SX-2 Alpine HD Spotting Scopes | Leupold In normal bright conditions, your pupil will usually be open about 2mm. I will test and be able to give better feedback as soon as I get to the range. 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. Thoughts on Athlon Talos Spotting Scope. 20-60x80. Objective Lens Diameter. Is it to assess distant animals in the first and last light of the day? They offer some of the clearest scopes on the market, and while you definitely pay a premium, they have a very loyal customer base among bird watchers. . Field of view is a measurement of how wide of a picture you will see when you are looking through a scope. xugz0212 New Member. Glass was pretty good for the price. From our reviews, you can see that 2 of the Vortex models recommended come with Armortek coating. Andrew McKean is Outdoor Lifes hunting and conservation editor, drilling into issues that affect wildlife, wildlands, and the people who care about them. 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. Spotting Scope Accessories Thermal Imaging Thermal Imaging Monoculars . Maven RS.4 5-30x56 FFP - Best Under $2000. We bought and tested binoculars from Vortex, Athlon, Nikon, Leica, Swarovski, and others to help you find the best. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black 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 been used and recommended by a lot of the most influential people in the industry, like Steven Rinella from Netflixs Meat Eater. But only barely, and only because they are more established and I have had good experiences directly with them in the past. You can buy it here. Easier to switch between binos and spotting scope. A more compact scope from a newer, fantastic brand, the Maven S.2 12-27x56mm means business. 1.7 #7) Bushnell Trophy Xtreme Spotting Scope. I am a fan of vortex but the diamond back not so much . Vortex is a well-known manufacturer of optical material such as binoculars, spotting scopes and rifle scopes. 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. A spotting scope helps you get crystal clear, up close views of birds, and can also help you take pictures of them. So much so that it won our Great Buy award as the best bargain spotting scope. 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. 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. Half felt it implied a lack of durability. Maven is a very unique company in the sporting optics world. Argos BTR 6-2450 APMR | Precision Rifle Scope - Athlon Optics Vortex got mentioned above a lot, and there are good reasons. As a hunter who uses a spotting scope and binoculars in tandem, I dont worry too much about the field of view of my scope. 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece. Itll cost you, but man does it make scopes easier to use. Athlon Argos BTR 6-2450 Gen2 APLR2 FFP MOA reticle. There is a massive difference between HD and regular definition television, and everyone has seen it. The optical quality, overall . At first sight, the Argos 10x42 is quite a compact binocular. When looking through a scope with ED glass compared to another without it, there is a massive difference. Athlon 214061 Argos BTR 6-2450 Riflescope APMR FFP MIL | eBay Should the spotter ever fail, its fully backed by SIGs excellent five-year warranty. Most amazingly, some of their highest end products are even assembled in the United States, a rarity in this industry. W. Wrencoforge Sergeant of the Hide. Athlon submitted two full-sized spotters for this years test, but the Argos HD version (as opposed to the Argos G2 UHD) version represents the best combination of price and performance. Deploy MIL First Focal Plane reticle. The Mavens eyepiece is fixed, which means you wont be able to swap out eyepieces for different magnifications. Athlon Optics Cronus Gen II 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scopes 311004 tlav21; Nov 5, 2021; Optics; Replies 5 Views 2K. When you do buy your scope, know that youre also going to need to budget for a tripod. They just offer the absolute best performance you can possibly get out of a tube filled with glass. 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. 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. If you have the budget, Celestrons Regal is a huge optical upgrade over the Ultima. I got ahold of Athlon's entry level ARGOS to compare to their higher . They are well known for supplying many of the high end scopes used by military snipers and special operations units. Theres limited utility for a spotting scope with an objective lens better suited to a full-sized binocular. Any feedback on these two scopes? The size of that beam of light is directly derived from two of the factors mentioned above: zoom and objective lens size. This spotter makes an excellent choice for a hunter who wants a versatile spotting scope without paying a months wages. These coatings help the scope transmit and gather light better, thus increasing the quality and clarity of the image it delivers. Yes, Vortex Tactical line is part of their upper tier level. I'll be honest I wasn't looking forward to reviewing Athlon optics. Binoculars & Spotting Scopes | Costco Check it out here. Vortex Riflescopes | Buy Vortex Scopes - EuroOptic.com You can think of it like the limits of your peripheral vision. Is the Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 the Best Affordable Long Range Scope? Expensive Spotting Scope Comparison, Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. 