Check the classifieds on here for something in the next tier up. Here are the specs that matter most: You should seriously consider this combo, check the price here. Show More. They offer some of the clearest scopes on the market, and while you definitely pay a premium, they have a very loyal customer base among bird watchers. But if its the latter, than less expensive glass might be fine. Like we mentioned above, the HD-ATS-80 HD is a fantastic scope body that you wont be disappointed by, and when coupled with their 20-60x eyepiece makes for a powerful spotting scope. I have had both and still have the Athlon. Vortex Optics Diamondback Spotting Scopes - Top Pick. 0 B bdzjlz Member At a fraction of that price, this Vortex delivers an adequate image in a durable, versatile package. And then, we perform a low-light test on several evenings. Or look at even smaller scopes, like the 9-2756 Hawke in this years test. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. Celestron may have started out targeting astronomers with their products, but theyve expanded into a full sporting optics line suitable to all sorts of activities. Their HD-ATS-80 body is awesomely powerful when paired with a 20-60 power eyepiece. Half felt it implied a lack of durability. But for hunters who aspire to own the best optics on the planet, this line of Zeiss spotters justifies the significant investment. But we also assign a Price/Value score to each submission. Springers abuse the crap out of scopes. Show Out of Stock Items. The redesigned Diamondback HD spotting scopes have all the horsepower the long-distance hunter needs, and they excel in lowlightright when you need it most. The best brightness and image quality will be at 20X, but the image will be smallest at that magnification. Unlike some of the scopes that are out there, this one is available in both reticle styles. Vortex Diamondback 10x42 As you can see from in the table above where I have included the stats and features of both the older (2014) model and the latest 2016 versions, Vortex really have made much more than cosmetic changes to the Diamondback. The 65mm size is just about right for most backpack pockets, and it pairs nicely with mid-sized tripods. Hunters dont want to have to haul around the most massive scope, but it needs to be substantially more powerful than their binoculars. This Japanese scope uses pure fluorite crystal lenses, which is unique in the industry and gives them excellent optical clarity. In fact, those factors increase substantially as you go up in objective sizes. Thx, Colice "There are no dangerous weapons. I have purchased 3 Athlon Argos BTR scopes, and zero issues with any of them. Here are the scopes Id recommend for the budding astronomer: Celestron is kind of the specialist when it comes to astronomy equipment in the sporting optics world. Replies 44 Views 30K. Athlon BTR vs Vortex Diamondback. I am a fan of vortex but the diamond back not so much . Thats because the glass and controls of the Argos HD are slightly disappointing. The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. Dispersion is an effect in glass that causes distortion as light travels through it, or actually with any kind of waves. . 6 Best FFP Scopes. Get as big of a scope as is practical for your use. $399.99. 1.5 #5) Leupold SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x60mm. Wednesday December 7, 2022. Its on the larger side for a hunting scope, and you may not want to pack it in if youve already got a heavy pack and are going in deep. We glass near and far targets in all light conditions. 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. Whale watching is a very popular activity along the coasts for both tourists and locals. Absolutely not, in fact some of the best scopes around carry the HD label. 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. At longer distances, from 400 yards to infinity, you lose resolution in the magnified image, but youll still be able to see details that you could never see with your naked eye or even a binocular. This scope is perfect for someone: Who is looking for an all-in budget build of under $1,000 (gun and scope) A beginner long-range shooter who wants to stretch into those longer distances, but doesn't want to stretch their wallet Now, don't get me wrong, this scope is a high-quality scope As expected, the Nikon 5 8x42 is clearer and brighter than the under $200 non-ED glass Vortex Diamondback. 2 models Athlon Optics Argos 20-60x85mm HD Spotting Scopes $487.49 $389.99 Save 20% Best Rated. The downside: Youre stuck with the 15-45-power zoom. The straight-barrel design will appeal to viewers who want to make quick target acquisition, instead of the hunting-and-pecking sometimes required with angled eyepieces. 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. Compared with the HD model, which was also submitted to this years test, the UHD version has much better glass and produces an image thats on par with spotters costing significantly more. A more compact scope from a newer, fantastic brand, the Maven S.2 12-27x56mm means business. 