We bought and tested binoculars from Vortex, Athlon, Nikon, Leica, Swarovski, and others to help you find the best. For a first scope in this FFP arena, it was fine, I did not miss, even at 1k+ because of my argos. Athlon Argos BTR is $280-$370ish, depending on the model. But it could be perfect scope if you are setting it up on your back porch to stargaze with. The more powerful it is, the narrower the field of view. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Consider the durability of a spotter. Free Shipping & Free Returns* FREE SHIPPING on Over 250,000 Products. The Diamondback HD has decent high-definition glass in the objective lens, but experienced hunters may be disappointed with the clarity and brightness of the image. What this means is that if you look at a hill that is 1000 yards away, you will see an image that is between 48 and 102 feet wide based on how zoomed in you are. They sent me a prepaid label without a fight. That makes a great combination for hardscrabble backcountry hunters who dont want to sacrifice optical performance, knowing that seeing long distances can save them many miles and thousands of feet of elevation in their boots. Deploy MIL First Focal Plane reticle. Athlon Ares Spotting Scope VS. Vortex Razor Spotting Scope Review 73,201 views Mar 13, 2016 263 Dislike Share Save Backcountry Brotherhood 8.15K subscribers Watch as we review the new. Vortex has become a staple in the optics world recently, and for good reason. These coatings help the scope transmit and gather light better, thus increasing the quality and clarity of the image it delivers. The bigger the lens, the bigger and heavier the scope. And the rubber armor is as grippy as it is protective. 10 MIL turrets. We found the usable magnification range extended to about 54-power, which is higher than many of its peers. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. Learn more about their long, family owned history here. Vanguard is a smaller, more specialized company than many on this list, and they deserve your consideration for their quality products. They are going to stop rifle optics but Nikon isnt going anywhere. The optic with the highest Price/Value score wins our Great Buy award. There are only dangerous men." Purpose-built as an aid to precision rifle shooters, the integrated reticle in the LMSS2 allows spotters to effectively call shots for their teammates on rifle. Because our test doesnt intentionally punish submissions until they break, the durability question is necessarily unanswered. I mention this because you are likely to get more use out of a spotter with a 20-45-power range than one that claims it goes to 60-power. $399.99. Spotting scopes are usually used on a tripod, so you dont need to worry about your hands shaking and distorting high zoom images like you do with binoculars. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Athlon 214061 Argos BTR 6-2450 Riflescope APMR FFP MIL at the best online prices at eBay! Vortex got mentioned above a lot, and there are good reasons. CF2-31023. 1. Pros. All the money is going straight into the glass. Apart from its compact design, it is also ergonomic. Most amazingly, some of their highest end products are even assembled in the United States, a rarity in this industry. The Vortex DB HD 10x42 are by volume the most sold pair of binoculars in . Joined Jan 16, 2018 . . Many buyers are looking for a scope to take to the range to verify hits on distant targets, whether paper bullseyes or steel plates. The other half appreciated the Endurance EDs talents for a backcountry spotter. Doug asked me to review two Athlon scopes for him. The Ares G2 placed second in our low-light rankings and turned in very good resolution scores. These are big, expensive optics for a fairly narrow segment of the market, and most hunters dont buy a new spotter every year or even more than a couple times in their careers. This Hawke is classified as a mid-sized unit, with its 68mm objective lens diameter, though it has a magnification range more in keeping with 80 and 85mm scopes. This isnt the spotter for everyone, but for buyers on a budget who want decent performance and all the reach that a 60-power can deliver, its a very good choice. When you do buy your scope, know that youre also going to need to budget for a tripod. $139.99 - $169.99. thanks! The Nature-Trek has some nice appointments, including the responsive center-barrel focus and the comfortable eyecups. So much so that it won our Great Buy award as the best bargain spotting scope. If youre sitting beside a buddy, you can frame a distant deer, and by simply rotating the barrel, turn the eyepiece to your buddy so they can view the deer. I personally used it this last year when hunting pronghorn in Idaho extensively, and it helped me pick out minute details on horns from absurdly far away! Easier to switch between binos and spotting scope. 60mm scopes are popular with hunters, although they definitely dont have the image quality of an 85mm. Theres several companies using that mechanism successfully. ! Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. A smaller company than some others on this list, Athlon continually impresses me with their quality mid range products. I am looking at the ballistic reticle scopes in the 3-9x40 and 4/4.5-12x40/42 range in both product lines. Athlon submitted two full-sized spotters for this years test, but the Argos HD version (as opposed to the Argos G2 UHD) version represents the best combination of price and performance. Athlon Optics . We only make money if you purchase a product through our links . Just picked up an Argos 6-24 for $249 and am very pleased. And the 27-55-power zoom range covers most hunting scenarios, while the 80mm objective lensmade with extra-low dispersion glasslets in plenty of light. Now if youre using your scope from a fixed position and dont have to carry it around, this wont be a problem. Key Features. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25X56 - Best for Long Range. Athlon Midas BTR, Midas HMR, Midas TAC scopes - Also made in China to Athlon's specific specifications. There is a massive difference between HD and regular definition television, and everyone has seen it. Thx, Colice "There are no dangerous weapons. Hunters who want a mini optic to pack into the high country, or travelers who want a little more reach than a smaller binocular should consider this little spotting scope. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black Customer reviews Customer reviews 4.4 out of 5 174 global ratings Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black by Size: 45 Degree Change How customer reviews and ratings work Top positive review Jack Holcomb Great spotting scope There are different scope models that are designed specifically for all these purposes. All in, theres a lot of scope here for $800, a price that represents the savings possible from the direct-to-consumer optics brand. Dispersion is an effect in glass that causes distortion as light travels through it, or actually with any kind of waves. The mid-barrel focus wheel is tight and precise. The ED glass works pretty well, but the real appeal here is the Horus reticle inside and tactical bling on the exterior. In that price range, you're not getting something that is top tier. Hunters may have a bit of a trade off here. Click to play video. The spotter with the highest overall score wins our Editors Choice awardthis year it went to Mavens CS.1. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60, Fully Multicoated, Excellent Image Quality, Field of view: 108 to 60 feet @ 1,000 yards. The point is..if you buy a Vortex, you have to check if the reticles are wire or not. The 45-degree angled eyepiece is also a nice touch, as it allows for users to use it in a number of different stances. In this test, we mount all scopes on tripods, set their magnification to 20-power, and then measure how long they can see into the dark, averaging the results to assess performance. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. He already had a high end Vortex ($1,000). We may receive a sales commission if you purchase any products after using one of our links. Glass was pretty good for the price. If the former, you might consider investing in models with excellent glass and mirage-taming coatings. High end manufacturers like Swarovski and Zeiss charge thousands of dollars for their scopes, and will give you crystal clear images that are hard to beat. When looking through a scope with ED glass compared to another without it, there is a massive difference. Athlon Optics , Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane (FFP) 30 mm Tube, Illuminated APMR MIL Reticle, Black. Get the Bushnell Match Pro over either. $249.99. The Argos HD is one of the best spotting scopes under 300 dollars that has a robust 20-60x magnification, 85mm objective, and is perfect for . If you got sick of reading about scopes (or, lets be honest, you saw there was video and skipped ahead! On the other hand, the image delivered by the UHD glass was bright and free of flares and distortion, and the balance and heft of the chassis are both satisfyingly substantial. Yes, Vortex Tactical line is part of their upper tier level. A 15-4565 unit has 15- to 45-power magnification behind a 65mm objective lens. If you have the money and want to get top performance, you definitely have that option. If you have the budget, Celestrons Regal is a huge optical upgrade over the Ultima. The Athlon Talos 20-60x80 Spotting Scope is a long-range spotting scope with a 45-degree eyepiece angle. Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission and a silver-coated K9 glass prism . $170.00. It is used solely as a marketing hook by companies to make their optics seem very high quality. The other differentiation from the Argos HD model: the aluminum-alloy chassis of the Ares UHD. Since some of the most prime hunting hours are during low light dawn/dusk conditions, it can be tempting to get a scope with a larger exit pupil. Youll notice the images starts to get dark and grainy at about 45-power, and our low-light test confirmed that, compared with its UHD brother, the Argos HD will wink out several minutes before its peers. W. Wrencoforge Sergeant of the Hide. Not sure how good it is but the cronus rifle scope line has a good reputation. 