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 is coming from someone who has never used either. 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert's Choice} Best Bushnell Spotting Scope {Our Top Pickup} . Dont let the fact that its cheaper than the Viper and Razor deter you, this thing provides stellar optics and is backed by their excellent lifetime warranty program. 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. I would leave the range with headaches from it. I have a Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 on a Diana 240, and a Hawke Vantage SF 6-24x44 on a Savage Mark 2 22LR. Ok, folks - here it is: The Bushnell Match Pro Riflescope. quigley257; Mar 17, 2020; Replies 6 Whale watching is a very popular activity along the coasts for both tourists and locals. And you might be a little disappointed at how dark and grainy it gets above about 38-power. But if you want to make it easy, the winner from all this testing and analysis (as of March 2023) is the Athlon Argos HD 20-60x85mm the best scope for most uses. Here are my top recommendations: If youre a serious bird watcher and want to see every detail of the birds youre looking at from a long way away, Swarovski is probably going to be your go to brand. It also has a dual focus knob, one of our favorite features on any scope that allows you to focus it both quickly and precisely. If you spend a few hundred dollars, youre going to get something that will definitely improve on your naked eyes vision and help you be successful at whatever activity you are doing. https://athlonoptics.com/product/rifle-scope-argos-6-24x50/, Looking for the best budget optic for my sniper rifle. Jan 25, 2022. ), here are some great resources to help you buy a scope: Cheap vs. The best brightness and image quality will be at 20X, but the image will be smallest at that magnification. Not my choice but I dont want to be sleeping on couch for the rest of life. You can learn about them at Leupold.com. . Apart from its compact design, it is also ergonomic. There is a range of designations that manufacturers use, and unfortunately there isnt much standardization. And while their telescopes are awesome for picking out constellations, their spotting scopes give you some flexibility to use in different situations. Spotting scopes come in a very wide selection of sizes, more so than any other kind of optic. trying to find the right scope (vortex, bushnell, athlon) | Airgun Shop Athlon Optics Argos BTR Gen II 6-24X50mm APLR2 Rifle Scope | $20.00 Off 4 Star Rating on 14 Reviews for Athlon Optics Argos BTR Gen II 6-24X50mm APLR2 Rifle Scope Free Gift + Free Shipping over $49. Theres nothing particularly ground-breaking in this introduction from Athlon, just a sized-up version of its very good 65mm Ares G2 UHD model. What is the rep of the Athlon Argos 2-10x40 BDC 600? QUICK LIST: Best First Focal Plane Scopes in 2022. The Vortex DB HD 10x42 are by volume the most sold pair of binoculars in . Long Island. Along with size, price varies dramatically. The MIDAS uses what appears to be night and day difference SUPERIOR GLASS. Testers had some concerns over durability based on how the controls loosened over our testing. Athlon NEOS 10x42 vs. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Can the tripod adapter be used with a wide variety of tripod models and heads? Specifications. Or should I wait until the Element optics Titan comes out? 7 Best Spotting Scopes Under 300 Dollars in 2023 - FixThePhoto.com Vortex viper hst is the nicest scope I have had. 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert's Choice} The Ares G2 placed second in our low-light rankings and turned in very good resolution scores. All three sizes can also be had in either an angled or straight body. 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. The 5 Best Binoculars of 2023 | Tested by GearLab Thats because any object you can see at 60x will only darken at 70x, so the additional magnification might not be worth the degradation in image. In case you want to know about the scopes, in brief, this comparison table below is tailor . Products ( 2) Sort By. Jan 20, 2020 #1 ; Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. While any scope will meet most peoples needs, it makes sense to get the optimal one. Spotting scopes are usually used on a tripod, so you dont need to worry about your hands shaking and distorting high zoom images like you do with binoculars. Ask yourself when youre most likely to use the optic. If you want clear views, you want to minimize dispersion. Athlon Argos Binoculars 10X42 Review : Why You Should Buy It! Wednesday December 7, 2022. The mid-barrel focus wheel is tight and precise. Thats because the glass and controls of the Argos HD are slightly disappointing. By Max Mutter and Benjamin Hickok. 8 Best Spotting Scopes for Elk Hunting - opticsrelated.com German Precision Optics ED Binoculars. Say you have a 20- to 60-power eyepiece on an 80mm spotter. Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission and a silver-coated K9 glass prism . Brands that might introduce a new binocular or riflescope every year are on a 2- or even 3-year cycle with spotting scope introductions. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Athlon Optics , Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane (FFP) 30 mm Tube, Illuminated APMR MIL Reticle, Black. $249.99. The 5 Best Binoculars of 2023. 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. If you like shooting, ESPECIALLY at distance, you really need a decent Spotting Scope. From reviews and videos I've seen it tracks well. But at magnifications above about 18, youre going to want to mount this, because the shakes introduced by your hands, or an improvised support, blur the image. It can be had with three different sizes of objective lenses, so you can choose just how big your scope is going to be. You can read more about them here. The viper has better glass, but I am able to see .22 holes in paper In the shade at 350yds with the Argos. This means that objects will appear between 20 and 60 times closer than they actually are, depending on how you have it set. That makes a great combination for hardscrabble backcountry hunters who dont want to sacrifice optical performance, knowing that seeing long distances can save them many miles and thousands of feet of elevation in their boots. Select Options. So should you avoid scopes labeled as HD? For this particular, how does it perform? Founded in the United States in 1907, it has been family owned and operated for five generations, an incredible feat for any company. That would mean that the scope has an adjustable zoom range of 20 to 60. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Vortex Diamondback HD vs Athlon Argos G2 UHD Binoculars If you are buying a lower-mid range scope, the odds of it coming from Bushnell in one form or another are very high. The lenses are also fully multicoated, meaning better light transmission and clearer looks at the night sky. Weve seen this design before, most recently from Celestron (with its similarly sized Hummingbird). Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm FFP Rifle Scope; Table of Contents. 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. The rubber is extremely grippy, and the mid-barrel focus allows users to make fine adjustments even while wearing gloves. Athlon Optics Argos BTR Gen II 6-24X50mm APLR2 Rifle Scope - OpticsPlanet That means clearer images day and night. 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. What about 600 or even futher? The 45-degree angled eyepiece is also a nice touch, as it allows for users to use it in a number of different stances. Unlike some of the scopes that are out there, this one is available in both reticle styles. 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. Thread starter idahohikker; Start date Apr 21, 2018; Apr 21, 2018 #1 I. . You can learn more about them at VortexOptics.com. But we also assign a Price/Value score to each submission. HobieH3; Mar 26, 2019; 2 3 4. An exception might occur if you are going to be looking through glasses first and then your spotter. However, astronomers might consider this as one of their primary things to look for given their viewing happens always in low light conditions. The Hawke AirMAx is THE ONLY scope that has survived my Diana 34 springer. All these attributes make it an ideal budget option for hunters. 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. Its a tough trade off, and has to be made based on your hunting style. Learn More . The upside: Its especially weather- and moisture-proof. The Athlon Argos BTR is an excellent mid to long-range choice. In this test, we mount all scopes on tripods, set their magnification to 20-power, and then measure how long they can see into the dark, averaging the results to assess performance. Leupolds flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification. Still, if you use this scope in daylight and dont max out its magnification, its a worthy companion for most hunting situations or first-time buyers. A product-line extension following Meoptas successful angled MeoStar S2, this 82mm spotter has the optical horsepower for just about any hunting situation, and the straight-barrel design makes it easy to slide into a backpack sleeve. Most spotting scopes that zoom up to 60-power get so dark and grainy at that magnification that theyre really only useful up to about 50-power. That means you need to think about what you want and need a spotter to do. I hunted with this scope during Montanas elk season, and it took in stride all the temperature changes, bumps and drops, and dust the hunts dealt it. I'm an optics snob and all my rifles sport Vortex Razors, AMG, Nightforce NSX, Swarovski and Zeiss. Diamondback HD 20-60x85 (Angled) - Vortex Optics When you see 20-60x85mm, that means that the objective lens (the one that points out towards whatever you are viewing) is 85mm in diameter. In a category with multiple $1,500-and-higher submissions, the Vanguard VEO HD costs less than $400 but will deliver years of service. You can learn more about them here. Though its the same size and about the same in terms of zoom power, the money is spent on the quality of glass. 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. I have purchased 3 Athlon Argos BTR scopes, and zero issues with any of them. Vortex diamondback FFP scope also comes with elevated finger-adjustable turrets.