Are there any archers here (spotting scope advice)

dadoguest · Guest

I'll try to make this short. I'm an archer and looking for my 1st spotting scope. I have read a bit about them in FAQ and reviews, but I'm not sure what exactly should I end up with. So, here's a situation for an archer and hopefully you guys could give me some pointers:

Imagine you're looking at a target that is 100 yards (90meters) away, and there is a bunch of arrows sticking in it. Lets say I have arrow nocks in orange color while the oponent has red nocks. Arrow nocks are small "clippy-like" tube parts of an arrow that are no more than half inch in length and like up to 1/4'' in diameter.
I remember on one tournament, a guy had this really old spotting scope and we were having hard time discerning red from orange nocks on our arrows, and what's worse it wasn't 100yds, but a 80yd shoot.

Now, having said this. I figured I should be looking into some medium priced scope such as Vortex Skyline, Bushnell Elite, and maybe celestron Ultima. I learned that eyepiece is probably the most important thing here, while stuff like eye relief and different sizes (60, 80 100mm) bring up the ante. Also, is the ED also the way to go in these situations?

I'd very much appreciate your input here. Thanks

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5171

Hi

Yes, ED is the way to go, if it is in your budget and if you are talking an otherwise good scope. ED (extra low dispersion glass) objectives, first and foremost) correct for color fringing (chromaticc abberation) around objects that occurs in standard objectives. This, of course, gives you the truest color rendition, but it also improves resolution in that it eliminates the resolution robbing firnge of color.

Now, whether this will do the trick is a matter of getting a scope out there and testing. I would say any ED model from the Elite and Skyline on up, from 60mm on up would be a good candidate, but the more you pay, the better the resolution, so buy the best you can afford.

Just a suggestion - you might try changing your nock color to something a bit easier to distinguish. Pretty hard to tell red from orange at any great distance. Our eyes are much more sensitive to blues and greens.
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Guest · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:38 am Post subject:

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5171

Hi

I understand about the nocks - not something you can control.

Of these, stay with the Elite or the Skyline. Both have decent eyepieces. The Celestron ED uses tjhe same low end eyepieces used on the $135 Ultima models.
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dadoguest · Guest

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5171

Hi

You are welcome.

Those are my two favorites in that price range. Either is a good choice.
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dadoguest · Guest

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5171

Hi

Great. Glad to help.
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