However, it can be hard to get your scope on target with an angled eyepiece because the 45-degree angle means the eyepiece isnt pointing at your target, like a straight-body spotter, so target acquisition occurs much faster. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I just believe you get what you pay for. The ED glass works pretty well, but the real appeal here is the Horus reticle inside and tactical bling on the exterior. If you got sick of reading about scopes (or, lets be honest, you saw there was video and skipped ahead! Maven RS.4 5-30x56 FFP - Best Under $2000. We found the usable magnification range extended to about 54-power, which is higher than many of its peers. Its a pattern weve seen play out over two decades of the Outdoor Life optics test. Therefore it stands to reason that you want the spotter labeled HD, right? The rubber is extremely grippy, and the mid-barrel focus allows users to make fine adjustments even while wearing gloves. Unlike some of the scopes that are out there, this one is available in both reticle styles. Another great option that is even more affordable, this scope from Vanguard will give you everything you need as a target shooter. I'm looking at 6-24 versions and they seem similar. And we conclude that the priceyou should be able to find this retailing for around $650was fair for the performance. The optical quality, overall . Can be easier on the neck, particularly if looking up at something above you. Theres limited utility for a spotting scope with an objective lens better suited to a full-sized binocular. This lets you choose the size of scope that is perfect for the way youre using it. Is the foot large and strong enough to stabilize the optic? I have purchased 3 Athlon Argos BTR scopes, and zero issues with any of them. 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. Vortex Diamondback Tactical VS Athlon Argos Gen 2. Scopes are generally sold either with a straight body or with the eyepiece angled up 45 degrees. While the use and need of a good spotting scope extends well beyond those needs, it still is hard to bump it up the priority list, hence the need for affordable alternatives to the exceptional high end spotters available on the market that cost well over $2000 USD. Dispersion is an effect in glass that causes distortion as light travels through it, or actually with any kind of waves. Maven has a few great spotting scope options (all of which are customizable if you order through their website). Brands that might introduce a new binocular or riflescope every year are on a 2- or even 3-year cycle with spotting scope introductions. No one buys a spotting scope just because it looked cool in a store. At longer distances, from 400 yards to infinity, you lose resolution in the magnified image, but youll still be able to see details that you could never see with your naked eye or even a binocular. The Ares G2 placed second in our low-light rankings and turned in very good resolution scores. Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm FFP Rifle Scope; Table of Contents. Its eyecup turns as though on ball bearings, and instead of locking into pre-determined detents, it is infinitely adjustable. If youre in the market for pretty much any optic and dont have a budget thats in the stratosphere, they have good options. Say you have a 20- to 60-power eyepiece on an 80mm spotter. Thats too bad, because its durable and well-balanced for just about any tripod work. The first instance stands for high-definition while the second is ultra-high-definition. Theres still no rigor around those terms, but the HD model was measurably darker and muddier than the UHD model. Maven CS.1 15-45X65mm Spotting Scope Gray/Orange ED Lens. Its affordable and the glass is super high quality. Athlon Optics Ares ETR UHD 4.5-3056 First Focal Plane Riflescopes Not everyone prefers the same type of reticle. So for a brief period of time, I had both the Athlon Talos 20x60x80 and this Athlon Argos 20x60x85 side by side for a detailed comparison. They have a similar long eye relief, but the eyebox isn't as fast to focus as the Vortex. In that case, weight and portability arent an issue; you should consider a full-sized scope, with magnification ranges from 20-60-power and an 85 or even 90mm objective lens. The first spotter from this direct-to-consumer is a versatile powerhouse. Its optical shortcomings are evident in low light conditions, but thats to be expected at this bargain price. The straight-style tactical spotter is built like a tank, with double-tough armor and attachment points for Picatinny rails, so you can add accessories like thermals or lights to the optic. I will test and be able to give better feedback as soon as I get to the range. Thread starter idahohikker; Start date Apr 21, 2018; Apr 21, 2018 #1 I. . ArmorTek Technology: The build quality is as expected top-notch. Which makes it a perfect option for hunters. 