1.4 #4) Swarovski ATS 80 20-60x Spotting Scope. We've also streamlined the exterior for a sleeker, snag-free profile, building in a helical focus wheel. 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. $139.99 - $169.99. We were able to arrive at a consensus on the optical talents of this spotter. But if you want to make it easy, the winner from all this testing and analysis (as of March 2023) is the. This family of rifle scopes featuring FFP and SFP models, True Precision Zero Stop, Fully Multi-coated Lenses, Direct Dial Elevation & Windage Turrets (Capped in 1-8x24), Illuminated Reticle, 30mm Tube. The second number is the size of the objective lens in millimeters. If you have the budget, Celestrons Regal is a huge optical upgrade over the Ultima. QUICK LIST: Best First Focal Plane Scopes in 2022. But maybe you want a spotter to mount on a tripod and use from a vantage point. How you use your scope will impact the type of scope body you get. 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. On this review we are going to be using the Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 as the benchmark. They are young, and seem hungry to make a dent in the industry. It has extra low dispersion glass, a key in the world of high end optics. 45 Angled Viewing. It is worth a trip to your local sporting goods store to look through some scopes and make sure that your glasses do not interfere with the normal eye relief on models you are considering. The Athlon Talos 20-60x80 Spotting Scope is a long-range spotting scope with a 45-degree eyepiece angle. The inexpensive Argos BTR and less expensive Talos BTR work surprisingly well for the price. If you want clear views, you want to minimize dispersion. Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25X50 FFP EBR-2C MRAD - Best FFP Scope Under $1500. They offer solid products at affordable prices, as well as higher end options. Maven has a direct to consumer business model, so you can get it customized if you want, and you know that no retailer is taking a huge cut of the price you pay. Maven RS.1 2.5-15X44 - Best FFP Scope for Hunting. 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. If youre a hunter who packs in deep its worth serious consideration, as its lightweight frame makes it easy to carry into the backcountry. https://athlonoptics.com/product/rifle-scope-argos-6-24x50/, Looking for the best budget optic for my sniper rifle. There are a whole lot of Nikon rifle optics out there and they cant just stop servicing their products. Sold two to a friend(bought Athlon Ares and Tacticle). But you wont be tempted to compare the image delivered by the Maven to that of a Swarovski or Leica. The Vortex DB HD 10x42 are by volume the most sold pair of binoculars in . Apart from its compact design, it is also ergonomic. They rapidly expanded into a full suite of optics products spanning the entirety of the price ranges, which they still are today, though they mostly focus on the lower/mid range. Large 85mm Objective Lens. Glass was pretty good for the price. In all, the Meopta compares favorably to premium spotters from Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss at a lower price. NightForce ATACR 5-25X56 F1 - Best for Competition. Definitions aside, if youre in the market for a full-sized spotter and have limited funds, consider the Argos HD. Most amazingly, some of their highest end products are even assembled in the United States, a rarity in this industry. The viper has better glass, but I am able to see .22 holes in paper In the shade at 350yds with the Argos. Testers had some concerns over durability based on how the controls loosened over our testing. The bigger the lens, the bigger and heavier the scope. Athlon vs Vortex - Part 1 18,034 views Mar 29, 2019 93 Dislike Share Blue Line Optics 627 subscribers Two extremely good optics companies who market themselves fairly comparatively - high. A dual focus knob is also great for fine tuning in on far away celestial bodies. You can learn more about them here. But of course all else isnt equal, and there is a trade off. Get as much zoom power as you need, but keep in mind the more you zoom in, especially with a cheap scope, the more clarity you will lose. We've rarely seen this much glass and optical horsepower for under $400. The eyecups and sunshade move with snappy precision. German Precision Optics ED Binoculars. With an 80mm objective lens, its big enough to handle pretty much any task you throw at it. About Us Policies. 3 reviews. Athlon Optics . 4 models Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60x85mm Spotting Scopes As Low As $498.49 Save Up to 17%. Likewise, the triply more expensive Vortex Viper is optically superior to the Vortex Diamondback. The Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS2 is the perfect companion for precision rifle shooting. Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. Learn more about it here. This scope gives some of the crispest images around. I just got the argos for my 22. They tend to give mediocre images at best and quality is low. So I've narrowed it down to two scopes. Jan 25, 2022. That means you need to think about what you want and need a spotter to do. Free Shipping & Free Returns* FREE SHIPPING on Over 250,000 Products. But only barely, and only because they are more established and I have had good experiences directly with them in the past. Bird watching is one of the most popular and fast growing hobbies world wide. The spotter with the highest overall score wins our Editors Choice awardthis year it went to Mavens CS.1. Gwine Well-Known Member Joined Mar 3, 2013 Messages 423 Location Southern Oregon Jul 3, 2020 #3 Welcome to the forum. Joined Jun 19, 2019 Messages 1,412 The first spotter from this direct-to-consumer is a versatile powerhouse. $249.99. But I will say, that no matter what I did, I could not get my eye comfortable behind the glass. Is it to assess distant animals in the first and last light of the day? Maven applied the Goldilocks Rule to this versatile spotter. In that price range, you're not getting something that is top tier. Click to play video. This same middle-is-best trade-off applies to every magnification range, from 9-27-power spotters to 20-60-power eyepieces. The build boosts the durability of this spotter and gives it a stiffer and more sure-footed feel. Delivery. In that case, weight and portability arent an issue; you should consider a full-sized scope, with magnification ranges from 20-60-power and an 85 or even 90mm objective lens. They offer a wide range of sporting optics, and I use their 85mm spotting scope as my go to when Im not packing in too deep. At low magnifications, the SIG has a bright image and wide field of view. The largest, most powerful spotting scopes are among the most expensive sports optics on the market. Reply Report edosan Member Apr 30, 2018 1,926 54 If you're money-concience (i am too for the same reason! They have many scopes under 500$ that comes in both straight and angled version. They sent me a prepaid label without a fight. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. They are quick and easy to use when you are based out of your vehicle. Updated: October 2, 2020, 79 optics, 152 reticles. Here are the main positives of each: Many scopes, particularly the higher end ones, are sold with the option of getting either straight or angled, so youll get to choose what works best for you. Only a few optics brands have new models, and those that are new for the year are product-line extensions, essentially new magnifications and sizes for an existing model. I've checked the specs and features of both and there are things I like about each. But most commonly, you will see ED (Extra-low Dispersion) used, and that is what you want. 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. Athlon Midas BTR, Midas HMR, Midas TAC scopes - Also made in China to Athlon's specific specifications. Its a pattern weve seen play out over two decades of the Outdoor Life optics test. It's a 20-60x80 only weighting about 33ozs. You can check the price today and see if its the right fit for you. It is dramatically more affordable than the other optics were recommending here for bird watchers. Learn more about their long, family owned history here. The Vortex strike eagle 5-25x56 FFP The Athlon Midas TAC 5-25x56 FFP Are there people who have been able to compare these 2 scopes? Athlon Cronus is up to 60 power but still have a reasonable size. The controls are tight, and we especially liked the two-speed focus and the fingertip sensitivity of the fine-focus knob. At about 40 ounces, it isnt the lightest scope, but it gives you an excellent performance to portability ratio. I built a 6.5 Creedmoor for my son in law.he wanted the mid level Athlon. Optically, its a solid performer, but its image is like the rest of the spotter, sort of middling. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25X56 - Best for Long Range. First focal plane reticle stays valid at all power settings allowing you to fully utilize the specially designed reticle that shrinks or grows along with your target as you zoom in or out. The Argos mechanism has proven to track and is robust. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60 is a fantastic one to consider for someone who has a larger budget. ! There is a massive difference between HD and regular definition television, and everyone has seen it. I got ahold of Athlon's entry level ARGOS to compare to their higher . Spotting Scope Accessories Thermal Imaging Thermal Imaging Monoculars . Vortex has become a staple in the optics world recently, and for good reason. That glass is good, but its not quite as bright and sharp as that Japanese S-series glass. 