This same middle-is-best trade-off applies to every magnification range, from 9-27-power spotters to 20-60-power eyepieces. They are quick and easy to use when you are based out of your vehicle. . Scopes are generally sold either with a straight body or with the eyepiece angled up 45 degrees. They are still honoring their warrantee but have made some changes and dont have the no fault warrantee any longer. If you hold any kind of magnified optic up to a light source and at least a foot away from your eyes, you will see a white dot in the middle of the lens. I'm looking at 6-24 versions and they seem similar. If youve got a little more money to spend, its hard not to recommend the Vortex Razor series for you. Full-sized spotting scopes can cost well over $2,000. If youve ever been to a rifle range, you know youre in for some walking. 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? 1.4 #4) Swarovski ATS 80 20-60x Spotting Scope. For example, the Athlon Argos we recommend has a field of view of 48-102 feet at 1000 yards. Check it out on Amazon. Range spotters often have a reticle in the eyepiece that allows you to call shots for a buddy. Only you can make the decision on whether the extra ounces and sacrificed zoom power are worth it for some extra low light visibility on opening morning. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60, Fully Multicoated, Excellent Image Quality, Field of view: 108 to 60 feet @ 1,000 yards. 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. The UHDit stands for ultra-high-definitionglass also boosts its performance. An ideal companion for long-range shooters and hunters, the angled viewing Vortex Optics Viper HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope delivers bright and sharp high-contrast images with true-to-life color and crisp clarity at all . It may not display this or other websites correctly. A 15-4565 unit has 15- to 45-power magnification behind a 65mm objective lens. Bird watching is one of the most popular and fast growing hobbies world wide. Ok, folks - here it is: The Bushnell Match Pro Riflescope. 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 ), then I'd go vortex. But it could be perfect scope if you are setting it up on your back porch to stargaze with. By Max Mutter and Benjamin Hickok. Thats our opinion of how much of a bargain or a rip-off each binocular is. Models that have both designs typically have identical glass, magnification ranges, and components, so theyll likely deliver an identical image. 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. Carefully consider exactly how youre going to use it. Superdoo. Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. A 20-60x60mm scope at the lowest 20 power setting has an exit pupil diameter of 6020, or 3mm. Their HD-ATS-80 body is awesomely powerful when paired with a 20-60 power eyepiece. They especially are a good choice for astronomy if you need your optics to be compact and/or you want to use them for more than just stargazing. Leupold is one of the oldest names in the sporting optics world. But I have had several of the midway BSAs, one primary arms, they all tracked well. Getting up close images is the entire point of a spotting scope, so obviously zoom power is one of the most important things to know about the scope you are going to buy. The downside is that in order to do so, you will have to either sacrifice zoom power, or get much larger objective lenses (and therefore increase weight). Youll want to ensure that the warranty is up to snuff, but our expectation is that this capable spotter will give you years of adequate service. Again thanks for everyones input, truthfully I had been leaning towards the Diamondback but the Athlon supporters swayed my decision. A full-size spotter that retails for under $400 should get wide attention, and careful handling. The first instance stands for high-definition while the second is ultra-high-definition. Theres still no rigor around those terms, but the HD model was measurably darker and muddier than the UHD model. We measure and record the optical attributesfield of view, eye relief, weight, and other specificationsand mount every submission on a tripod suitable for that particular size and weight. Theres limited utility for a spotting scope with an objective lens better suited to a full-sized binocular. $329.99 - $399.99. Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Spotting Scopes. Vortex diamondback FFP scope also comes with elevated finger-adjustable turrets. I just got the argos for my 22. . The bigger the objective lens, the more light will be allowed into the scope. Doug asked me to review two Athlon scopes for him. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. 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. This means that objects will appear between 20 and 60 times closer than they actually are, depending on how you have it set. There is no easy answer on which is best as there are tradeoffs. Jan 25, 2022. If you want to take your photography game to the next level, particularly if photographing animals you dont want to disturb or things that are dangerous to get to close to, a spotting scope with a digiscoping setup can make all the difference. I am a fan of vortex but the diamond back not so much . Bino Expert is a member of the Amazon Associates affiliate program. If you have the money and want to get top performance, you definitely have that option. The largest, most powerful spotting scopes are among the most expensive sports optics on the market. Definitions aside, if youre in the market for a full-sized spotter and have limited funds, consider the Argos HD. And you might be a little disappointed at how dark and grainy it gets above about 38-power. The reticle is etched but also illuminated for eye-catching ease. 