Swaro vs Nightforce ...need to get grade my spotting scope

[Davehc130]

Looking at getting a new spotting scope....but which one

anyone have experience with the Nightforce?

I have looked through the Swaro's and they are super clear...

I have also looked through the Nightforce....super clear

just have not had the opportunity to look through them at dusk/dawn

thought?

TS-82™ - Xtreme Hi-Def™ - Nightforce Optics

We guarantee that the TS-82™ will not only meet—but exceed—the quality, resolution, brilliance and fidelity of the world’s most well-known, most highly respected European spotting scopes.

www.nightforceoptics.com

SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Austrian manufacturer of premium quality rifle scopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, and tripods. Visit our online shop!

www.swarovskioptik.com

 

[Davehc130]

Bueller, Bueller...anyone...

 

[Sheldon N]

Depends on your uses...

I had the Cabelas Euro HD 20-70x82 which is essentially the same as the Nightforce TS-82 and the Meopta S2 (all three made by Meopta). Exceptional resolution, eye relief/eye box was good but not great, field of view was decent. Really the strong suit is the high magnification and excellent resolution. The guy I bought mine from upgrade to an ATX 95 and his opinion was the Meopta was the best thing this side of an ATX 95, but that the ATX did beat it out.

I sold my 20-70x82 when I got the Swaro BTX 95, which is just jaw droppingly good. Not as high magnification but the experience of using both eyes at once is so much better. It's big and heavy though.

To be honest though I use my Swaro 15x56 binos ten times more often.

 

[White Mamba]

We have swaros,nightforce and Hennys on the line where we shoot. The nightforce does not compete with the other 2

 

[hereinaz]

Swaro over the NF, but barely. Swaro's edge can usually be seen in the lowest light. My old Razor HD wasn't that bad during the day, until low light and the Swaro smashed it. And, it can depend on your preference for colors and other factors. Dual eyepiece is a gamechanger of course with the Swaro but you will pay for it.

Also, what is your use.

(I usually don't add a new whatever to a post, but Kowa flies under the radar for shooting sports. Check out the birding forums, the Kowa Prominar with Flourite are awesome spotters. They are also lighter because the flourite crystals are lighter than glass. I wanted good glass and lightweight for packing, so I picked up a 553, the 55mm little spotter from Kowa and it is outstanding. A buddy looked through mine and he sold his 65mm Swaro spotter and bought the 88mm Kowa.)

 

[Steel head]

Swaro over the NF, but barely. Swaro's edge can usually be seen in the lowest light. My old Razor HD wasn't that bad during the day, until low light and the Swaro smashed it. And, it can depend on your preference for colors and other factors. Dual eyepiece is a gamechanger of course with the Swaro but you will pay for it.

Also, what is your use.

(I usually don't add a new whatever to a post, but Kowa flies under the radar for shooting sports. Check out the birding forums, the Kowa Prominar with Flourite are awesome spotters. They are also lighter because the flourite crystals are lighter than glass. I wanted good glass and lightweight for packing, so I picked up a 553, the 55mm little spotter from Kowa and it is outstanding. A buddy looked through mine and he sold his 65mm Swaro spotter and bought the 88mm Kowa.)

The KOWA 883 Prominar is amazing.

 

[surgeon260]

Kowa 88 might be the best spotter available anywhere (as long as you don't need a reticle). And it is less expensive than the top Swaros to boot. It is definitely worth checking out.

 

[M4guru]

Nightforce cannot compete with any Swarovski at low light. When it's bright, they all work.

I've got an HD ATS65 20-60x and an STR-80 MRAD 25-50 in addition to a Leupold Mk4 12-40, some Bushnell MK4-ish thing, a Vortex Razor, a Lecia Televid, and I had a Nightforce when they first came out plus a Swaro non-HD ATS80 that I swapped for the new 65. I've used the Kowa 88 and Zeiss Harpias also, with good experience. I tried the Zeiss Gavia and it was very meh compared to a real Zeiss but probably better than the NF.

Of all of them, I'd take the ATS65 simply from a size/weight/cost/low light performance package. I don't need a reticle in that one, but I have one in the STR-80 (that is a boat anchor) and the Mk4 for times when I need that.

Not surprisingly, the expensive Euro glass is best of the ones I have on hand. There are some nuances to all of them, but the performance is generally fantastic. I would absolutely wait for a deal on a better used spotter here or on Rokslide before I got another Nightforce, and I don't miss anything about it. At least on mine the focus ring was very stiff and the glass was good but not great. For what I use a spotter for I want that shit to be great.

I really want a BTX bino eyepiece and a 95mm OBJ but that's $5K I haven't wrapped my head around yet...I would have probably passed up the STR for it had it been available at the time. Swarovski's CS is definitely the best of the Euro brands too. I like the Leica but they are a CS nightmare by all counts, that alone might scare me off of another one.

 

[DetroitRearView]

I buy a lot of glass for people in my region.

(BTW include the best tripod you can afford)

Often they start with lower end products because of the $$; but within a few years they don’t care about the money and just want he best glass available for their particular application.

This my personal lineup, depending on the situation: (sometimes I go ultra light and just take a Rangefinder /good glass)
RRS series 3 tripod
Outdoorsmans Medium tripod
Swarovski 10x25 compact binocular
Swarovski 8x42 SLC HD (outdoorsmans stud)
Swarovski 12x50 EL SV (outdoorsmans stud)
Swarovski BTX 95/65
Leica 2800.com
Vectronix Terrapin (original)

 

[BCMulx]

One of the things I love about the Swaro ATX/STX/BTX - you can swap the objective lenses. I use an ATX95 now plus 10x42 EL's and like the fact I could pick up just a 65mm Objective if I want to go lighter weight.

The 95 is pretty damn nice though...

 

[Davehc130]

thanks for all the input...I will be using it mainly for recording PRS practice and digiscoping deer/elk/bear etc.....

 

[Diver160651]

I buy a lot of glass for people in my region.

(BTW include the best tripod you can afford)

Often they start with lower end products because of the $$; but within a few years they don’t care about the money and just want he best glass available for their particular application.

This my personal lineup, depending on the situation: (sometimes I go ultra light and just take a Rangefinder /good glass)
RRS series 3 tripod
Outdoorsmans Medium tripod
Swarovski 10x25 compact binocular
Swarovski 8x42 SLC HD (outdoorsmans stud)
Swarovski 12x50 EL SV (outdoorsmans stud)
Swarovski BTX 95/65
Leica 2800.com
Vectronix Terrapin (original)

Bad ass. Nothing more to say

 

[Duc]

Swarovski's service, if needed, is OUTSTANDING!

 

[BCMulx]

Swarovski's service, if needed, is OUTSTANDING!

They've been fantastic buying used as well. Both my spotter and my binoculars were purchased used, and I was able to talk with a rep there, verify serial numbers, and then get the ownership registration transferred to my name.

Plus, I could probably turn around and sell both for what I paid for them and not lose a dime...

 

[FALex]

As far as spotters go, if Swaro is an option, Swaro is the only answer.

 

[Crosshairs6]

I have owned a Kowa for 5 years now.. and never looked back..

 

[Pckphunter]

Swaro is top notch and has some of the beat customer service out there

 

[Steel head]

I have owned a Kowa for 5 years now.. and never looked back..View attachment 7352473

Glass on this is amazing