2 models Athlon Optics Argos 20-60x85mm HD Spotting Scopes $487.49 $389.99 Save 20% Best Rated. . Once you look through Zeisss Harpia spotter, no other scope will quite satisfy you. I would leave the range with headaches from it. Videos for related products. It may not have their optical clarity, but it is more than good enough for the vast majority of bird watchers. The Argos HD 20-60x85mm falls into the perfect category of spotting scopes for high power use. All else being equal, you want the biggest lens possible. Testers had some concerns over durability based on how the controls loosened over our testing. While the best binoculars for hunting have close focus of about 6 to 8 feet, spotting scopes can only focus to about 12 feet. This pricey, indulgent, magnum-sized optic is the last spotting scope youll own, and it parses details like no other spotter in this category. Shop Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm Side Focus Rifle Scope | 4.4 Star Rating on 92 Reviews for Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm Side Focus Rifle Scope + Free Shipping over $49. Eye relief is the range of distances from the lens within which you wont get any black rings and missed images from your scope. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60, Fully Multicoated, Excellent Image Quality, Field of view: 108 to 60 feet @ 1,000 yards. These scopes have features normally only found on high-end scopes. The Athlon warranty is every bit equal to the warranty provided by Leupold and Vortex, which is saying something. If you are buying a lower-mid range scope, the odds of it coming from Bushnell in one form or another are very high. Its hard to label a single scope as the best available since they are so personalized to different uses. That means you need to think about what you want and need a spotter to do. While zoom is described by the initial range of all important numbers on spotting scope specs, objective lens size finishes it out. Check the classifieds on here for something in the next tier up. I noticed the gen 2 Argos is out now and it mentions upgraded turrets. https://athlonoptics.com/product/rifle-scope-argos-6-24x50/, Looking for the best budget optic for my sniper rifle. Anything further out than that will not be visible. We may receive a sales commission if you purchase any products after using one of our links. 1.4 #4) Swarovski ATS 80 20-60x Spotting Scope. They just work as advertised. . Joined Jan 16, 2018 . Many buyers are looking for a scope to take to the range to verify hits on distant targets, whether paper bullseyes or steel plates. We test spotting scopes the way you use themby subjecting them to the rigors and insults of the field. Half felt it implied a lack of durability. I chose these based on features and because the retail price is low enough to keep the rifle in NRL22 base class. If you cant spend over a hundred dollars, your options are limited to discount providers. If youre a hunter who packs in deep its worth serious consideration, as its lightweight frame makes it easy to carry into the backcountry. Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Spotting Scopes. You could try using it freehand or leaning it against something, but trust me when I tell you this will significantly hamper your viewing. Maven has a direct to consumer business model, so you can get it customized if you want, and you know that no retailer is taking a huge cut of the price you pay. 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. Vortex Razor HD G2 VS. Leupold Mark 5 HD. And you might be a little disappointed at how dark and grainy it gets above about 38-power. And while their telescopes are awesome for picking out constellations, their spotting scopes give you some flexibility to use in different situations. Athlon sells their own rings and mounts, which obviously mesh well when used in tandem with their scope . They rapidly expanded into a full suite of optics products spanning the entirety of the price ranges, which they still are today, though they mostly focus on the lower/mid range. But the magnification range, zooming from 9x up to 27x, gives this little unit more range and a surprisingly nice image. Likewise, the triply more expensive Vortex Viper is optically superior to the Vortex Diamondback. Weve seen this design before, most recently from Celestron (with its similarly sized Hummingbird). But for scouting use its perfect, or for spotting from the road. This series comes in three sizes: 11-33x50mm, 22-48x65mm, and 27-60x85mm. This is the optic I have been testing for the last few weeks, and I can finally give you guys the full specs: 6-24 magnification, 50mm front lens. I have an argos, I replaced it after less than a year. The UHDit stands for ultra-high-definitionglass also boosts its performance. 2.1 Choosing the Best Spotting . The redesigned Diamondback HD spotting scopes have all the horsepower the long-distance hunter needs, and they excel in lowlightright when you need it most. 1:24 . Itll cost you, but man does it make scopes easier to use. Similarly, if you live anywhere with a lot of wildlife activity, it can be a fun thing to have a spotting scope set up on your back porch, trained on your local ecosystem. Its virtually impossible to hold a powerful scope still enough to use effectively. 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. Don't let the fact that it's cheaper than the Viper and Razor deter you, this thing provides stellar optics and is backed by their excellent lifetime warranty program. But of course all else isnt equal, and there is a trade off. They especially are a good choice for astronomy if you need your optics to be compact and/or you want to use them for more than just stargazing. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. Check it out here. Its a tough trade off, and has to be made based on your hunting style. $170.00. What the CS.1 delivers, though, is rugged performance. Maven applied the Goldilocks Rule to this versatile spotter. Illuminated reticle probably isn't critical for your application. Athlon Ares Spotting Scope VS. Vortex Razor Spotting Scope Review 73,201 views Mar 13, 2016 263 Dislike Share Save Backcountry Brotherhood 8.15K subscribers Watch as we review the new. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm . As expected, the Nikon 5 8x42 is clearer and brighter than the under $200 non-ED glass Vortex Diamondback. I've checked the specs and features of both and there are things I like about each. 10 MIL turrets. But we also assign a Price/Value score to each submission. Learn more about their long, family owned history here. For this particular, how does it perform? Hunters dont want to have to haul around the most massive scope, but it needs to be substantially more powerful than their binoculars. The Vortex Optics Diamondback is the best spotting scope for 300 dollars as it has 20x-60x magnification and a 60mm lens diameter. But if its the latter, than less expensive glass might be fine. At about 40 ounces, it isnt the lightest scope, but it gives you an excellent performance to portability ratio. Now if youre using your scope from a fixed position and dont have to carry it around, this wont be a problem. Spotting Scope Accessories Thermal Imaging Thermal Imaging Monoculars . It is worth a trip to your local sporting goods store to look through some scopes and make sure that your glasses do not interfere with the normal eye relief on models you are considering. athlon ares rifle scope tract optics Product Description ARGOS BTR GEN2 For those of you that are just getting started in the PRS or are looking to start, take a close look at the Argos BTR GEN2 family of scopes. $329.99 - $399.99. Replies 44 Views 30K. Not sure how good it is but the cronus rifle scope line has a good reputation. But even more approachable scopes will set you back around $1,000. The Harpia 95 has a little sister, the Harpia 85, thats a little more portable and only slightly more affordable. Vortex diamondback tactical 6-24x Vs Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x I'm looking at either the new vortex dback 6-24x tactical or athlon Argos BTR 6-24x to get into long range shooting. A more compact scope from a newer, fantastic brand, the Maven S.2 12-27x56mm means business. From reviews and videos I've seen it tracks well. In a category with multiple $1,500-and-higher submissions, the Vanguard VEO HD costs less than $400 but will deliver years of service. We measure and record the optical attributesfield of view, eye relief, weight, and other specificationsand mount every submission on a tripod suitable for that particular size and weight. Did a quick sight in using a snow bank ( makes things so quick and easy being able to see impact as it happens), and was able to start hitting some targets. At a fraction of that price, this Vortex delivers an adequate image in a durable, versatile package. Magnification. 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. Its glass is protected by double-walled armor that resists scratching. 6 Best FFP Scopes. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links . Springers abuse the crap out of scopes. Budget is a very firm $500 or preferably less. Vortex Diamondback HD vs Athlon Argos G2 UHD Binoculars Bullets4Bucks 18.8K subscribers Join Subscribe 212 Share Save 16K views 2 years ago Buy Here: Athlon Optics Argos:. They are well known for supplying many of the high end scopes used by military snipers and special operations units. Makes sense. Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. At 40 to 55x, the scope has enough magnification to enable users to count points on a distant buck without making the image maddeningly dark. 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. However, with Vortexs best-in-class warranty, youll never have to worry if it fails to perform. High end manufacturers like Swarovski and Zeiss charge thousands of dollars for their scopes, and will give you crystal clear images that are hard to beat. Their Ultima is a great scope for bird watchers. This scope has extra low dispersion glass, and is one of the least expensive options that has that critical spec. How you use your scope will impact the type of scope body you get. It is dramatically more affordable than the other optics were recommending here for bird watchers. But it could be perfect scope if you are setting it up on your back porch to stargaze with. QUICK LIST: Best First Focal Plane Scopes in 2022. Which tripod to buy deserves its own article, as again there are a wide range of options. From our reviews, you can see that 2 of the Vortex models recommended come with Armortek coating. Expensive Spotting Scope Comparison, Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. Optically, its a solid performer, but its image is like the rest of the spotter, sort of middling. This means that objects will appear between 20 and 60 times closer than they actually are, depending on how you have it set. