anything like that. I live in west central Illinois. So any advice ie appreciated. Thanks Drop
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Lucznik...
I think I have found my spotter but i need a little help from you. There is a Pentax PF65Ed and 20-60 zoom eyepiece on Samplelist. I am a bit confused about exactly which ED scope it is in regards to the current SWFA site. It looks like the $848 dollar scope and the $318 dollar eyepiece, but the total on Samplelist is $990 dollars retail. This scope and eyepiece are fairly compact and not extremely heavy and with the ED glass should be great for scoping game, the range and lots of other uses. Your input is appreciated.
Thanks
MNF
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Have a great day ...unless you have something else planned
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Drop, No dissapointment with the quality in my Leupold Gold Ring 15-30x50 other than I need more power for the range out past the 250 yard plus mark. If you shoot past these distances at the range based on my experences I would reccomend going to a 65 or 80 power scope. What is the primary use of your spotter? |
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12ptdroptine
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/25/2009 Location: west central Il Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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Mostly for range work out to a max of 300 yds.Mostly 250ish. I have read that if going up to the 60 power area to expect to go way up on price to much better glass and a whole lot more dollar's than I can go. Drop
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Drop, My 15-30x50 as I've noted id great out to 200-250 and beyond it's really no use at the range. This is a heck of a buy !!! I hadn't noticed it earlier. I am a newbie to this site as you can see by my posts however I have owned 3 or 4 spotters in the past and feel this one from the samplelist.com would do you great !!
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Have a great day ...unless you have something else planned
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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OOOppppppsssss Here is my first attempt at cut and paste from samplelist !!!! Not to good but you get the point !!!
Mark
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Have a great day ...unless you have something else planned
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carbuyersfriend
Optics Apprentice Joined: November/06/2008 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 55 |
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Drop... I forgot completely...take their refund and buy from SWFA or the Samplelist. Best customer service I've had in the outdoor world of optics ....really. (Not a paid advertising statement) Mark |
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Have a great day ...unless you have something else planned
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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Certainly the mantra that "you get what you pay for" has a lot of value but, it's not an absolute Truth. There are, in fact, many bargains in optics. You just have to know what to look for.
Edited by lucznik - January/26/2009 at 18:12 |
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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For example, I have a Bushnell Elite 20-60x80 ED. I often use it at 60x and have found that the major limiting factor is not the glass, but rather the atmospheric conditions - which affect all scopes, irrespective of their price tag. I paid $654 for my Elite. That is less than you would pay for the non-HD (let alone the HD version) 60mm Golden Ring which you mentioned in your previous post (though admittedly, that scope only reaches about 48x)
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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