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. 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. 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. And if youre really a beast and can pack it in, youll be rewarded with great images. With an 80mm objective lens, its big enough to handle pretty much any task you throw at it. We found the usable magnification range extended to about 54-power, which is higher than many of its peers. Maven is a very unique company in the sporting optics world. Athlon Cronus is up to 60 power but still have a reasonable size. 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. They sent me a prepaid label without a fight. We rate the tightness and precision of their controls, how comfortably the scopes fit our hands and eyes, and then assess their style, versatility, and durability. Can be easier on the neck, particularly if looking up at something above you. Specifications. They also allow most of their products to be fully customized, so you can even get them in the exact color you want! Jan 20, 2020 #1 ; Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. The best magnification for a spotting scope depends on how you plan to use it. Vortex got mentioned above a lot, and there are good reasons. 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! . When looking through a scope with ED glass compared to another without it, there is a massive difference. So a 20-6080 spotter has a 20- to 60-power eyepiece and an 80mm objective lens. Make sure that the companys return policy and either repair or replacement will cover your purchase. The extra low-dispersion glass in this model and the oversized objective lens make this a good choice for mid-range field work. After consulting with other experts I compiled this guide that includes information about spotting scopes, how to choose the best one, and reviews of our favorites on the market right now. 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. They were the company that made optics available to the masses for the first time by importing binoculars from manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. But even more approachable scopes will set you back around $1,000. In that price range, you're not getting something that is top tier. Key Features. A handsome, versatile, and rugged spotting scope, the OSCAR8 has a sensibly restrained magnification range that zooms from 27 to 55-power. Its optical shortcomings are evident in low light conditions, but thats to be expected at this bargain price. This is the optic I have been testing for the last few weeks, and I can finally give you guys the full specs: 6-24 magnification, 50mm front lens. $199.99. But if you made me choose, I would have to pick the Athlon Argos 20-60x85mm. But I will say, that no matter what I did, I could not get my eye comfortable behind the glass. 2.1 Choosing the Best Spotting . I had a Diamondback FFP and I sold it immediately. Here are my top recommendations: If youre a serious bird watcher and want to see every detail of the birds youre looking at from a long way away, Swarovski is probably going to be your go to brand. The 10MIL locking turrets on the Match Pro alone make it worth going to the top end of your budget range. The Athlon warranty is every bit equal to the warranty provided by Leupold and Vortex, which is saying something. They are well known for supplying many of the high end scopes used by military snipers and special operations units. Rifle Scopes Athlon Argos vs Vortex Diamondback. If you got sick of reading about scopes (or, lets be honest, you saw there was video and skipped ahead! While they have specialized in cameras, all of the knowledge theyve accumulated in building camera optics has transferred over into some incredible sporting optics. Athlon submitted two full-sized spotters for this year's test, but the Argos HD version (as opposed to the Argos G2 UHD) version represents the best combination of price and performance. You can buy it here. Spotting Scope Review after Testing. This direct-to-consumer brand delivers bright ED glass and quality Japanese build at a relatively accessible price. 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. Also, they are generous with the hash marks on their mil dot. Leupolds flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification. 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. A nice feature it has that I wish more scopes would include (especially angled scopes) is a sighting line to help you line up with what youre trying to look at. The second number is the size of the objective lens in millimeters. That despite an 80mm lens (many of its peers have 85mm objectives). The Harpia 95 has a little sister, the Harpia 85, thats a little more portable and only slightly more affordable. 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. The most hard-wearing models have oversized controls that can be used with gloved hands, and they are double-sealed against dust, grit, and moisture. Athlon Optics Argos BTR and Helos BTR scopes - Made in China to Athlon specifications. Side By Side Review Athlon NEOS 10x42 vs. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Binoculars Home ADVENTURES Store About Updates Contact MIL/LEO Custom Shop Group Buy Polices UPDATE STATION .