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Lightweight Spotting Scope

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muleymaddness View Drop Down
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    Posted: December/11/2016 at 09:40

I'm interested in a lightweight spotting scope.  Are there any top tier, light weight spotters out there?

I see that Leupold has the 15-30x50 gold ring.  Vortex makes one as well, but who's to say they're not about to re-design their compact model?  If they do re-design, it makes your older model basically worthless for resell.  Leupold also has a 12-40 or something that comes in at 38 ounces I believe.  I'd like to stay around the 35 ounces or lighter if possible.  50mm objective is fine.  Are there any other brands out there I'm missing?  Too bad Swaro doesn't make a compact model.

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Peddler View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peddler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2016 at 11:16
Celestron makes some compact spotters.

Two models 9-27 X 56. And 7-22 X 50 both with ED glass.

Edited by Peddler - December/11/2016 at 11:21
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2016 at 11:32
Nikon and vortex both have 50mm spotters
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Sparky View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2016 at 15:02
Minox makes a 16-30x50. And I own the Nikon 13-30x50 ED. Which is very nice. But having looked through a Vortex 11-33x50 Razor HD, I would go with that. And I wouldn't let the possibility of it being replaced keep me from purchasing it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cattleball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2016 at 17:07
Check out the Opticron MM3.

This review is for the 60mm.  They also make a 50mm.
http://www.bestspottingscopereviews.com/OpticronMM360GAEDTravelscope-16.htm

There is an $80 mail in rebate good until the end of the year.
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koshkin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2016 at 17:39
The best 50mm spotter at the moment is Vortex Razor. I suspect is Opticron is made in the same place with some minor eyepiece differences.

ILya
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muleymaddness View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote muleymaddness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2016 at 12:04

Is the Vortex compact better than the Leupold Gold Ring compact?


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koshkin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2016 at 13:25
Originally posted by muleymaddness muleymaddness wrote:

Is the Vortex compact better than the Leupold Gold Ring compact?



Yes.  And it is not close.

It is also more expensive, as you may imaging.

ILya
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Bitterroot Bulls View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2016 at 13:36
I agree the Razor 50 is the current king of the 50mm spotters.  I have one, and I use it frequently.

Just don't expect full-size spotter performance.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oldfortyfive Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2016 at 15:50
The Razor 50 is amazingly sharp. You might also want to consider the 10-20 GR version. Much smaller and you're not giving up much vs the 15-30 version.
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