Swarovski Spotting Scope sts80hd vs sts65hd

[hntinfool]

I'm trying to decide which Swarovski spotting scope to buy. I hunt muleys and blacktails in pretty open terrain and I would like some input on the Swarovski STS65hd and the Swarovski STS80hd. Has anyone compared these side by side as far as brightness goes? And is the extra size and weight of the 80 worth it for the brightness. Any help and input would be great.

 

[eddiehsf]

Hello

I have the Swarovski ATS65HD and love it. I look at the ATS80HD, but felt it was to lagre and heavy for my needs. It is brighter in low light conditions, but I had no problmes spotting deer this season in the earyl AM or Late PM hours.


Which ever one you pick will do the job. To me the only factor was weight and size.

best glass on the market

eddiehsf

 

[wello]

Is a personal choice based on needs and finances. Have never looked through them myself but in general the larger the main objective the more light gathering ability, resolving power, and limit of magnification. Hence you will have more ability in low light situations to resolve (split) antlers with a larger scope. Limit of magnification on any setup is going to be 60x mag. per inch of aperature so either scope is going to be fine for terrestrial purpose. My experience is with astronomy field mainly and so but I would never have less then an 80mm refractor or a 4.5" reflector. Perhaps with terrestrial hunting it be more important to make sure one your getting is good quality,rugged, and water/fog proof. I have never had opportunity though to need one of that level. I just never had much desire to sit looking through a scope in a rain/wind storm. Sorry but I also don't get the idea of getting a 60mm due to ones binocs sufficing for the chore at hand. It just my

but I suggest an 80mm astro type spotting scope for around $300 by Celestron, Meade, or Orien outfitted with a good variable eyepece in the $100 level if your pocket is going to be broke by the Swarovski and then get or make a foam carry case so it is not broken..

 

[hntinfool]

What type of terrain do you usually hunt? Is the Swarovski 65hd much brighter than other scopes at first and last light?(I have been only able to check out the scope in a store, no real world test)

 

[KANSASBUCKHUNTER]

I have the 80mm Swarovski and love it. I live in KS, where it can be pretty flat and where I am there are no mulies, just whitetails. Thus the big boys don't like to come out of the trees until almost dark. The 80 does a great job in very low light conditions. With the snow on the ground now and a full moon I can count points on deer from 3/8 of a mile hours after the sun is down. Typically we go spotlighting(legal in KS as long as you do not have a weapon in possesion) and I can see great to 1/4 mile with spotlight help. This is when there is no snow, and no moon.