And we were a little disappointed in the relatively narrow field of view. The Harpia 95 has a little sister, the Harpia 85, thats a little more portable and only slightly more affordable. They offer solid products at affordable prices, as well as higher end options. The upside: Its especially weather- and moisture-proof. 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. If youre just casually looking at wildlife and dont want to spend the dollars on a premium scope, then this Gosky model will fill your needs. The Ultima is a fairly affordable but still massive and powerful scope that works great for astronomy and stargazing. . $249.99. Apart from its compact design, it is also ergonomic. 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. This is coming from someone who has never used either. Just attach your camera and youll be taking clear photos from far away. Spotting scopes work best from mid to far distances. Darling of our best spotting scopes test is the new compact CS.1 from Maven, but we also like a couple of nicely priced full-sized spotters. Having to go down and check your target every few shots means you can only get in so many practice shots per round. Is it going to be aimed permanently at the stars? This year that nod goes to Athlons Argos HD. 6 Best Focal Plane FFP Scopes to Buy - ScopeExpert.com Thread starter idahohikker; Start date Apr 21, 2018; Apr 21, 2018 #1 I. . From our reviews, you can see that 2 of the Vortex models recommended come with Armortek coating. 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. You can think of it like the limits of your peripheral vision. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 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. 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. 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. Or should I wait until the Element optics Titan comes out? I am a fan of vortex but the diamond back not so much . I shoot spring airgun and 22LR, and Hawke is on ALL of them. This Japanese scope uses pure fluorite crystal lenses, which is unique in the industry and gives them excellent optical clarity. 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. These coatings help the scope transmit and gather light better, thus increasing the quality and clarity of the image it delivers. Their HD-ATS-80 body is awesomely powerful when paired with a 20-60 power eyepiece. 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. Alternatively, the rails allow you to mount the LMSS2 on either rails or a traditional tripod. Doug asked me to review two Athlon scopes for him. 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert's Choice} Best Bushnell Spotting Scope {Our Top Pickup} . I'm not going to claim that they track perfectly, and I did have reposition the parallax knob on 6-24, but for sub-$200, even sub-$150, they are the best thing I've run across and the glass smokes vortex crossfire. 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. I have had both and still have the Athlon. This scope gives some of the crispest images around. Like most scopes, the Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 does not come with a mount and rings included. But you wont be tempted to compare the image delivered by the Maven to that of a Swarovski or Leica. SKU: 214063. Vortex Viper HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope (Angled Viewing) V502 - B&H Photo The Argos HD is one of the best spotting scopes under 300 dollars that has a robust 20-60x magnification, 85mm objective, and is perfect for . Models that have both designs typically have identical glass, magnification ranges, and components, so theyll likely deliver an identical image. 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:. Athlon Optics / RIFLE SCOPES / ARGOS BTR GEN2 / ARGOS BTR GEN2 6-2450 APMR FFP IR MIL. Its eyecup turns as though on ball bearings, and instead of locking into pre-determined detents, it is infinitely adjustable. Athlon Optics Spotting Scopes. 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. Learn more about their long, family owned history here. 1.4 #4) Swarovski ATS 80 20-60x Spotting Scope. 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. A smaller company than some others on this list, Athlon continually impresses me with their quality mid range products. The second number is the size of the objective lens in millimeters. And its ultra-compact size means youll take this optic more places than a larger spotter or a big-boned binocular. The other half appreciated the Endurance EDs talents for a backcountry spotter. Especially in low-light conditions, those extreme ranges are rarely usable. Maven is a very unique company in the sporting optics world. You can check the price today and see if its the right fit for you. But generally, the sweet spot between magnification and image quality is somewhere in the middle of the power range. A cheerful little spotter that splits the difference between a binocular and a full-sized scope, this optic fits in a coat pocket and would make a great travel companion. Because our test doesnt intentionally punish submissions until they break, the durability question is necessarily unanswered. Specifications. 