All else being equal, you want the biggest lens possible. The Argos gives excellent images for a scope in this price range, is large enough to be seriously powerful, and has intuitive, solid controls. The Vortex Viper is a great choice.
Athlon Argos Binoculars 10X42 Review : Why You Should Buy It! Its a testament to the Hawkes spotter that it adequately handles all that magnification. Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. And you might be a little disappointed at how dark and grainy it gets above about 38-power. But if youre going to be hiking with that scope on your back (and all kinds of other gear), suddenly the idea of a five pound scope isnt so appealing. Athlon Optics . You can read more about them here. .
Where are Athlon Scopes Made or Manufactured? Also, they are generous with the hash marks on their mil dot. Most of the above options will work just as well for any kind of wildlife viewing, but here are a few more options just in case you want them: Vortexs least expensive spotter series, the Diamondback is a top seller with great reviews. There are only dangerous men." I honestly would be fine with a 65mm but they only offer this one. Far less expensive than the other scopes on this list, it doesnt offer the same kind of glass or build quality as the more expensive scopes. . If youve ever been to a rifle range, you know youre in for some walking. 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. They have come to dominate those segments of the market. Only you can make the decision on whether the extra ounces and sacrificed zoom power are worth it for some extra low light visibility on opening morning. In those cases, you want a scope that will withstand the abuses of the field. This is a list of rifle scopes with at least 24X magnification that cost less than $750. This scope is offered in either an angled or straight body, and either way you can get a 16-48x65mm or a 20-60x85mm for viewing far off wildlife. Spotting Scope Accessories Thermal Imaging Thermal Imaging Monoculars . 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. Darling of our best spotting scopes test is the new compact CS.1 from Maven, but we also like a couple of nicely priced full-sized spotters. The downside is that in order to do so, you will have to either sacrifice zoom power, or get much larger objective lenses (and therefore increase weight). The Diamondback Tactical2 has much better glass than the ARGOS/HELOS at a cheaper price but the MIDAS has a slight overall edge in clarity image quality overall.
7 Best Spotting Scopes Under 300 Dollars in 2023 - FixThePhoto.com Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-6085 Spotting Scope Review This is not a particularly exciting year for spotting scopes. The 27 to 55-power is the sweet spot for combining magnification with a reasonably bright image. Hes also OLs optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. I personally used it this last year when hunting pronghorn in Idaho extensively, and it helped me pick out minute details on horns from absurdly far away! Anything you point this scope at, youre going to get a clear view of. The Vortex Optics Diamondback is the best spotting scope for 300 dollars as it has 20x-60x magnification and a 60mm lens diameter. Vortex Diamondback Tactical VS Athlon Argos Gen 2. The bigger the objective lens, the more light will be allowed into the scope. Definitions aside, if youre in the market for a full-sized spotter and have limited funds, consider the Argos HD. Athlon Optics Ares ETR UHD 4.5-3056 First Focal Plane Riflescopes Not everyone prefers the same type of reticle. Wednesday December 7, 2022. I have had a couple of Argos's in the past with excellent tracking and good-enough glass. At 60-power, the image will be largest, but because of the laws of optics, it also appears darkest and grainiest.
ATHLON Review thanks to Doug!!! - 24hourcampfire The spotter with the highest overall score wins our Editors Choice awardthis year it went to Mavens CS.1. Dec 9, 2019 123 56. 1.6 #6) BARSKA 30-90100 WP Gladiator Spotting Scope.
Here are the scopes Id recommend for the budding astronomer: Celestron is kind of the specialist when it comes to astronomy equipment in the sporting optics world. $329.99 - $399.99. The Ultima 80 is the definition of the intersection between quality and affordability. We may receive a sales commission if you purchase any products after using one of our links. If you want to take your photography game to the next level, particularly if photographing animals you dont want to disturb or things that are dangerous to get to close to, a spotting scope with a digiscoping setup can make all the difference. Observation & Sighting Devices . ), here are some great resources to help you buy a scope: Cheap vs. It has extra low dispersion glass, a key in the world of high end optics.
Reviews & Ratings for Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm - OpticsPlanet That despite an 80mm lens (many of its peers have 85mm objectives). The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. Not sure how good it is but the cronus rifle scope line has a good reputation. 1.5 #5) Leupold SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x60mm. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. A full-size spotter that retails for under $400 should get wide attention, and careful handling. Leupolds flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification.
Introducing the Bushnell Match Pro Riflescope - long range - reddit The test team was divided on the merits of the relatively light weight. A great all-around spotter, the SIG OSCAR8 has enough optical horsepower for most hunting situations and exterior styling that fits right at home on a rifle range. Hook it up to your camera with Zeisss extensive catalog of accessories and youll be taking pictures you never thought possible.