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The Hawke AirMAx is THE ONLY scope that has survived my Diana 34 springer. The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. The Argos mechanism has proven to track and is robust. Lastly, full-sized spotters are designed to be mounted on a tripod, so consider the mounting hardware. Athlon Optics Spotting Scopes. And the Celestron Trailseeker ED has better optical performance than the under $150 Celestron Nature DX. in your price range I would look at this. In that price range, you're not getting something that is top tier. Spotting scopes come in a very wide selection of sizes, more so than any other kind of optic. Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission and a silver-coated K9 glass prism . $199.99. 1.5 #5) Leupold SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x60mm. Having to go down and check your target every few shots means you can only get in so many practice shots per round. But I will say, that no matter what I did, I could not get my eye comfortable behind the glass. Athlon Midas BTR, Midas HMR, Midas TAC scopes - Also made in China to Athlon's specific specifications. The unit defaults to a 20-70x eyepiece, which you have to purchase separately from the body, but the wide-angle 30-60x eyepiece may have even more utility. Free shipping for many products! If you divide the objective size by the zoom, you get the exact diameter of the exit pupil. NightForce ATACR 5-25X56 F1 - Best for Competition. Its positioned just right between the companys big, bright, and spendy S.1 series and its big-boned B.5 binoculars, which sport 56mm objective lenses and magnifications from 10- to 18-power. About Us Policies. The size of that beam of light is directly derived from two of the factors mentioned above: zoom and objective lens size. We later measure the scopes optical resolution, or how finely they render details. If youve ever been to a rifle range, you know youre in for some walking. Athlon Argos Spotting Scope 20-60x85. I'm an optics snob and all my rifles sport Vortex Razors, AMG, Nightforce NSX, Swarovski and Zeiss. They produce quality optics that are simple and straightforward, and they stand by them 100% with their lifetime warranty. Here are the specs that matter most: You should seriously consider this combo, check the price here. If we have a ding, its the tripod foot, which seems slightly undersized for the frame. 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. But you wont be tempted to compare the image delivered by the Maven to that of a Swarovski or Leica. You must log in or register to reply here. They are still honoring their warrantee but have made some changes and dont have the no fault warrantee any longer. 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. Maybe, but maybe not. There are a whole lot of Nikon rifle optics out there and they cant just stop servicing their products. The downside is that the scopes I have are all SFP, but they do make an FFP model. Very few other manufacturers give you that kind of choice with their high end scope options. Oftentimes they dont even end up helping you see better at long distances. Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. 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. Or should I wait until the Element optics Titan comes out? 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. Some users like angled eyepieces because of their versatility. Not my choice but I dont want to be sleeping on couch for the rest of life. They tend to give mediocre images at best and quality is low. But generally, the sweet spot between magnification and image quality is somewhere in the middle of the power range. 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. Vortex has become a staple in the optics world recently, and for good reason. Its on the larger side for a hunting scope, and you may not want to pack it in if youve already got a heavy pack and are going in deep. And if youre really a beast and can pack it in, youll be rewarded with great images. If you want a spotter to carry into the field to help you assess distant game, then consider a mid-sized scope, generally 20-50-power built behind a 65mm objective lens. This Athlon spotting scope is nitrogen-purged to prevent internal fogging and is sealed for waterproofing, allowing the scope to be used in any weather. The MIDAS uses what appears to be night and day difference SUPERIOR GLASS. The Vortex strike eagle 5-25x56 FFP The Athlon Midas TAC 5-25x56 FFP Are there people who have been able to compare these 2 scopes? And then, we perform a low-light test on several evenings. Put it on a 40-50 MOA base and you can dial a .22 out past 500 yards. tlav21; Nov 5, 2021; Optics; Replies 5 Views 2K. It's big and heavy, so you probably will mostly use it from your vehicle or a camp, but the power behind a scope this big is something awesome to behold. Superdoo. This is not a particularly exciting year for spotting scopes. Athlon Argos BTR 6-2450 Gen2 APLR2 FFP MOA reticle. I had a Diamondback FFP and I sold it immediately. I have had both and still have the Athlon. Large 85mm Objective Lens. What is the rep of the Athlon Argos 2-10x40 BDC 600? Leupold is one of the oldest names in the sporting optics world. JavaScript is disabled. 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. Burris Fullfield II or Vortex Diamondback: .