And at nearly $4,000, most of us arent willing to subject the Harpia to the indignities and dings of the field. It is used solely as a marketing hook by companies to make their optics seem very high quality. Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm FFP Rifle Scope; Table of Contents. (130) Compare Product. I had a Diamondback FFP and I sold it immediately. 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. Vortex Razor HD G2 VS. Leupold Mark 5 HD. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares. Can the tripod adapter be used with a wide variety of tripod models and heads? With an 80mm objective lens, its big enough to handle pretty much any task you throw at it. 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. Far less expensive than the other scopes on this list, it doesnt offer the same kind of glass or build quality as the more expensive scopes. Athlon Optics Argos BTR and Helos BTR scopes - Made in China to Athlon specifications. But for someone on a budget, it will do the job. How versatile do you want your scope to be? At a fraction of that price, this Vortex delivers an adequate image in a durable, versatile package. I'm curious about the eye box / eye relief difference in these scopes. Leupolds flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification. . At first sight, the Argos 10x42 is quite a compact binocular. 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. Because our test doesnt intentionally punish submissions until they break, the durability question is necessarily unanswered. 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. While this Argos was very well built (and very similar in style and quality to the Vortex Diamondback which is a much higher-priced scope I've used in the past), I found the optical quality to not be as good . This scope gives some of the crispest images around. They also allow most of their products to be fully customized, so you can even get them in the exact color you want! But I will say, that no matter what I did, I could not get my eye comfortable behind the glass. They are quick and easy to use when you are based out of your vehicle. If you like shooting, ESPECIALLY at distance, you really need a decent Spotting Scope. Weve rarely seen this much glass and optical horsepower for under $400. Athlon over the years has been talked fairly highly with budget long range rifle builds and I see they have a really price friendly spotter with the entry model Talos. Still, the new spotters for 2022 offer plenty of choice and talent for hunters, shooters, and anyone who likes to see wildlife up close. 1.7 #7) Bushnell Trophy Xtreme Spotting Scope. 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. Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission and a silver-coated K9 glass prism . They're both fairly equal when comparing in the same price range, but I will support Vortex always for their customer service and unmatched warranty. The quality in these scopes could be better but for the price.!! Which tripod to buy deserves its own article, as again there are a wide range of options. The 65mm size is just about right for most backpack pockets, and it pairs nicely with mid-sized tripods. If you divide the objective size by the zoom, you get the exact diameter of the exit pupil. The bigger the objective lens, the more light will be allowed into the scope. 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. Gwine Well-Known Member Joined Mar 3, 2013 Messages 423 Location Southern Oregon Jul 3, 2020 #3 Welcome to the forum. All else being equal, you want the biggest lens possible. The first two, in the above case 20-60, are the zoom. The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. Half felt it implied a lack of durability. 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. The CS.1 is built around the same mid-level class of glass that Maven uses in its C Series binoculars. I would highly avoid getting a true budget scope (one that costs less than $200). Nikon BLACK FX1000 Riflescope 6-24x50SF Matte IL FX-MRAD FFP 16516, Ive had my hands on both scopes, I still havent used the illuminated reticle, I personally liked the Argos better than the diamondback.. but I feel if your taking a step above diamondback then I would go vortex .. but since you want ffp I think Argos would be a bit better imo. Not my choice but I dont want to be sleeping on couch for the rest of life. When looking through a scope with ED glass compared to another without it, there is a massive difference. Eye relief is the range of distances from the lens within which you wont get any black rings and missed images from your scope. And the rubber armor is as grippy as it is protective. Check the classifieds on here for something in the next tier up. Is it going to be used from your vehicle? The Vortex Viper is a great choice. And with $500, I would definitely buy the Diamondback 20-60x85mm. Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. The angled eyepiece and rotating tripod mount increase its versatility, and the controls are relatively tight and precise, especially for the at around $400. But the magnification range, zooming from 9x up to 27x, gives this little unit more range and a surprisingly nice image. The optical quality, overall . In short: IGNORE THE TERM HD. Hunters dont want to have to haul around the most massive scope, but it needs to be substantially more powerful than their binoculars. If the former, you might consider investing in models with excellent glass and mirage-taming coatings. 