Athlon BTR vs Vortex Diamondback - Long Range Hunting Forum Absolutely not, in fact some of the best scopes around carry the HD label. Built on a composite-carbon chassis, the Vanguard VEO HD runs lighter than its peers, which makes this 80mm spotter a good choice for backcountry hunting. Thread starter Wrencoforge; Start date Jan 20, 2020; Forums. The 5 Best Binoculars of 2023. It has an 82mm objective lens, boasts ED glass for amazing image clarity, and has a field flattener lens system for crisp images all the way to the periphery. https://athlonoptics.com/product/rifle-scope-argos-6-24x50/, Looking for the best budget optic for my sniper rifle. This family of rifle scopes featuring FFP and SFP models, True Precision Zero Stop, Fully Multi-coated Lenses, Direct Dial Elevation & Windage Turrets (Capped in 1-8x24), Illuminated Reticle, 30mm Tube. I had a Diamondback FFP and I sold it immediately. Doug asked me to review two Athlon scopes for him. Along with size, price varies dramatically. 2 models Athlon Optics Argos 20-60x85mm HD Spotting Scopes $487.49 $389.99 Save 20% Best Rated. Now if youre using your scope from a fixed position and dont have to carry it around, this wont be a problem. What this means is that if you look at a hill that is 1000 yards away, you will see an image that is between 48 and 102 feet wide based on how zoomed in you are. The SX-2 Alpine HD spotting scope is a must have for all serious hunters or shooters who are looking to add HD performance to their optics kit. Learn more about it here. Weve seen this design before, most recently from Celestron (with its similarly sized Hummingbird). So should you avoid scopes labeled as HD? And while their telescopes are awesome for picking out constellations, their spotting scopes give you some flexibility to use in different situations. The Hawke AirMAx is THE ONLY scope that has survived my Diana 34 springer. This scope has one function: To get you close eyes on a subject far, far away. The size of that beam of light is directly derived from two of the factors mentioned above: zoom and objective lens size. So much so that it won our Great Buy award as the best bargain spotting scope. If youre a hunter who packs in deep its worth serious consideration, as its lightweight frame makes it easy to carry into the backcountry. Their HD-ATS-80 body is awesomely powerful when paired with a 20-60 power eyepiece. But for hunters who aspire to own the best optics on the planet, this line of Zeiss spotters justifies the significant investment.
The importance of the exit pupil diameter directly relates to how our eyes function. This is probably unsurprising given their name. Field of view is a measurement of how wide of a picture you will see when you are looking through a scope.
Athlon vs. Vortex Riflescopes - Which One is Best? And we were a little disappointed in the relatively narrow field of view. 1. athlon leupold spotting scope vortex Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. The more powerful it is, the narrower the field of view. Usually works better from a vehicle window mount. The point is..if you buy a Vortex, you have to check if the reticles are wire or not. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Athlon 214061 Argos BTR 6-2450 Riflescope APMR FFP MIL at the best online prices at eBay! The mid-barrel focus wheel is tight and precise. Dec 12, 2019. brushandbay. You could try using it freehand or leaning it against something, but trust me when I tell you this will significantly hamper your viewing. Put it on a 40-50 MOA base and you can dial a .22 out past 500 yards. Astronomy is usually thought to be done with a big telescope setup, but a spotting scope can also work well for a hobbyist. So I've narrowed it down to two scopes. It may not have their optical clarity, but it is more than good enough for the vast majority of bird watchers. Ask yourself when youre most likely to use the optic. Vortex got mentioned above a lot, and there are good reasons. If youre in the market for pretty much any optic and dont have a budget thats in the stratosphere, they have good options. But only barely, and only because they are more established and I have had good experiences directly with them in the past. The CS.1 won our low-light test, beating a handful of 80 and 85mm scopes, which is a testament to its good-quality glass.
Athlon vs Vortex - Part 1 - YouTube xugz0212 New Member. But I have had several of the midway BSAs, one primary arms, they all tracked well. Unlike some of the scopes that are out there, this one is available in both reticle styles. Dielectric-Coated Porro Prism. Long Island. Anyone know the low end focus on the Argos? A more compact scope from a newer, fantastic brand, the Maven S.2 12-27x56mm means business. 1:24 . Their Ultima is a great scope for bird watchers. I use the binoculars to cover wide swaths of ground, and then use my scope to get really zoomed in on an animal that Ive found. Bino Expert is a member of the Amazon Associates affiliate program. After consulting with other experts I compiled this guide that includes information about spotting scopes, how to choose the best one, and reviews of our favorites on the market right now. They just offer the absolute best performance you can possibly get out of a tube filled with glass.
The Best Spotting Scopes in 2023 - Buyer's Guide - Bino Expert Best Spotting Scopes of 2023 | Outdoor Life Their scopes are very high quality and Id definitely recommend them. When budget isnt a limitation, I tend to recommend Swarovski. It's a 20-60x80 only weighting about 33ozs. Many consumers are understandably confused about the designations that optics companies use to describe the quality of glass in their products, but the Athlon spotters are useful to differentiate between HD and UHD glass. That would mean that the scope has an adjustable zoom range of 20 to 60. When looking through a scope with ED glass compared to another without it, there is a massive difference. In fact, those factors increase substantially as you go up in objective sizes. Nikon BLACK FX1000 Riflescope 6-24x50SF Matte IL FX-MRAD FFP 16516, Ive had my hands on both scopes, I still havent used the illuminated reticle, I personally liked the Argos better than the diamondback.. but I feel if your taking a step above diamondback then I would go vortex .. but since you want ffp I think Argos would be a bit better imo. $170.00.
