MuleyMadness Hunting Forums

Budget-500$ STRICT!
I Hunt in the mountains of NM and cover 5-6 miles a day so i need a scope i can pack. I would like to have smooth operation and clear optics. I live a long way from anywhere ,so i cant check out any of these scopes before I buy them.

I have narrowed it down to these 3 spotters. Cant decide and I just need some feedback to sell me on one of them. Feel free to use pictures, videos, or pages and pages of review to push me over the edge on one of these spotters.
One more question, angled or straight body????

Any info would really help me out
Thanks in Advance
-muleyspook

1. Vortex Viper 15-45x60-450$
Weight (oz): 48.5
Length (in): 15.8
Eye Relief (mm): 18
Field of View @ 1000yds (ft): 140 - 65
Exit Pupil (mm): 4.3 - 1.4
Close Focus (ft): 16


2. Nikon Prostaff 16-48x65-399$
Weight (oz): 32
Size (in): 11.5 x 4.1
Eye Relief (mm): 15.2
Field of View @ 1000yds (ft): 126
Exit Pupil (mm): 4.1
Close Focus (ft): 13.1

3.Zen Ray Ridgefield 15-45x65-279.99$
Weight (oz): 51
Eye Relief (mm): 21.76 - 20.7
Field of View @ 1000yds (ft): 174 - 57
Exit Pupil (mm): 4.34 - 1.45
Close Focus (ft): 17
Lens Coating: Fully Broadband Multi-Coated

Not familiar with the last one #3, but think both top choices are good. You'd like either, I have a Vortex and it's great for me.

Not familiar with any of the three mentioned but would suggest you add and research the Pentax ED 65mm.

It has great reviews and I have the 80mm and LOVE it. Lens selection is better than anything else out there because it uses the same style of fitting used in most astronomical telescopes to attach the eyepiece..

Bill

I don't know anything about Zen Ray products. I do have a Vortex spotter although it is not the model you are asking about. I also have a pair of Vortex Viper binos. I have been really pleased with them. I am pretty hard on my stuff so I appreciate the warranty Vortex offers although I have never had to use it. I don't know much about Nikon but have heard mostly positive about hem. I don't know what they're warranty is like, but that could easily be a determining factor.

I prefer the angled lens. It takes some getting used, but it's much easier on my neck and back when looking through it and you can get by with a shorter tripod.

I have the Nikon you are talking about. It is a great spotting scope for the money. The zoom is appropriate for the spotter to, because you can actually see at 48X vs the others that go to 60x, i've always had trouble during the peak hours getting a good view. Vortex are great too and the warranty is true to what they say. I had a buddy almost break his in half when he dropped his binos off a cliff and they were replaced at no cost. Low light is the downfall for the Nikon if you want full zoom. The picture is pretty dark at low light with 48x, but unless you are willing to spend 2k, that's what you get with most models in that price range.

go with the vortex you will love vortex.