2.1 Choosing the Best Spotting . And the 27-55-power zoom range covers most hunting scenarios, while the 80mm objective lensmade with extra-low dispersion glasslets in plenty of light. In case you want to know about the scopes, in brief, this comparison table below is tailor . But most commonly, you will see ED (Extra-low Dispersion) used, and that is what you want. And we were a little disappointed in the relatively narrow field of view. While zoom is described by the initial range of all important numbers on spotting scope specs, objective lens size finishes it out. I will test and be able to give better feedback as soon as I get to the range. Glass was pretty good for the price. There is a range of designations that manufacturers use, and unfortunately there isnt much standardization. If you got sick of reading about scopes (or, lets be honest, you saw there was video and skipped ahead! 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. Bird watching is one of the most popular and fast growing hobbies world wide. Gosky Newest 20-6080 Dual Focusing Spotting Scope. We rate the tightness and precision of their controls, how comfortably the scopes fit our hands and eyes, and then assess their style, versatility, and durability. Most importantly, they have a solid warranty and a great reputation for taking care of their customers. From our reviews, you can see that 2 of the Vortex models recommended come with Armortek coating. Side By Side Review Athlon NEOS 10x42 vs. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Binoculars Home ADVENTURES Store About Updates Contact MIL/LEO Custom Shop Group Buy Polices UPDATE STATION . Just attach your camera and youll be taking clear photos from far away. free shipping & returns. Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Spotting Scopes. They are known to provide some of the best mid-range optics. The straight-barrel design will appeal to viewers who want to make quick target acquisition, instead of the hunting-and-pecking sometimes required with angled eyepieces. The viper has better glass, but I am able to see .22 holes in paper In the shade at 350yds with the Argos. Well, Athlon kept that in mind, and that is why they brought out the Ares ETR in different reticle styles. Maven is a very unique company in the sporting optics world. At low magnifications, the SIG has a bright image and wide field of view. This scope is perfect for someone: Who is looking for an all-in budget build of under $1,000 (gun and scope) A beginner long-range shooter who wants to stretch into those longer distances, but doesn't want to stretch their wallet Now, don't get me wrong, this scope is a high-quality scope The reticle is etched but also illuminated for eye-catching ease. They are well known for supplying many of the high end scopes used by military snipers and special operations units. The Diamondback HD spotter makes an accessible, extremely usable optic for any number of well-lighted conditions. Astronomy is usually thought to be done with a big telescope setup, but a spotting scope can also work well for a hobbyist. Most amazingly, some of their highest end products are even assembled in the United States, a rarity in this industry. Youll notice the images starts to get dark and grainy at about 45-power, and our low-light test confirmed that, compared with its UHD brother, the Argos HD will wink out several minutes before its peers. A nice feature it has that I wish more scopes would include (especially angled scopes) is a sighting line to help you line up with what youre trying to look at. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. If you want clear views, you want to minimize dispersion. Bushnell is owned today by Vista Outdoor, a large conglomerate of outdoor products companies. Theres several companies using that mechanism successfully. We found the usable magnification range extended to about 54-power, which is higher than many of its peers. I shoot spring airgun and 22LR, and Hawke is on ALL of them. At middle distances, like 50 to 400 yards, you can usually zoom in to see precise details of your target. I didnt think the turrets, lack of zero-stop, and mediocre glass would bother me. Precision rifle shooters will appreciate the fixed 22-power lens that contains a milling PRS reticle, which allows users to make precise calls when spotting for a long-distance shooter. . Sold two to a friend(bought Athlon Ares and Tacticle). The Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS2 is the perfect companion for precision rifle shooting. Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. Demerits include the slippery, non-textured armor and the underwhelming glass, which makes images above about 45-power pretty dark and grainy with some distorted edge detail. Joined Jun 19, 2019 Messages 1,412 We later measure the scopes optical resolution, or how finely they render details. Definitions aside, if youre in the market for a full-sized spotter and have limited funds, consider the Argos HD. Select which one you want here. Joined Jan 16, 2018 . Or should I wait until the Element optics Titan comes out? Alternatively, the rails allow you to mount the LMSS2 on either rails or a traditional tripod. Get as big of a scope as is practical for your use. 10 MIL turrets. Put it on a 40-50 MOA base and you can dial a .22 out past 500 yards. Springers abuse the crap out of scopes. And its ultra-compact size means youll take this optic more places than a larger spotter or a big-boned binocular. $329.99 - $399.99. I would leave the range with headaches from it. They even have a spotting scope eyepiece that functions as a binocular, with two eyepieces! It's a 20-60x80 only weighting about 33ozs. 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. Athlon vs Vortex - Part 1 18,034 views Mar 29, 2019 93 Dislike Share Blue Line Optics 627 subscribers Two extremely good optics companies who market themselves fairly comparatively - high. 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. The ED glass works pretty well, but the real appeal here is the Horus reticle inside and tactical bling on the exterior. Thats our opinion of how much of a bargain or a rip-off each binocular is. There are a whole lot of Nikon rifle optics out there and they cant just stop servicing their products. We glass near and far targets in all light conditions. There are some spring airgunners that swear by the Hawke Sidewinder. Learn more about it here. Not all hunters need a spotting scope, but for those who want to get a detailed look at their quarry before taking a shot, its a lifesaver. Its affordable and the glass is super high quality. The Hawke AirMAx is THE ONLY scope that has survived my Diana 34 springer. 2 models Athlon Optics Argos 20-60x85mm HD Spotting Scopes $487.49 $389.99 Save 20% Best Rated. So got the Argos in mail last night and got it mounted this afternoon. Athlon Optics / RIFLE SCOPES / ARGOS BTR GEN2 / ARGOS BTR GEN2 6-2450 APMR FFP IR MIL. The size of that beam of light is directly derived from two of the factors mentioned above: zoom and objective lens size. . The rubber is extremely grippy, and the mid-barrel focus allows users to make fine adjustments even while wearing gloves. Carefully consider exactly how youre going to use it. It may not have the extra low dispersion glass and other high end features of more expensive scopes, but it does a great job considering how little it takes to get your hands on one. Now if youre using your scope from a fixed position and dont have to carry it around, this wont be a problem. For example, the Athlon Argos we recommend has a field of view of 48-102 feet at 1000 yards. If you are buying a lower-mid range scope, the odds of it coming from Bushnell in one form or another are very high. This is coming from someone who has never used either. Their Ultima is a great scope for bird watchers. Would love to hear any pros or cons or comparisons. Vanguard is a smaller, more specialized company than many on this list, and they deserve your consideration for their quality products. 45 Angled Viewing. The mid-barrel focus wheel is tight and precise. The optic with the highest Price/Value score wins our Great Buy award. Easier to switch between binos and spotting scope. thanks! If you hold any kind of magnified optic up to a light source and at least a foot away from your eyes, you will see a white dot in the middle of the lens. They were the company that made optics available to the masses for the first time by importing binoculars from manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Thats because the glass and controls of the Argos HD are slightly disappointing. Another great option that is even more affordable, this scope from Vanguard will give you everything you need as a target shooter. I regularly shoot out to 300 yds with my ar and have shot to 1k with a friends equipment. These scopes have features normally only found on high-end scopes. Athlon Argos Spotting Scope 20-60x85. I'll be honest I wasn't looking forward to reviewing Athlon optics. 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:. 30mm main tube. Brands that might introduce a new binocular or riflescope every year are on a 2- or even 3-year cycle with spotting scope introductions. 2 Best Spotting Scopes for Elk Hunting Buying Guide & FAQs. Updated: October 2, 2020, 79 optics, 152 reticles. In that price range, you're not getting something that is top tier. Argos and The Midas Tac is a $700 scope so if going that high then look at the Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25. 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. Here are some excellent scopes for that purpose: Zeiss makes premium optics, and this scope is no exception. If youre a hobbyist photographer who doesnt care about squeezing the maximum amount of performance possible from a scope, give the Celestron Regal a look. If you have the budget, Celestrons Regal is a huge optical upgrade over the Ultima. The Vortex Optics Diamondback is the best spotting scope for 300 dollars as it has 20x-60x magnification and a 60mm lens diameter. Vortex has become a staple in the optics world recently, and for good reason.