Talk me out of a Leupold SX-4 15-45x65

[yakimanoob]

I've been saving up for a Leupold SX-4 15-45x65 spotter, and now it's time for my typical "talk me out of it" process before I drop $$$ on something I'll hopefully pass down to my kids.

I've been using a 13-33x50 Nikon ED Field scope for the past 6 years or so; it was my first spotter. I bought it for cheap from Rokslide and honestly the more I've read about the scope, the less convinced I am that mine isn't broken as it seriously degrades optically at higher magnification and doesn't offer a whole lot more detail than what I can see through my BX-4 Pro Guide 10x42 binos on a tripod.

I've played with a few 20-60 power scopes and am not interested - the 15-45-ish power range is much more relevant to my hunt areas in Eastern/Central WA and occasionally the High Buck hunts in the Cascades.

Anyway, assuming I have up to $800 or so, convince me to go a different direction than the SX4 15-45.

Are there scopes in the ~$500 range that do just as good? Another scope near the same price as the SX-4 that does better?

Should I get higher power binos instead?

 

[MTLabrador]

Not sure what the going rate is for a used one, but I’d look hard for a Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60. The Gold Ring is an outstanding lightweight spotter and a lot nicer scope in my opinion.

 

[crock239]

The issue with your current setup is likely the zoom lens. There's a better nikon zoom lens (20-40 MCII) but honestly those nikon ED spotting scopes really shine when mated with a wide fixed lens. You could get a new scope, or you could get a wide fixed 24x or 30x lens for your current scope body and you'll be blown away w the difference. For less than $800 you could get a wide fixed lens (or two) and a Nikon Fieldscope EDIII 60mm scope body off ebay and have two spotters with interchangeable lenses.

 

[JMG]

Don't do it! There.