Rifle Scopes Compact Spotting Scopes?

[Iggy]

I have been looking for a compact spotting scope that is of good quality but won't break the bank. I know Kowas and Konus are very good, but they are too large.

I was looking at the Bushnell Excursion FLP Spotting Scope, but from what I have read it's that not good. Are there any that are this size, but under $800?

Can the eyepiece be removed on these guys?

I will be using it to see my hits from 600-1000 yards....

 

[learjet]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

http://www.nikon.com/products/sportoptics/lineup/scopes/ed50/index.htm

link to what i pack around w me...nikon fieldscope ed50. i purchased a demo from cameraland awhile back and im very happy w it. guys who look at it say freakin POS, everyone who has looked through it has been impressed. my only gripe is the short eye relief(i wear glasses). my friends have bigger/ more expensive spotters, but when we head in the field the lil nikon is the one we take

hth

lear

 

[jrob300]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iggy.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking at the Bushnell Excursion FLP Spotting Scope, but from what I have read it's that not good. </div></div>

My partner/spotter has one and there was one at the LR shoot I attended last weekend. They are both great. Not just for the money.

They had some problems when they first came out, but I've read some glowing reviews since.

What do you base this on? Have you looked at one?

John

 

[Iggy]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

I read the following reviews:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1269058&page=1

http://www.snipercentral.com/bushspot.phtml

I really want this spotter to work, but I there are mixed reviews. I don't mind spending a more just to be sure.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

Have you read this one?

http://www.snipercompany.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1836

And the last post of the SH thread you posted says this:

<span style="color: #FF0000">Bushnell has the problems sorted out now. They pulled all of the old stock and have replaced it with new units that have had the quality control issues resolved. the interior coatings are different, the assembly process is done with new jigs that assure no reticle cant. interestingly bushnell considers any degree of reticle cant to be "out of spec". The reticle jump that was present in the older scopes is gone. The qc process now includes using a light table and cycling through the entire zoom range as well as other improvements.

I have some of the new ones in stock and can assure you they are without any issues. My confidence has been restored.
Bushnels customer service was not the best it could have been when people called with problems. I spoke with the VP of the spotting scope division and he assures me that they are working to better serve their dealers and customers.
</span>
You can spend more money if it makes you feel better, but recent feedback I've heard puts this spotting scope in a pretty positive light. I'm not a big Bushnell fan, but kudos to a company for responding to a bad intro and making it right. Hopefully people will be more forgiving of Vortex and learn that perfect product launches are the exception, not the rule.

John

 

[msrtex]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

Here is more positive feedback on the Bushnell;

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showgallery&Number=1456336

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...rue#Post1303263

I know I have been very pleased with mine.

 

[ToddM]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

The Nikon ED50 is very impressive. It's not going to have the light gathering or quality of the $3000 80mm scopes but the quality, size, and especially the weight are outstanding. It's replacing a lot of bigger units for guys that have to pack them around hunting. I used one in my pack elk hunting last year that I got from Cameraland on a demo and it was impressive.

It's no longer than the bushnell FLP, and it's less than HALF the weight.

 

[goober]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

Iggy does your spotter require a mill dot reticle or is it purley a target spotting scope to see holes in paper?

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

The Leupold Gold Ring 25X50 is a pretty nice compact spotting scope. Without breaking the bank. I saw a good used one the other day for $250. I do not remember where, but I definitely saw it. You should be able to find a good one used in the $250 to $350 range. And they are worth that price. Leupold also makes a tripod where the legs screw off the ball, and then fit into each other. This tripod is very solid, but yet it is very light and small to carry.

Below is a picture of mine. It fits easily into my range bag. Tom.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

Here is the link for that used Lupold. Tom.

 

[Iggy]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
You can spend more money if it makes you feel better, but recent feedback I've heard puts this spotting scope in a pretty positive light. I'm not a big Bushnell fan, but kudos to a company for responding to a bad intro and making it right. Hopefully people will be more forgiving of Vortex and learn that perfect product launches are the exception, not the rule.

John</div></div>

I wasn't thinking about throwing money at it and thinking it would solve the problem. What I meant was I don't mind spending more to get something that did not have such mixed reviews. I did read the last post and I just wanted to know if anyone has had any recent experience with them.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: msr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is more positive feedback on the Bushnell;

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showgallery&Number=1456336

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...rue#Post1303263

I know I have been very pleased with mine.</div></div>

Thanks! Thats exactly what I was looking for! I wanted to see through the scope.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToddM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Nikon ED50 is very impressive. It's not going to have the light gathering or quality of the $3000 80mm scopes but the quality, size, and especially the weight are outstanding. It's replacing a lot of bigger units for guys that have to pack them around hunting. I used one in my pack elk hunting last year that I got from Cameraland on a demo and it was impressive.

It's no longer than the bushnell FLP, and it's less than HALF the weight.</div></div>

I was looking at that one too. I'll read up on it a little more.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ch'e</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Iggy does your spotter require a mill dot reticle or is it purley a target spotting scope to see holes in paper?</div></div>

Mainly to see the impacts. I have a Leica 1200 LRF so I don't need the reticle, but it is an added benefit. I know Bushnell makes the same spotter in 80mm, but it's not ED (I think) and I can't find much on it.


Does anyone have anymore pictures through the spotter?

 

[msrtex]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGGHEAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Leupold Gold Ring 25X50 is a pretty nice compact spotting scope. Without breaking the bank. I saw a good used one the other day for $250. I do not remember where, but I definitely saw it. You should be able to find a good one used in the $250 to $350 range. And they are worth that price. Leupold also makes a tripod where the legs screw off the ball, and then fit into each other. This tripod is very solid, but yet it is very light and small to carry.</div></div>

A friend let me borrow one of these for a year and I fell in love with it. Light weight and very sharp edge to edge. Bastard made me give it back! After looking for a used one for over a year I purchased the Bushnell instead. It is different but I have been very happy with it. I noticed the link to the used one is gone. The Leupold's are very hard to find.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

I put the link in there, so a moderator must have taken it out. If interested then PM me and I will tell you where it is at. But if the moderator does not want it in the post, then I will not repost it. Tom.

 

[ToddM]

Re: Compact Spotting Scopes?

The leupold 25x50 is a great scope for the money but the Nikon ED50 spanks it and in a lighter package, though at significantly higher price. I originally had a 25x50 for my pack scope but after getting play with an ED50 I sold the leupold and ordered the ED50.