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert's Choice} Best Bushnell Spotting Scope {Our Top Pickup} . Bushnell is owned today by Vista Outdoor, a large conglomerate of outdoor products companies. Did a quick sight in using a snow bank ( makes things so quick and easy being able to see impact as it happens), and was able to start hitting some targets. Specifications. The controls are tight, and we especially liked the two-speed focus and the fingertip sensitivity of the fine-focus knob. Can be easier on the neck, particularly if looking up at something above you. But generally, the sweet spot between magnification and image quality is somewhere in the middle of the power range. Demerits include the slippery, non-textured armor and the underwhelming glass, which makes images above about 45-power pretty dark and grainy with some distorted edge detail. I honestly don't have experience with either model, but do with others of both brands. Another is I won State overall in Field Target air rifle in 2016 and my division last year. The Hide Armory. That despite an 80mm lens (many of its peers have 85mm objectives). What about 600 or even futher? The Diamondback Tactical2 has much better glass than the ARGOS/HELOS at a cheaper price but the MIDAS has a slight overall edge in clarity image quality overall. Spotting Scope Review - 24hourcampfire It'll give you some intel on Athlon . They even have a spotting scope eyepiece that functions as a binocular, with two eyepieces! It offers very impressive light transmission and gives unbelievable image quality to its viewer. I chose these based on features and because the retail price is low enough to keep the rifle in NRL22 base class. Skis are easily the most efficient way to cover snowy ground on foot in winter. Spotting scopes are measured with two numbers. Is it to assess distant animals in the first and last light of the day? Or is it to view in the bright light of midday? If the exit pupil diameter of your scope is smaller than your eyes pupil, the image you see through them will appear darker than it does with the naked eye. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares. . That glass is good, but its not quite as bright and sharp as that Japanese S-series glass. Rifle Scopes Athlon Argos vs Vortex Diamondback. Replies 44 Views 30K. Its angled body, with rotating tripod ring, allows for infinite adjustment, and the Arca-Swiss compatible tripod system mates up with any number of mounting options. All else being equal, you want the biggest lens possible. We glass near and far targets in all light conditions. A more compact scope from a newer, fantastic brand, the Maven S.2 12-27x56mm means business. A cheerful little spotter that splits the difference between a binocular and a full-sized scope, this optic fits in a coat pocket and would make a great travel companion. Since you're talking 22LR and not sure if you'll shoot competitive, I'm going to throw out Hawke here. If youre just casually looking at wildlife and dont want to spend the dollars on a premium scope, then this Gosky model will fill your needs. Therefore it stands to reason that you want the spotter labeled HD, right? 1.4 #4) Swarovski ATS 80 20-60x Spotting Scope. Its a testament to the Hawkes spotter that it adequately handles all that magnification. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Learn More . Most of their consumer scopes are affordable, and are great options. In a category with multiple $1,500-and-higher submissions, the Vanguard VEO HD costs less than $400 but will deliver years of service. Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. Thread starter idahohikker; Start date Apr 21, 2018; Apr 21, 2018 #1 I. . The Athlon warranty is every bit equal to the warranty provided by Leupold and Vortex, which is saying something. Models that have both designs typically have identical glass, magnification ranges, and components, so theyll likely deliver an identical image. Check its price right now by clicking here. They're both fairly equal when comparing in the same price range, but I will support Vortex always for their customer service and unmatched warranty. Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25X50 FFP EBR-2C MRAD - Best FFP Scope Under $1500. I have access to a 1,200 yd range now and want to get into long range. Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x50 AO Riflescope with Dead Hold BDC Reticle (MOA). Just $1 per month , We tested the best spotting scopes from premium glass to dependable budget options, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. These describe the zoom and the objective lens size. They are young, and seem hungry to make a dent in the industry. At about 40 ounces, it isnt the lightest scope, but it gives you an excellent performance to portability ratio. Moreover, weighing 24.6 ounces it is one of the lightest offerings from Athlon. There is no easy answer on which is best as there are tradeoffs. With a straight-body spotting scope, youd have to trade places with your buddy in order for them to see the deer. Maven CS.1 15-45X65mm Spotting Scope Gray/Orange ED Lens. A 20-60x60mm scope at the lowest 20 power setting has an exit pupil diameter of 6020, or 3mm. A good spotter can help you see your shots from where you are shooting, eliminating the need to go down range as often. Full Member. Because the best spotting scopes represent a significant investment in money, durability and warranties are both prime considerations. Most of the above options will work just as well for any kind of wildlife viewing, but here are a few more options just in case you want them: Vortexs least expensive spotter series, the Diamondback is a top seller with great reviews. View Quote. How versatile do you want your scope to be? These fit with the maxim 'you get . This series comes in three sizes: 11-33x50mm, 22-48x65mm, and 27-60x85mm. A full-size spotter that retails for under $400 should get wide attention, and careful handling. An immensely capable mid-sized spotter, the CS.1 features decent glass in a rugged and lightweight alloy frame that handles mid-distance spotting chores with style and talent. It's big and heavy, so you probably will mostly use it from your vehicle or a camp, but the power behind a scope this big is something awesome to behold. The Vortex Viper is a great choice. Updated: October 2, 2020, 79 optics, 152 reticles. Another very high end scope from an excellent optics company, the Kowa TSN-883 Prominar is a great option for bird watchers trying to get the best. Hes also OLs optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. Field of view is obviously heavily influenced by the magnification power of your scope. A dual focus knob is also great for fine tuning in on far away celestial bodies. If you want a spotter to carry into the field to help you assess distant game, then consider a mid-sized scope, generally 20-50-power built behind a 65mm objective lens. Maven RS.4 5-30x56 FFP - Best Under $2000. I'm looking at 6-24 versions and they seem similar. This scope has extra low dispersion glass, and is one of the least expensive options that has that critical spec. Full-sized spotting scopes can cost well over $2,000. While any scope will meet most peoples needs, it makes sense to get the optimal one. And while their telescopes are awesome for picking out constellations, their spotting scopes give you some flexibility to use in different situations. No one buys a spotting scope just because it looked cool in a store. Superdoo. F FlatCat Member Put it on a 40-50 MOA base and you can dial a .22 out past 500 yards. Their Ultima is a great scope for bird watchers. So should you avoid scopes labeled as HD? Or look at even smaller scopes, like the 9-2756 Hawke in this years test. Sold two to a friend(bought Athlon Ares and Tacticle). Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 174-81 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 234-108 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 102-48 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 108-60 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 176.4-58.5 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 105-73 feet, Ships with dust-resistant neoprene jacket, Interchangeable 22-power eyepiece with MRAD PRS reticle available, Removable eyepiece design can allow dust and grit to enter body, Angled eyepiece and rotating tripod collar enables multiple viewing angles, Removable eyepiece can be traded out for other variable or fixed-power eyepieces, Center-barrel control is hard to finely focus, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 250-50 feet, Eyepiece contains Horus H-32 milling reticle, Multiple attachment points for Picatinny rails, Reticle matches those in precision riflescopes, Throw lever makes magnification changes fast, Slender build easily fits in backpack sleeve, Utilizes Bushnells best glass and coatings, Excessively heavy for a 60mm walk-about spotter, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 144.36-68.9 feet, Oversized center-barrel focus easy to turn with gloves, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 110-52 feet, Angled eyepiece and tripod rotation enable wide range of viewing options. Has anyone out there got first hand experience with this scope? Large 85mm Objective Lens. They just offer the absolute best performance you can possibly get out of a tube filled with glass. Weighing a full pound less than its similarly sized peers, the Endurance ED would be a good choice for a backcountry hunter who insists on carrying a larger spotter. At lower powers, you can get by without a stabilizing tripod. We were able to arrive at a consensus on the optical talents of this spotter. These scopes have features normally only found on high-end scopes. And with $500, I would definitely buy the Diamondback 20-60x85mm. A spotting scope is sort of a low-power telescope, while also offering better magnification than a set of binoculars. Vortex Optics Diamondback Spotting Scopes - Top Pick. They are still honoring their warrantee but have made some changes and dont have the no fault warrantee any longer. . Alternatively, the rails allow you to mount the LMSS2 on either rails or a traditional tripod. Unlike some of the scopes that are out there, this one is available in both reticle styles. