Topic: The Best Spotting Scopes of 2023 (Read 34 times)
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Why It Made the Cut
A cheerful little spotter that splits the difference between a binocular and a full-sized scope, this optic fits in a coat pocket and would make a great travel co*panion.
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We’ve seen this design before, most recently from Celestron (with its similarly sized Hummingbird). There’s limited utility for a spotting scope with an objective lens better suited to a full-sized binocular. But the magnification range, zooming from 9x up to 27x, gives this little unit more range and a surprisingly nice image. And its ultra-co*pact size means you’ll take this optic more places than a larger spotter or a big-boned binocular.
The Nature-Trek has some nice appointments, including the responsive center-barrel focus and the co*fortable eyecups. The 45-degree angled eyepiece is also a nice touch, as it allows for users to use it in a number of different stances. At lower powers, you can get by without a stabilizing tripod. But at magnifications above about 18, you’re going to want to mount this, because the shakes introduced by your hands, or an improvised support, blur the image.
Hunters who want a mini optic to pack into the high country, or travelers who want a little more reach than a smaller binocular should consider this little spotting scope.
Why It Made the Cut
A full-size spotter that retails for under $400 should get wide attention, and careful handling. This isn’t the spotter for everyone, but for buyers on a budget who want decent performance and all the reach that a 60-power can deliver, it’s a very good choice.
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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 co*bination of price and performance. So much so that it won our Great Buy award as the best bargain spotting scope. We’ve rarely seen this much glass and optical horsepower for under $400.
While this is likely the first spotter that a hunter or shooter may buy—owing to the approachable price—it won’t be the last. That’s because the glass and controls of the Argos HD are slightly disappointing. You’ll notice the images starts to get dark and grainy at about 45-power, and our low-light test confirmed that, co*pared with its UHD brother, the Argos HD will wink out several minutes before its peers.
Many consumers are understandably confused about the designations that optics co*panies use to describe the quality of glass in their products, but the Athlon spotters are useful to differentiate between “HD” and “UHD” glass. The first instance stands for “high-definition” while the second is “ultra-high-definition.” There’s still no rigor around those terms, but the HD model was measurably darker and muddier than the UHD model.
Definitions aside, if you’re in the market for a full-sized spotter and have limited funds, consider the Argos HD. You’ll 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.
Why It Made the Cut
The extra low-dispersion glass in this model and the oversized objective lens make this a good choice for mid-range field work.
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Weighing a full pound less than its similarly sized peers, the Endurance ED would be a good choice for a backcountry hunter who insists on carrying a larger spotter. This Hawke is classified as a mid-sized unit, with its 68mm objective lens diameter, though it has a magnification range more in keeping with 80 and 85mm scopes. It’s a testament to the Hawke’s spotter that it adequately handles all that magnification.
The test team was divided on the merits of the relatively light weight. Half felt it implied a lack of durability. The other half appreciated the Endurance ED’s talents for a backcountry spotter. Because our test doesn’t intentionally punish submissions until they break, the durability question is necessarily unanswered.
We were able to arrive at a consensus on the optical talents of this spotter. The ED glass delivers a bright image that showed only minor color fringing and slight deformity on the very edge of the image at lower powers. We found the usable magnification range extended to about 54-power, which is higher than many of its peers. And we conclude that the price—you should be able to find this retailing for around $650—was fair for the performance.
The controls are tight, and we especially liked the two-speed focus and the fingertip sensitivity of the fine-focus knob. The eyecups and sunshade move with snappy precision. We did notice a fair amount of slop in the threaded eyepiece adapter and would rather see a bayonet mount rather than the threaded ring.
Why It Made the Cut
A big, serious spotter with very good glass and responsive controls, the Ares UHD is the big brother to Athlon’s excellent 65mm Argos introduced a couple of years ago.
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There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking in this introduction from Athlon, just a sized-up version of its very good 65mm Ares G2 UHD model. co*pared with the HD model, which was also submitted to this year’s test, the UHD version has much better glass and produces an image that’s on par with spotters costing significantly more. That despite an 80mm lens (many of its peers have 85mm objectives).
The other differentiation from the Argos HD model: the aluminum-alloy chassis of the Ares UHD. The build boosts the durability of this spotter and gives it a stiffer and more sure-footed feel. The UHD—it stands for ultra-high-definition—glass also boosts its performance. The Ares G2 placed second in our low-light rankings and turned in very good resolution scores. Testers had some concerns over durability based on how the controls loosened over our testing. And we were a little disappointed in the relatively narrow field of view.
On the other hand, the image delivered by the UHD glass was bright and free of flares and distortion, and the balance and heft of the chassis are both satisfyingly substantial. The question for the market: Is this spotter twice as good as the Argos HD, and is it worth double the cost?
Why It Made the Cut
This pricey, indulgent, magnum-sized optic is the last spotting scope you’ll own, and it parses details like no other spotter in this category.
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Once you look through Zeiss’s Harpia spotter, no other scope will quite satisfy you. The image delivered by the 23-70-power eyepiece is stunning, and the amount of light delivered to the eye through the 95mm objective lens makes even low-light glassing a pleasure. The two-speed focus control allows you to riff from close-in to far-distant targets with a single revolution, and then feather the focus for precision. However, at 4.5 pounds, this is a beast to pack, which makes it a better choice for a back deck or base camp optic. And at nearly $4,000, most of us aren’t willing to subject the Harpia to the indignities and dings of the field. That’s too bad, because it’s durable and well-balanced for just about any tripod work.
The Harpia 95 has a little sister, the Harpia 85, that’s a little more portable and only slightly more affordable. But for hunters who aspire to own the best optics on the planet, this line of Zeiss spotters justifies the significant investment.
Why It Made the Cut
Full-sized spotting scopes can cost well over $2,000. At a fraction of that price, this Vortex delivers an adequate image in a durable, versatile package.
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This spotter makes an excellent choice for a hunter who wants a versatile spotting scope without paying a month’s wages. The Diamondback HD has decent high-definition glass in the objective lens, but experienced hunters may be disappointed with the clarity and brightness of the image. Its angled body, with rotating tripod ring, allows for infinite adjustment, and the Arca-Swiss co*patible tripod system mates up with any number of mounting options.
The Diamondback HD spotter makes an accessible, extremely usable optic for any number of well-lighted conditions. Its optical shortco*ings are evident in low light conditions, but that’s to be expected at this bargain price. However, with Vortex’s best-in-class warranty, you’ll never have to worry if it fails to perform.
Why It Made the Cut
Big, grippy, and durable, the Santiam is a no-nonsense full-sized spotter that feels a little heavy for a walk-about optic but will give years of service as a base-camp, shooting-range, or pickup scope.
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