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Leica APO Televid 65mm VS. Swarovski ATM 65mm HD |
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Posted: September/26/2011 at 20:20 |
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Hey guys I am trying to decide between these two spotting scopes. I will be using it primarly for backpack hunting out west, which is why I am leaning towards the 65mm. What are some pros and cons of the two? |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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Very similar spotters. The Leica 25-50 WA eyepiece is a little more forgiving on eye placement than the 25-50 WA from Swarovski. I would get the 20-60 eyepiece for the Swaro, if you go that way.
I do a lot of backpack hunting, and am trying out the Nikon ED50 this season. So far, so good. I do have the 13-40 eyepiece on order. I do miss a little more magnification than the 13-30 offers. |
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-Matt
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Have you ever considered the Kowa Prominar 663/664? Every bit as good as the Leica, and within a whisker of the Swaro for half the money.
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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No, I hadn't given the Kowa's much thought, I'll have to look into that. Would you say the Kowa is comparable in physical size to that of the Swaro?
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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How would you say the Kowa Prominar 773 would match up to the Swaro 65mm HD? Would it be worth the extra ten oz. to lug around the mountains?
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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I realize this is a little dated, but it does have the 773 and Swaro 65 HD included. It is interesting if nothing else. Unfortunately the 663/664 isn't. I just offered my own personal opinion on that model because I've looked at it side by side with the Swaro HD. People who backpack hunt alot usually go with the 60-65mm class or the Nikon 50ED that Bitteroot talked about. It is most definitely the class of the 50mm spotters.
Make no mistake, you definitely can't go wrong with a Swaro HD, but the 663/664 is really close. I'm not a Leica spotter fan, probably just personal bias. Portability is not an issue with me, since after 4 knee surgeries and staring a replacement in the face in the future, my backpacking days are probably over. http://www.livingbird.org/bbimages/lb/pdf/ScopeChart2008.pdf |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I have also seen the Kowa Prominar 664, and also think it is worthy of consideration. To my eyes, it wasn't quite in the Leica/Swaro class, but it is certainly a great value.
Just remember, any of the 60-65mm spotters are going to be about twice (or more) the weight of the Nikon ED50. The ED50 also requires a lighter tripod than a 60mm spotter. I really like the ED50 for solo trips. If you backpack hunt with a partner, it might make sense to go with the maximum performance of an 80-85mm spotter, and split the load (spotter and tripod) between both. My buddy and I did this successfully deep in the backcountry with my Slik Tripod and Vortex Razor HD spotter on this hunt: http://www.opticstalk.com/montana-high-country-mule-deer_topic30329.html If I had gone solo, the ED50 would have come along. |
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-Matt
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Yeah, I will be backpack hunting with a partner, so sharing the weight would make sense. What I was wanting to see is if anyone had compared a Swaro 65 HD with a Kowa 773, and, in your own opinion, which is optically superior, as they are approximately the same price. Thanks for the help! I would like to go check myself, but there is no where close to me that deals in both Swaro and Kowa.
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Thanks for the link to that hunt Bitterroot.....awesome buck and gorgeous country. Congrats.
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I have looked through just about every high end spotter made, but not the Kowa 77. I am sure it is a fine instrument. I have spent a lot of time with the Swaro 65 HD and it is the best of the 65mm spotters, IMO. The Swaro is rubber armored, if that matters to you. If you are considering the Kowa 77, you might want to look at the big stuff too. The Vortex Razor 85HD and Zen Ray ED2 spotter compete with the Euro/Kowa stuff, and would save you some dough. If performance is paramount, you might as well spring for the Kowa 88. It is the king of the hill.
Thanks JG, He is no 200 incher (you lucky devil), but he is on the top end for a Montana General Tag/ Public Land mulie. The country is half the trophy. Edited by Bitterroot Bulls - September/28/2011 at 19:22 |
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-Matt
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Bitterroot nice hunt! Evidently I missed the link the first time...
I knew the Swaro was rubber armored, is the Kowa not rubber armored? And thanks for all the help.
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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Thanks, it was a fun hunt. Like the Nikon ED50, the Kowa has a polycarbonate body without rubber armor. |
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-Matt
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Thanks for all the help guys, I pulled the trigger on a Swarovski ATM 65 HD spotting scope today!
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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Great to hear, Dixie07!
Keep us updated on what you think of it.
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-Matt
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Dixie07
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/26/2011 Location: Kansas Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Ok, will do.
Have y'all heard much about the Manfrotto 190cxpro4 tripod? |
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