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. Many consumers are understandably confused about the designations that optics companies use to describe the quality of glass in their products, but the Athlon spotters are useful to differentiate between HD and UHD glass. Meopta is said to be on higher tier than vortex razor. QUICK LIST: Best First Focal Plane Scopes in 2022. Argos and The Midas Tac is a $700 scope so if going that high then look at the Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25. The Ultima 80 is the definition of the intersection between quality and affordability. 0 B bdzjlz Member If youve got a little more money to spend, its hard not to recommend the Vortex Razor series for you. Still, if you use this scope in daylight and dont max out its magnification, its a worthy companion for most hunting situations or first-time buyers. The test team was divided on the merits of the relatively light weight. The CS.1 won our low-light test, beating a handful of 80 and 85mm scopes, which is a testament to its good-quality glass. Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Spotting Scopes. in your price range I would look at this. I just believe you get what you pay for. Maven RS.1 2.5-15X44 - Best FFP Scope for Hunting. Oftentimes they dont even end up helping you see better at long distances. One of the lesser known technical specs that you may need to account for is eye relief. That means clearer images day and night. I hunted with this scope during Montanas elk season, and it took in stride all the temperature changes, bumps and drops, and dust the hunts dealt it. Check the classifieds on here for something in the next tier up. With televisions, High Definition has a technical definition that sets a standard of pixels a display has to have in order to earn the HD distinction. Still, the new spotters for 2022 offer plenty of choice and talent for hunters, shooters, and anyone who likes to see wildlife up close. It has an 82mm objective lens, boasts ED glass for amazing image clarity, and has a field flattener lens system for crisp images all the way to the periphery. Bino Expert is a member of the Amazon Associates affiliate program. Whale watching is a very popular activity along the coasts for both tourists and locals. Wednesday December 7, 2022. . This same middle-is-best trade-off applies to every magnification range, from 9-27-power spotters to 20-60-power eyepieces. I don't really want more than 3-4 x on the low end at least around here MDs are putting targets close and starting at 6x makes things tricky. As expected, the Nikon 5 8x42 is clearer and brighter than the under $200 non-ED glass Vortex Diamondback. At 60-power, the image will be largest, but because of the laws of optics, it also appears darkest and grainiest. The second number is the size of the objective lens in millimeters. They tend to give mediocre images at best and quality is low. Its a very solid scope with exceptionally high quality glass. If you are buying a lower-mid range scope, the odds of it coming from Bushnell in one form or another are very high. They offer a wide range of sporting optics, and I use their 85mm spotting scope as my go to when Im not packing in too deep. Bird watching is one of the most popular and fast growing hobbies world wide. Most spotting scopes that zoom up to 60-power get so dark and grainy at that magnification that theyre really only useful up to about 50-power. While the use and need of a good spotting scope extends well beyond those needs, it still is hard to bump it up the priority list, hence the need for affordable alternatives to the exceptional high end spotters available on the market that cost well over $2000 USD. I haven't had a chance to mount and shoot it yet, but construction feels solid. Most importantly, they have a solid warranty and a great reputation for taking care of their customers. The straight-style tactical spotter is built like a tank, with double-tough armor and attachment points for Picatinny rails, so you can add accessories like thermals or lights to the optic. It may not have the extra low dispersion glass and other high end features of more expensive scopes, but it does a great job considering how little it takes to get your hands on one. The viper has better glass, but I am able to see .22 holes in paper In the shade at 350yds with the Argos. The glass itself in the lenses of your scope is what will determine how much dispersion is happening, and getting glass with lower dispersion is one of the primary differences in cost between different brands and models.
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