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. A great all-around spotter, the SIG OSCAR8 has enough optical horsepower for most hunting situations and exterior styling that fits right at home on a rifle range. In fact, those factors increase substantially as you go up in objective sizes. Vortex got mentioned above a lot, and there are good reasons. Check the price here. Leupold GR Vs Vortex Razor HD Vs Athlon Ares? In normal bright conditions, your pupil will usually be open about 2mm. When looking through a scope with ED glass compared to another without it, there is a massive difference. 2 Best Spotting Scopes for Elk Hunting Buying Guide & FAQs. If you want to be counting antler points on mule deer from a few miles away youre going to have to have perfect conditions and a very high end scope, regardless of the zoom power. 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. An immensely capable mid-sized spotter, the CS.1 features decent glass in a rugged and lightweight alloy frame that handles mid-distance spotting chores with style and talent. There are only dangerous men." As expected, the Nikon 5 8x42 is clearer and brighter than the under $200 non-ED glass Vortex Diamondback. If youre a hunter who packs in deep its worth serious consideration, as its lightweight frame makes it easy to carry into the backcountry. It may not display this or other websites correctly. An exception might occur if you are going to be looking through glasses first and then your spotter. This is a list of rifle scopes with at least 24X magnification that cost less than $750. This durable one-piece design keeps dust out of the innards but also prevents users from trading out the variable-power eyepiece for a different zoom range or a fixed-power alternative. The Hawke AirMAx is THE ONLY scope that has survived my Diana 34 springer. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black Customer reviews Customer reviews 4.4 out of 5 174 global ratings Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black by Size: 45 Degree Change How customer reviews and ratings work Top positive review Jack Holcomb Great spotting scope The Argos gives excellent images for a scope in this price range, is large enough to be seriously powerful, and has intuitive, solid controls. It may not have their optical clarity, but it is more than good enough for the vast majority of bird watchers. I'll be honest I wasn't looking forward to reviewing Athlon optics. The best magnification for a spotting scope depends on how you plan to use it. The controls are tight, and we especially liked the two-speed focus and the fingertip sensitivity of the fine-focus knob. Vortex has become a staple in the optics world recently, and for good reason. 30mm main tube. . That means clearer images day and night. You can buy it here. trying to find the right scope (vortex, bushnell, athlon) | Airgun I have both and would buy another Athlon. And while their telescopes are awesome for picking out constellations, their spotting scopes give you some flexibility to use in different situations. Consider the durability of a spotter. Which makes it a perfect option for hunters. This pricey, indulgent, magnum-sized optic is the last spotting scope youll own, and it parses details like no other spotter in this category. It can be had with three different sizes of objective lenses, so you can choose just how big your scope is going to be. Maven has a few great spotting scope options (all of which are customizable if you order through their website). But maybe you want a spotter to mount on a tripod and use from a vantage point. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. There is no such standard in the world of sporting optics, and the term is essentially meaningless. Budget is a very firm $500 or preferably less. Vortex Diamondback Tactical vs Athlon Argos BTR 6-24 Note that the price varies widely on these different models of Razors, with the smallest scope costing half as much as the biggest. The importance of the exit pupil diameter directly relates to how our eyes function. There is a range of designations that manufacturers use, and unfortunately there isnt much standardization. The average user who uses them primarily during the day wont have an issue with almost any scope sold on the market, since the exit pupil will be large enough to work effectively during full light conditions. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - Amazon.com So much so that it won our Great Buy award as the best bargain spotting scope. Maybe, but maybe not. I got ahold of Athlon's entry level ARGOS to compare to their higher . But if you want to make it easy, the winner from all this testing and analysis (as of March 2023) is the. Vortex Razor HD G2 VS. Leupold Mark 5 HD. This lets you choose the size of scope that is perfect for the way youre using it. free shipping & returns. We were able to arrive at a consensus on the optical talents of this spotter. Videos for related products. On the other hand, the image delivered by the UHD glass was bright and free of flares and distortion, and the balance and heft of the chassis are both satisfyingly substantial. The 45-degree angled eyepiece is also a nice touch, as it allows for users to use it in a number of different stances. Check it out on Amazon. And at nearly $4,000, most of us arent willing to subject the Harpia to the indignities and dings of the field. Itll cost you, but man does it make scopes easier to use. I think youade the right choice. These describe the zoom and the objective lens size. Athlon Argos BTR 6-2450 Gen2 APLR2 FFP MOA reticle. 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. Vanguard is a smaller, more specialized company than many on this list, and they deserve your consideration for their quality products. $399.99. Long Island. 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 despite an 80mm lens (many of its peers have 85mm objectives). Whale watching is a very popular activity along the coasts for both tourists and locals. If we have a ding, its the tripod foot, which seems slightly undersized for the frame. Large 85mm Objective Lens. Find Athlon Optics Cronus Gen II 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scopes-311004 with New Product and 20% Off today at Rangefinders.com +1-800-504-5995 Live Chat Contact Us Check Order Status. Expensive Spotting Scope Comparison, Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. But we also assign a Price/Value score to each submission. HobieH3; Mar 26, 2019; 2 3 4. What the CS.1 delivers, though, is rugged performance. -Vortex diamondback tactical 6-24x50 EBR -2C MRAD -Bushnell match pro 6-24x50 DEPLOY MIL -Bushnell nitro 6-24x50 -Bushnel forge 4.5-24x50 DEPLOY MIL -Athlon argos btr 6-24x50 gen2 APMR MIL -Athlon midas tac 6-24x50 APRS3 MIL -Athlon ares btr gen2 4.5-27x50 APRS5 MIL -Athlon helos btr 6-24x50 APMR MIL . Half felt it implied a lack of durability. A 20-60x60mm scope at the lowest 20 power setting has an exit pupil diameter of 6020, or 3mm. Here are the main positives of each: Many scopes, particularly the higher end ones, are sold with the option of getting either straight or angled, so youll get to choose what works best for you. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares. Mil Dot Hunting Rifle Scopes, 50 Loft 6-Iron Golf Clubs . Optically, its a solid performer, but its image is like the rest of the spotter, sort of middling. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should see a set of numbers either in the products title or right away in its specifications that look something like 20-60x60mm. They also have several subsidiaries underneath them, including names you might recognize like Tasco, Browning Sport Optics, and Simmons. With a straight-body spotting scope, youd have to trade places with your buddy in order for them to see the deer. But for hunters who aspire to own the best optics on the planet, this line of Zeiss spotters justifies the significant investment. In short: IGNORE THE TERM HD. 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert's Choice} I haven't had a chance to mount and shoot it yet, but construction feels solid. But most commonly, you will see ED (Extra-low Dispersion) used, and that is what you want. quigley257; Mar 17, 2020; Replies 6 They are going to stop rifle optics but Nikon isnt going anywhere. The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. Its affordable and the glass is super high quality. Hook it up to your camera with Zeisss extensive catalog of accessories and youll be taking pictures you never thought possible. The scope tracks as well if not better than my Vortex Diamondback tactical which cost . I didnt think the turrets, lack of zero-stop, and mediocre glass would bother me. Another great option depending on your uses is a car window mount. SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x60mm Angled. If you have the budget, Celestrons Regal is a huge optical upgrade over the Ultima. Dec 9, 2019 123 56. They just work as advertised. I'm an optics snob and all my rifles sport Vortex Razors, AMG, Nightforce NSX, Swarovski and Zeiss. They offer a wide range of sporting optics, and I use their 85mm spotting scope as my go to when Im not packing in too deep. Skis are easily the most efficient way to cover snowy ground on foot in winter. They tend to give mediocre images at best and quality is low. VORTEX DIAMONDBACK 20-60X80MM SPOTTING SCOPE - Sniper Central 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 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. ! The angled eyepiece and rotating tripod mount increase its versatility, and the controls are relatively tight and precise, especially for the at around $400. 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. Learn more about it here. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares | Rokslide Forum These are big, expensive optics for a fairly narrow segment of the market, and most hunters dont buy a new spotter every year or even more than a couple times in their careers.