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VORTEX RAZOR VS. KOWA, ZEISS, SWAROVSKI
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338LAPUASLAP View Drop Down
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Joined: October/17/2009
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Posts: 199 		  Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: VORTEX RAZOR VS. KOWA, ZEISS, SWAROVSKI
    Posted: November/06/2009 at 15:43
 
 
 
 
http://swfa.com/Kowa-88mm-High-Performance-Spotter-P7246.aspx
http://swfa.com/Zeiss-20-60x85-Victory-FL-Diascope-P12869.aspx
http://swfa.com/Swarovski-ATS-80-Spotter-P1556.aspx
http://swfa.com/Vortex-20-60x65-Razor-HD-Spotting-Scope-P13265.aspx
 
I was looking at the above spotters...
 
I am wondering if people could give any input as to narrowing this list down.  I like the under dog / looking at the Razor Vortex need input on this.
P.B. SLAP/API 51CK S6 T2
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Mike McDonald View Drop Down
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Posts: 605 		  Quote Mike McDonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/07/2009 at 08:31
Have experience with the Swaro AT80 and ATS80 scopes and the Kowa units.
Just purchased a Vortex skyline 80mm ED angled, and thus far fiind it to be ( subjective) better than the Swarovskis and the equal to the ED kowa.
I would imagine the top line Vortex would be an improvement over that.
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JGRaider View Drop Down
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Posts: 206 		  Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/07/2009 at 16:38
The Kowa 883/884 is considered by many benchrest shooters, birdwatchers, and many others to be the best in the world bar none.  I did look through one at the range and it is all its cracked up to be for sure.  My neighbor has a Zeiss 85t FL and it is excellent also, but no better than my Nikon 82 ED which I compared side by side (only advantage to Zeiss was the more forgiving eyepiece).  I would have considered the Razor also but i do not like angled eyepieces at all.  The Bird Watchers Digest just did a review on high end spotters.  I believe the new $3400 Leica and the Kowa mentioned were determined best.  Considering my neighbors Zeiss goes for $2200 minimum, and I got my Nikon 82 ED for $1000, I consider it the best value in an alpha spotter available, and it is fantastic. 

Edited by JGRaider - November/07/2009 at 16:39
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RifleDude View Drop Down
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Posts: 6108 		  Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2009 at 17:58
The Kowa Prominar 883/884 is most frequently regarded as the best scope you can get, bar none by all who have reviewed it.  I have looked through one, and I can't dispute that claim, as it is superb.  I'm sure the new Leica is fantastic too, but it is so astronomically expensive, I can't see how anyone can justify it.

The Zeiss Diascope is very nice, but it is a little soft at the field edge.  Not a big deal, but worth noting.  All of the Swarovski spotters are incredible.  They are usually near the top of comparative reviews they are included in.  I don't personally like the central body mounted helical focus as well as the dual ratio coarse/fine focus knobs that the others have.  I find it much easier to get the image in crisp focus without moving the scope with the dual ratio knobs.

I saw the Vortex Razor at a show, and it looked very good -- as best I could evaluate its optics inside a building.  Even though I wasn't able to compare it side to side with the likes of Swaro and Zeiss, I was impressed enough by the image that I might be tempted to buy it based on its price.  I've never been disappointed by any of Vortex's higher end optics.
Ted

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mike650 View Drop Down
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Posts: 6226 		  Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2009 at 18:35
Originally posted by 338LAPUASLAP

http://swfa.com/Kowa-88mm-High-Performance-Spotter-P7246.aspx http://swfa.com/Zeiss-20-60x85-Victory-FL-Diascope-P12869.aspx http://swfa.com/Swarovski-ATS-80-Spotter-P1556.aspx http://swfa.com/Vortex-20-60x65-Razor-HD-Spotting-Scope-P13265.aspx
 
I was looking at the above spotters...
 
I am wondering if people could give any input as to narrowing this list down.  I like the under dog / looking at the Razor Vortex need input on this.


You probably already know this but some of the spotters you listed don't include the eye piece. Also the Swaro listed is not the HD flavor but is still considered in the" top 10 or so spotters" out there per most "birdie" reviews I've read.
-Mike

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338LAPUASLAP View Drop Down
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Posts: 199 		  Quote 338LAPUASLAP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2009 at 18:53
Sharp ShooterYes, I do realize the eyepiece is not inlcuded...
 
I was trying to compare them at the same price ranges vs. the features of them and peoples reviews of the "base" or body tube lenses vs. viewing eyepiece...
 
I am not to suprised by these comments leaning heavily on them also really wondering about the under dog "razor" have just heard nothing but fantastic things wondering if anyone puts them aside to the "TOP 10". 
 
I am again open to anything If any "no name" spotter should be considered tell me...
 
Short of putting a full telescope on a table I am not looking for any field work just tableing it for sight ins and long distance targeting.Sharp Shooter
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RifleDude View Drop Down
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Posts: 6108 		  Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2009 at 19:01
The Razor is so new to the market that you aren't likely to get many comments about it vs the others.  I have no doubt it is a great spotter, and Vortex is a good company backed by an excellent warranty and c.s.  
Ted

You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans.
-- Ronald Reagan
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