BigBL87
Member
Recently I purchased a spotting scope from Harbor Freight on a whim. Being as I paid $45 for it, I wasn't expecting much and rightfully so. Its ok for looking at birds on the back edge of our yard at low power, but not much else.
Messing around with it, though, made me want something a bit nicer. I don't need an optical powerhouse and don't have alot to spend. I MAY end up with $150 or to spend. Obviously, for a spotting scope that's not good, but it's where I am.
To be fair, I don't have high demands. 22 caliber holes from 50-100 yards, and maybe for trying to spy distant coyotes when my father in law and I start hunting them. The HF spotter might be able to accomplish those if I really tried, but it makes a good excuse to buy something firearm related. I'm big on quality budget optics, never spent more than $200 on a scope. I'm not a glass snob to be fair but I've been happy with everything I've gotten, mainly due to the fact I research the crap out of stuff before I buy
These are the two I'm looking hard at:
Athlon Talos 20-60x80
Celestron C70 MiniMak
Both seem to have very good reviews for their price range. The Mak, my main concern is that the design seems to be inherently less weather resistant but supposedly the trade off is the image tends to be better quality for the price?
Curious if anyone has any experience with these, or any suggestions in my price range that I haven't found. The one thing I MAY save up a tad more for would be a Konus as they have a great reputation around $200, but any more than that would be wasted on me given the very occasional usage it would see.
Messing around with it, though, made me want something a bit nicer. I don't need an optical powerhouse and don't have alot to spend. I MAY end up with $150 or to spend. Obviously, for a spotting scope that's not good, but it's where I am.
To be fair, I don't have high demands. 22 caliber holes from 50-100 yards, and maybe for trying to spy distant coyotes when my father in law and I start hunting them. The HF spotter might be able to accomplish those if I really tried, but it makes a good excuse to buy something firearm related. I'm big on quality budget optics, never spent more than $200 on a scope. I'm not a glass snob to be fair but I've been happy with everything I've gotten, mainly due to the fact I research the crap out of stuff before I buy
These are the two I'm looking hard at:
Athlon Talos 20-60x80
Celestron C70 MiniMak
Both seem to have very good reviews for their price range. The Mak, my main concern is that the design seems to be inherently less weather resistant but supposedly the trade off is the image tends to be better quality for the price?
Curious if anyone has any experience with these, or any suggestions in my price range that I haven't found. The one thing I MAY save up a tad more for would be a Konus as they have a great reputation around $200, but any more than that would be wasted on me given the very occasional usage it would see.