New spotting scope

A

ADIDAS69

New member
So for a hundred years I’ve been suffering with a Barska spotting scope. It’s finally time for a bit of an upgrade. Whilst like me I’m sure you’re all saving up for the new 100mm objective Leica, till I have $5K I have narrowed my options to the following 3 and would love some thoughts from persons with possibly more knowledge than me. The Redfield 20-60 80mm I understand they’re made in Oregon and are a subsidiary of Leupold, I had a chance to look through one at my local sporting goods shoppe. I could read, with some difficulty due to image aberration, 12 point font at about 110 yards. The second scope is the Konus 20-60 100mm I understand these are Chinese in manufacture using Japanese made glass though glass made to Konus’ spec to meet a price point. I’ve not been able to find a local retailer that has one I can look through. The third is the Celestron C90 this is more accurately described as a telescope as it uses interchangeable eye pieces and is generally meant for viewing planets. I’ve not discovered much about their manufacture and have not have a chance to look through one. Thoughts and ideas welcome.
 
Have a bushnell Sentry that I could afford in 1975. Have packed it on many hunt and countless hours on the bench at ranges.
Have a 20 x fixed with a 32x lense for times when I thought I needed it. It is beat and rough looking today but does all I need in any big game hunt. Have been on many because the weight was minimal
 
You have to watch Redfield products, Leopold started out making lower cost versions of their stuff, then bought tout a Philippine (memory?) made one. They quit, I think they realized it was not going to fly quality wise.

I don't know that even Leopold other non scope stuff is US made, kind of doubt it.

Even if not for the most part it is going to be good stuff. I would sleauth and look at labels, Japan puts out good optics, China and Philippines not so much.

I have two Cabella made in Japan scopes and love them, better than Leopold (have an eye problem with Leopold, that is my eyes not them - I do have a Leopold rimfire and for the most part it does fine for me but the cross hairs fade out )

I do have a couple of the Redfield Reovltion US made scopes, those are solid hunting scopes and good enough for Mil Surplus shooting down to around an MOA.
 
Im gonna glom onto your thread here Amigo. I took am looking for a spotting scope, my budget is pretty low but, I was able to check out a friends Vortex Razor line scope, 20-44 IIRC, niiiiice clarity. Good peice, but, $1100. He says he is after the ability to count antler points to keep hunts legal. Me, Im after being able to see "Is that my steel plate?" Or "is that a coyote or not".
 
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Take a look at the Celestron C5.

It is a little more money than the C90 and larger, but it is a good spotting scope for the range AND if you get bored, you can look at Jupiter and Saturn.
 
Dufus yeah I’ve been teatering towards maybe the C5. My daughter is 4.75 years old and loves astronomy and mars will super close here in a few days. I’ll get a lot less greif from what’s’er’name if the item is dual purpose and not just a toy for me, plus I love my wee princess. The C90 does seem a bit more portable. Do you have a C5 and love it?
 
I got tired of the Simmons 20-60X60.
I ended up getting the Celestron C70 Mini Mak.
Love the thing! Also bought the eyepiece and filter kit.

I don't think you would go wrong with the C90.
 
Celestron Good stuff

I have a Celestron Nexstar 5....too much for a spotting scope.

The higher your mag goes the greater the need for a rock solid mount. The tripod for my Nexstar is a beast.

I would stick with refractor type scopes for spotting. Compact and much more rugged than hybrid reflector scope designs.

If your choice uses 1 1/4" eyepieces, don't skimp. A good scope will really be compromised by a cheap eyepiece.
 
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