Compare & Contrast, Please

Folically Challenged · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 31 Location: SW Ohio

I'm looking for a scope to check targets at a max of 200 yards. FWIW, I'm an eyeglass wearer.

What would be the pros/cons of the models below? I figure that any of these would be up to the 200 yard requirement, and they all seem to be in roughly the same price arena.

Vortex Sandpiper 15-45x65mm
Vortex Nomad 20-60x60mm
Bushnell Elite 15-45x60
Nikon Prostaff Waterproof 16-48x65
Bushnell Legend 20-60x80

Might I just as well flip a coin? Are there any other models that I ought to be considering?

I do go hunting in BC, so if the scope happened to be light enough, I'd carry it up the mountains, too. (Hence, my looking at mainly at 60-65 mm objectives.)

I threw-in the Legend because I remember seeing you post (a few pages back) about how that one might show better resolution than the Elite. Is that just 80mm vs. 60 mm, or is there something else going on. At its price, the Elite seems to be an awfully good bargain.

As always, I'm just trying to find the best bang for the buck.

Many Thanks,

FC

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5517

Hi

The Elite is a specialty scvope designed with portability in mind, but I would not compare it, optically, to a typical porro prism spotting scope at the same price. Eye relief is also an issue - not a good choice for an eyeglass wearer OR for work at the shooting bench.

Any of the others, however, will do the job. I like the Legend for its generous eye relief and the Nikon for its optional eyepieces, but you really can't go wrong with any of these. As for magnification, 45x will typically be enough, but it doesn't hurt to have 60x available, now and then.
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