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. Well, Athlon kept that in mind, and that is why they brought out the Ares ETR in different reticle styles. You could try using it freehand or leaning it against something, but trust me when I tell you this will significantly hamper your viewing. Perhaps the highest end brand in the optics world, Swarovski caters to those who want the absolute clearest glass and the best quality images. I haven't had a chance to mount and shoot it yet, but construction feels solid. It can be had with three different sizes of objective lenses, so you can choose just how big your scope is going to be. SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x60mm Angled. Not my choice but I dont want to be sleeping on couch for the rest of life. Its a tough trade off, and has to be made based on your hunting style. 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. All these attributes make it an ideal budget option for hunters. The downside is that the scopes I have are all SFP, but they do make an FFP model. Since you're talking 22LR and not sure if you'll shoot competitive, I'm going to throw out Hawke here. athlon ares rifle scope tract optics Product Description ARGOS BTR GEN2 For those of you that are just getting started in the PRS or are looking to start, take a close look at the Argos BTR GEN2 family of scopes. Its their higher end scope offering, but is still affordable. Make sure that the companys return policy and either repair or replacement will cover your purchase. 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. The integrated reticle allows spotters to communicate to their shooting partner specific holds and call shots with precision and clarity. 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. I'm looking at 6-24 versions and they seem similar. I regularly shoot out to 300 yds with my ar and have shot to 1k with a friends equipment. Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. So for a brief period of time, I had both the Athlon Talos 20x60x80 and this Athlon Argos 20x60x85 side by side for a detailed comparison. The question for the market: Is this spotter twice as good as the Argos HD, and is it worth double the cost? Vortex diamondback tactical 6-24x Vs Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x I'm looking at either the new vortex dback 6-24x tactical or athlon Argos BTR 6-24x to get into long range shooting. And we were a little disappointed in the relatively narrow field of view. Spotting scopes are good from fairly close to nearly infinity. With a straight-body spotting scope, youd have to trade places with your buddy in order for them to see the deer. For a first scope in this FFP arena, it was fine, I did not miss, even at 1k+ because of my argos. I am looking at the ballistic reticle scopes in the 3-9x40 and 4/4.5-12x40/42 range in both product lines. When you do buy your scope, know that youre also going to need to budget for a tripod. There are some spring airgunners that swear by the Hawke Sidewinder. This pricey, indulgent, magnum-sized optic is the last spotting scope youll own, and it parses details like no other spotter in this category. Hook it up to your camera with Zeisss extensive catalog of accessories and youll be taking pictures you never thought possible. I shoot spring airgun and 22LR, and Hawke is on ALL of them. Celestron shows up in a lot of places on this list, particularly when looking for affordable quality. I honestly don't have experience with either model, but do with others of both brands. . Its affordable and the glass is super high quality. If youre a hobbyist photographer who doesnt care about squeezing the maximum amount of performance possible from a scope, give the Celestron Regal a look. HobieH3; Mar 26, 2019; 2 3 4. Its a very solid scope with exceptionally high quality glass. For this particular, how does it perform? The Ares G2 placed second in our low-light rankings and turned in very good resolution scores. I use the binoculars to cover wide swaths of ground, and then use my scope to get really zoomed in on an animal that Ive found. Eye relief is the range of distances from the lens within which you wont get any black rings and missed images from your scope. . But for someone on a budget, it will do the job. If you cant spend over a hundred dollars, your options are limited to discount providers. You can read more about them here. JavaScript is disabled. Deploy MIL First Focal Plane reticle. At lower powers, you can get by without a stabilizing tripod. Their scopes are very high quality and Id definitely recommend them. Far less expensive than the other scopes on this list, it doesnt offer the same kind of glass or build quality as the more expensive scopes. But it could be perfect scope if you are setting it up on your back porch to stargaze with. Brands make a big deal out of the upper end of the magnification range for their spotters, but that doesnt mean those higher powers are very useful. All three sizes can also be had in either an angled or straight body. Big, grippy, and durable, the Santiam is a no-nonsense full-sized spotter that feels a little heavy for a walk-about optic but will give years of service as a base-camp, shooting-range, or pickup scope.
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