What is the best spotting scope under $600
Well, I started with a vortex diamondback spotting scope…. Looked good in the store, but when I got it in the field it really wasn’t that good, so I return it and started a new search. If you search eBay or Facebook marketplace or another good source is B and H photo video used dept. open box specials. Pentax PF-80ED, when I looked around for my 2nd scope, this one kept popping up on the long range shooting forums, as right up there with the big 3 European brands and they were correct. I bought one holy cow was it night and day difference. I know own a Swarovski now, but did do a side by side comparison on a hot summer day with 3 friends looking at antelope 1/2 mile away. None of us could see a difference in clarity, only thing that made the Swarovski better was that it was more compact and user friendly, but glass wise it was very on par.
Athlon Argos would be my pick but I’m sure I haven’t tried all the competitors in that space.
I have the Athlon Argos HD 20-60x85 and I would say its fine, not something I would want to pack in and out of a backcountry hunt. It’s fine for the range or when glassing a day hunt. Glass is OK when only considering the glass. Its also about $250 so, when considering that, the glass is pretty good.
Thanks for the recommendations guys I ended up going with the leupold sx-2 gen 2 because I was able to get it for the gen1 sale price it seems like a good scope for the price I paid the only one sportsman’s had available for me to try that was better was the vortex razor.