We were in Yellowstone a few weeks ago and my wife saw a few people with spotting scopes and she went over and asked to look through them...

The one I saw was a Swarovski so the view was pretty good...even better than my Steiner binos.

Given up to a $1000 budget what models should I be looking at. I’m thinking something in the 40-60X range and relatively compact for hiking would be ideal.

Thanks!

I would look at Swarovski, Steiner and Leupold.

With that budget, Vortex or Steiner would be my suggestion. Buy their best model that you can afford. Try them first. The Big 3, Swarovski, Leica and Zeiss are well outside your budget.
Nearly forgot, Cabela's Euro Optics are surprisingly good. I think Mepro makes them.

I wondered how a CFO connects to optics. Now I understand.

Add Kowa into the mix. Some of their compacts are in budget. Meopta is out of price range.

Consider the higher end Athlon. Nikon might have some options too.

No first experience with, but Maven Optics has some spotting scopes in your $ range. Used Swarovski scopes maybe the way to go.

When I’m out birding or watching wildlife, I’m packing either a Swarovski 8.5x42 EL or 8x32 EL.

Definitely the way to get a good one.

When my wife wanted me to get a headlamp for reading in bed, I chose the best one on the market at the time.

DuckDuckGo showed me this review. It’s great because it has magnified photos of the view through the tested scopes, so you can see the difference $1600 buys over $900 over $500 in Vortex scopes.

PewPew Tactical review

Looks like the Vortex Viper for $900 is pretty darn good.

Personally, when I was looking some years ago I went to see a Kowa on sale for about $1,000; but then compared it eye to eye with the more expensive Kowa line that had been top-reviewed by the Cornell Lab folks. Also compared with Swarovski, Zeiss; ended up with a Kowa which with eyepiece cost about $2,800. Have never regretted it.

Off-topic but how was Yellowstone? Headed there first week in Oct.

We have gotten emails from the lodge asking if we wanted to change till next year and about restaurants being closed. Take out only.

Still planning ongoing unless the park closes.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:The one I saw was a Swarovski so the view was pretty good...even better than my Steiner binos.

When I bought mine a few years ago, I had a Leupold, and a borrowed Vortex and Swarovski in hand for a week of checking under various conditions. The Swarovski ATX was definitely the best and what I ended up getting. Unfortunately, it is 3-4x your budget depending on which objective you choose. The Vortex Razor certainly wasn't terrible and is very close to your budget.

Steiner, Meopta.

Thanks everyone, you’ve given me some homework to do!

Comet Yellowstone was great! It has been over 20 years since our last visit and it was interesting what has changed and what has remained the same.

We had several 7x7 elk grazing on our campground just a few feet from us. I’ve never seen another one except in the park. Amazing!

Be sure to get reservations for camping before you leave. Several of the smaller ones were not open and the biggest one is undergoing a multi-year remodel ( for those 45 ft diesel pushers!) and may be done next year...

Bought AT80 Swarovski years ago, stunning clarity. From 100 yard 22 targets to Jovian moons & rings of Saturn, marvelous. Considering now passing it on. Email me if you're still looking. Recent cleaning by factory.

smlsig Thanks

We have a reservation in one of the lodges. Got upgraded to a nicer room since we were in a part that had shared bathrooms and that's a no go now.

We are doing a few days in the park and then a few days in the Tetons.

For optics I learned here, “buy once, cry once”, get the most you can justify.

HK Ag

Smlsig,
Email sent

Sorry for the mix up,

Same avatars two different people and my atrophying gray matter.

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Kowa is one of the top brands. However for a $1000.00 you are going to be limited. their 20X60 eyepiece along is pricey. The 80mm version eyepiece is over $700.00.

The 50MM version is cheap and while I've never used on it probably is playing on the brand. The body can go wall over a thousand and then a few hundred for a decent stand.

While that may be needed for some high power longer range events where you want to see a bullet hole at 600 yards, you might be well served with something more reasonable such as the Vortex line.

I have a Kowa 660 series that was used for high power matches and the optics are top notch.

I have a Leupold 45x which is very nice; easy to see .22 out to 100 yards. For longer ranges and small bullets, I'd want a 60. Bear in mind that the greatest impediment to clear vision over 45x and over 100 yards is vibration of the optic. Heat mirage, slight vibration from wind, etc., can make a nice, clear image unusable. I have a lower end commercial grade tripod, and it is not enough when the wind starts blowing.