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VORTEX RAZOR VS. KOWA, ZEISS, SWAROVSKI
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mike650 View Drop Down
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Posts: 8816 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: VORTEX RAZOR VS. KOWA, ZEISS, SWAROVSKI
    Posted: April/11/2010 at 20:42
+1 on the Swaro 80 HD.... low light, 1300 yards, seeing bones (antlers), it does very well.
-Mike

"Fish to Live - Live to Hunt"

"All fishermen are liars except you and me and I'm not so sure about you."
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Huck BB62 View Drop Down
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Posts: 16 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Huck BB62 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/20/2010 at 18:45
I just went through a LOT of looking. I brought home the non-HD Swarovski ATS 80 for a week. I was so disappointed in it. The purple chromatic fringing on everything at higher powers was awful. I just wanted to love it so badly. It wasn't meant to be. My excellent hunting store nearby took it back. I went and picked up an HD Swarovski STS. It IS all it's advertised to be. It's amazing. 

I looked through the Vortex at the store. It just doesn't cut the mustard compared to the Swarovski HD. The store has a resolution scale (it goes to ridiculously fine increments but you need them with the better scopes) mounted on the wall (it's a large store) with window mounts on a board so you can side by side them. 

Here's my take on the ones I looked through:

Bushnell HD FLP 80. This scope is AWESOME for less than $600 ($475 on Amazon). It kicked the pants off of all but the Swarovski, seriously. I was shocked. Had I not wanted a scope to be able to use with my camera, I'd own this scope, period. I never hear about it, but it's extremely impressive. I'm serious, this scope is a bargain of the century. Drawbacks: Made by the chicoms and can't use it with an SLR)

Bushnell HD FLP 65. Just like it's big brother, but dim. If you're a hunter, NO 65 in my opinion, is going to cut it. SUPER bargain.

Nikon Fieldscope 65. Pretty nice but honestly, the Bushnell HD FLP 65 was better than it. The Nikon seemed too dark at high resolution and didn't resolve any finer on the chart. I wanted to like this as it was on sale and I'd heard so much. I'm a big Nikon fan. This scope, for the money, disappointed me.

Vortex ED 80. It was a good performer. I especially liked the focuser on it. I could NOT bring out the resolution on the chart as well as the Swarovski. Just wouldn't do it, the chart doesn't lie. Pretty good for the money, but NOT as nice as the aforementioned Bushnell. 

The others weren't worth mentioning. 

In my opinion, one really needs the ED lenses. 

Try this: Look at a branch against the sky or in the store, look at the edge of a florescent light. On the Swarovski HD, you'll notice no purple fringing or softness. Now, defocus it. On the Swarovski HD, you'll notice it just goes out of focus, no fringing. On others, and all the others, the purple fringing will pop out. This gives evidence of the correction capabilities of the scope. Believe it or not, the Bushnell just about pulled off a Swarovski copy cat here! 

On branches, or antlers, I just couldn't put up with not being able to count brow tines at 500 yards in the early early morning. So, Swarovski HD it is!

Just one guy's opinion. 
!!!!!!Joe Arpaio For President!!!!!!
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kingston View Drop Down
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Posts: 54 		Post Options Post Options   Quote kingston Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/16/2010 at 18:29
I wear glasses, does that rule the Nikon 82Ed for me?
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koshkin View Drop Down
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Posts: 6306 		Post Options Post Options   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/06/2010 at 18:32
Jeff, clean out your mailbox.

ILya
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JGRaider View Drop Down
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Posts: 352 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/06/2010 at 15:43
I've heard that more than once from reliable sources like yourself,Rancid, so I believe it.  I feel the same way about my Nikon 82ED.  The only reason i didn't wind up with the Pentax 80 is that the Nikon was more compact, and I do not wear glasses.  
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Rancid Coolaid View Drop Down
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Posts: 3783 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/06/2010 at 10:39
Though they don't get the respect I think they should, look at the Pentax ED 80 spotter, it sells for about $1200 with one of the best eye pieces in the industry.

I put one side-by-side with a Kowa 884 and the Kowa was sharper at range and had a little better contrast and color, but I'd call it "just a little" at best.

My experience: if you want the best Kowa 880-series is it.  If you can live with a little less contrast and slightly less resolution at range (meaning you will lose bullet holes with the Pentax 100 yards before you do with the Kowa), Pentax is the best deal going.

Admittedly, I've not seen the Razor but am interested in seeing one for myself now.
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JGRaider View Drop Down
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Posts: 352 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/06/2010 at 09:28
I can't wait to read how this one turns out.  Thanks for the effort Ilya (again). What are you comparing it to?  
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koshkin View Drop Down
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Posts: 6306 		Post Options Post Options   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/05/2010 at 21:25
I just got a Razor HD loaner from Vortex and will be reviewing it over the next few weeks.  It is pretty impressive so far.

ILya
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Sparky View Drop Down
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Posts: 320 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2010 at 16:54
Just an FYI. Bird Watchers Digest apparently just did a review that had very good things to say about the Razor. The article was High End Scope Review. I have not read it but a friend told me about it.
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Tranan View Drop Down
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Posts: 66 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Tranan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2009 at 19:46
Unfortunately I must agree with you. I have actually never seen any used ones out there yet. That could be due to the fact that they are still very new or to the fact that those who own such a scope do not sell it unless they are forced to.
As far as toughness is concerned...hard to say. It feels very robust. I have however, never used mine "the hard way". I am very careful with the way I treat it. I purchased the KOWA stay on case to it which gives it an extra protection and have it mounted on a good quality Zeiss tripod. Though many optics are supposed to be tough, I am the last man to say that because optics are like jewels to me. I make sure I treat them as gently as I can, though I am a very intense user.
CHARLIE DON'T SURF!
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JGRaider View Drop Down
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Posts: 352 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2009 at 21:07
Tranan, I never see a good, used Kowa 884 for sale.  Is there a place a guy could look, or do you just keep surfing the internet hopefully stumbling into one?  Is the 883/884 line tough?  Thanks, I'd like to find one of these.
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Tranan View Drop Down
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Posts: 66 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Tranan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2009 at 20:01
I owned a long range of spottings scopes, from cheap ones to very expensive, among which such as Diascope 20-60x85, Nikon ED 20-75x82 and now own a Kowa HD 883 20-60x88 and I can tell you, there is no other scope like it. It is absolutely top of the line with all the rest following after, so if the buck is not a problem, go for it my friend!
CHARLIE DON'T SURF!
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