10 Best Spotting Scopes February 2023 - MSN From reviews and videos I've seen it tracks well. All these attributes make it an ideal budget option for hunters. At a fraction of that price, this Vortex delivers an adequate image in a durable, versatile package. Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. But generally, the sweet spot between magnification and image quality is somewhere in the middle of the power range.
Vortex Riflescopes | Buy Vortex Scopes - EuroOptic.com By Max Mutter and Benjamin Hickok. 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. One of the lesser known technical specs that you may need to account for is eye relief. I noticed the gen 2 Argos is out now and it mentions upgraded turrets. This year that nod goes to Athlons Argos HD. Has anyone out there got first hand experience with this scope?
6 Best Focal Plane FFP Scopes to Buy - ScopeExpert.com Get as big of a scope as is practical for your use. I have had both and still have the Athlon. If you have the money and want to get top performance, you definitely have that option. Here are the specs that matter most: You should seriously consider this combo, check the price here. Thats too bad, because its durable and well-balanced for just about any tripod work. While they have specialized in cameras, all of the knowledge theyve accumulated in building camera optics has transferred over into some incredible sporting optics. much better than the Athlon and Vortex and on a close out sale now. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black Customer reviews Customer reviews 4.4 out of 5 174 global ratings Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black by Size: 45 Degree Change How customer reviews and ratings work Top positive review Jack Holcomb Great spotting scope Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25X56 - Best for Long Range. 1.7 #7) Bushnell Trophy Xtreme Spotting Scope. Thread starter Kyle Wheeler; Start date Nov 11, 2020; Nov 11, 2020 #1 Kyle Wheeler Well Known Rokslider. In a category with multiple $1,500-and-higher submissions, the Vanguard VEO HD costs less than $400 but will deliver years of service. The viper has better glass, but I am able to see .22 holes in paper In the shade at 350yds with the Argos. Itll cost you, but man does it make scopes easier to use.
SX-2 Alpine HD Spotting Scopes | Leupold Check it out here. 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert's Choice} Best Bushnell Spotting Scope {Our Top Pickup} . Maven is a very unique company in the sporting optics world. You probably dont want to be lugging around a 100mm Celestron that weighs 4.5 pounds even without the tripod if youre going deep into elk country. I'm an optics snob and all my rifles sport Vortex Razors, AMG, Nightforce NSX, Swarovski and Zeiss. Pros. What the CS.1 delivers, though, is rugged performance. The best brightness and image quality will be at 20X, but the image will be smallest at that magnification. The upside: Its especially weather- and moisture-proof. . Joined Jun 19, 2019 Messages 1,412 A big, serious spotter with very good glass and responsive controls, the Ares UHD is the big brother to Athlons excellent 65mm Argos introduced a couple of years ago. Spotting scopes are measured with two numbers. Athlon Optics Spotting Scopes. The lenses are also fully multicoated, meaning better light transmission and clearer looks at the night sky. And we conclude that the priceyou should be able to find this retailing for around $650was fair for the performance. Athlon Cronus is up to 60 power but still have a reasonable size. Check its price right now by clicking here. There are a whole lot of Nikon rifle optics out there and they cant just stop servicing their products. German Precision Optics ED Binoculars. If youre spending close to (or upwards of) $1,000 for a spotter, make sure it has either ED (extra-low dispersion) glass. The Hide Armory. Vanguard is a smaller, more specialized company than many on this list, and they deserve your consideration for their quality products. That means dusty days in a pickup and all sorts of conditions mounted to a tripod. They also have several subsidiaries underneath them, including names you might recognize like Tasco, Browning Sport Optics, and Simmons. I didnt think the turrets, lack of zero-stop, and mediocre glass would bother me. This scope is perfect for someone: Who is looking for an all-in budget build of under $1,000 (gun and scope) A beginner long-range shooter who wants to stretch into those longer distances, but doesn't want to stretch their wallet Now, don't get me wrong, this scope is a high-quality scope Which tripod to buy deserves its own article, as again there are a wide range of options. I just believe you get what you pay for. As youll see in the two Athlon scopes in this years test, better-quality glass can double the price of a spotter. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Weve rarely seen this much glass and optical horsepower for under $400. -Vortex diamondback tactical 6-24x50 EBR -2C MRAD -Bushnell match pro 6-24x50 DEPLOY MIL -Bushnell nitro 6-24x50 -Bushnel forge 4.5-24x50 DEPLOY MIL -Athlon argos btr 6-24x50 gen2 APMR MIL -Athlon midas tac 6-24x50 APRS3 MIL -Athlon ares btr gen2 4.5-27x50 APRS5 MIL -Athlon helos btr 6-24x50 APMR MIL While any scope will meet most peoples needs, it makes sense to get the optimal one. You can learn about them at Leupold.com. Its an expensive scope, but its worth a look. Rifle Scopes Athlon Argos vs Vortex Diamondback. Replies 44 Views 30K. Very few other manufacturers give you that kind of choice with their high end scope options. The scope tracks as well if not better than my Vortex Diamondback tactical which cost .