Zhumell 25-60x80mm Spotting Scope-Un boxing and Initial Impressions

davkenrem

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 21, 2004
31
1
Toledo, OH
This is an un-boxing and initial impressions review of the Zhumell 25-60x80mm Spotting Scope. The scope was purchased

from Binoculars.com for $228.41 shipped. This seems to be the same price other online retailers are offering the scope for. I was

in the market for a decent spotting scope but did not have the finances to afford a Kowa or better brand. I owned a Kowa

821n for several years and regretfully ended up having to sell it for financial reasons. After doing some searching I came

across mention of the Zhumell. However their very few reviews and photos online of the scope to help make the decision. This

review is my attempt to rectify this.


Initial Impressions

The Scope is a 25-60x80mm Spotting Scope the body is metal and the glass is bright and clear. The scope is quite heavy,

weighting in at 3.85lbs (the Kowa 821n weighs 3.25 lbs for reference). It features a removable 20-60x eyepiece which

appears very similar to some of the Vortex eyepieces. It has an 80mm objective lens, sun shade and rotating tripod mount.

It also includes a camo slip case that allows the scope to be used while covered. One small issue, the camo eye piece cover

of the slip case snaps on by two snaps and can be completely removed, this item should have a tether to prevent loss and I

will fashion one to prevent this.

Optical review

I set the scope up on my tripod and began glassing around the neighborhood. The scope was very bright and clear and had

good eye relief up to about 40x and then you needed to get right on the eyepiece. The eyepiece has a rotating eye cup that

allows you to spin it up and set your eye relief at various magnifications. It has been about seven years since I had my

Kowa, but I recently looked through a shooters at the range and I must say that this Zhumell is close if not as good as the

Kowa. Across the field from my home is a house that I had previously milled out at 350yds. In the front of that house's yard

was a 10"x 10" sign asking people to "keep of the Grass" I could read this sign with no problem at all. Swinging the scope

to the right, I scoped a home some 200yds more distant and was able to read the 2" numbers above the door of the house

clearly, this milling out at 560yds. I have a cheaper 20x60x80mm scope that I had been using and was unable to see either

of these clearly enough to read them. I have yet to take this new scope to the range but I will add that data in this

location once I do.

Construction

Zhumell's site states, " this spotting scope is waterproof for all-weather capability, fog-proof to withstand quick

temperature changes, nitrogen-filled to handle cold-weather condensation, and is equipped with fully multi-coated lenses".

That said the physical construction seems very solid and well made. The metal housing is sturdy and gives you the feeling

of quality. One small review on this scope I read complained about the construction of the tripod base as it has a web

pattern supporting the tripod mounting threads. While I have not experienced any problems with this, I plan to fill the

voids with a metal epoxy putty. Zhumell offers a 3-year no-fault warranty on the scope.

Value

Only time and use will tell. Once I take this to the range and see if I am able to view .30cal holes at 300yds and beyond

will truly tell me if this Sub $200 scope is useful for long range shooting. With so many optics being made in the far east these

days, as with most things there is overlap in the production of many products. One factory may churn out products for

several different brands. Each brand my have their own quality standards. Often the same materials used in higher priced

brands can be found in lesser named brands for lower cost. I hope this is the case.

Stay tuned for the range report.


Unboxing Video.


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Range Report

If anyone cares, I was finally able to get to the range and do some shooting. I shot at 100, 250 and 300 yards today. I was shooting .308 cal on a 6' x 2' cardboard target with 8.5" x 11" white paper targets stapled to it. The conditions were overcast with clouds and some rain.

I was able to see .30 cal holes not only on the paper but also on the brown cardboard well enough adjust zero. At 60x, looking at the target from 300yrds. the image was sufficiently sharp to clearly see the target. I was impressed. I found this scope after looking at the Konus offered by several High Power Shooting vendors. (Here is one) KONUS Scopes

I read somewhere that the Zhummel is better made than the Konus. I'm happy with this scope. If your on a budget or don't want to spend $900.00 +, this scope may be for you. I am in no way related to anyone selling this scope. I live less than an hour from Camp Perry, I may drive over in the next two weeks and see how this scope looks at 1000yds.
 
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Thanks! I just noticed we are in the same corner of Ohio.

Where do you shoot?

I appreciate the post, I am slowly looking around for a reasonable priced spotter.
 
1000yds results?

If anyone cares, I was finally able to get to the range and do some shooting. I shot at 100, 250 and 300 yards today. I was shooting .308 cal on a 6' x 2' cardboard target with 8.5" x 11" white paper targets stapled to it. The conditions were overcast with clouds and some rain.

I was able to see .30 cal holes not only on the paper but also on the brown cardboard well enough adjust zero. At 60x, looking at the target from 300yrds. the image was sufficiently sharp to clearly see the target. I was impressed. I found this scope after looking at the Konus offered by several High Power Shooting vendors. (Here is one) KONUS Scopes

I read somewhere that the Zhummel is better made than the Konus. I'm happy with this scope. If your on a budget or don't want to spend $900.00 +, this scope may be for you. I am in no way related to anyone selling this scope. I live less than an hour from Camp Perry, I may drive over in the next two weeks and see how this scope looks at 1000yds.

Thanks for the post! Any results on these optics at a 1000 yds?
 
Thanks for the review, I've got some friends I work with that are precision shooters but they aren't working past 300yds so they don't have the need for $2k+ optics. This looks to be a great deal we'll just see how long it holds up with time. Thanks again.
 
Thanks for the review, I've got some friends I work with that are precision shooters but they aren't working past 300yds so they don't have the need for $2k+ optics. This looks to be a great deal we'll just see how long it holds up with time. Thanks again.

My guess is that there are allot of people who can afford $2K+ optics that don't need them....

I've seen guys at the range with all kinds of expensive guns and gear who couldn't shoot worth a hoot. Expensive gear is nice but it can't replace fundamentals. There is a wealthy guy I know who is buying big money guns like crazy right now. He has really bad eyesight and can't group shots on a target at close range with a pistol. He can't load his magazines cause it hurts his thumbs and he does not know how to disassemble any of his guns. He's got some really nice stuff though...
 
Well I'd be making real good friends with him and being one of the beneficiaries to his will! Or become adopted at a late age and get some great gifts for the holidays.