Angled Eyepiece Spotting Scope or Strait Eyepeice

[muleystalker]

Which do you guys prefer and why? I have never owned or had a chance to really use an angled spotter. I have had a lot of time behind strait eye pieced spotters. I am looking for a new scope and wanted some opinions. I would think with the angled my neck would get sore after a day of glassing game with the angled, enlighten me please.

 

[Gene]

Which do you guys prefer and why? I have never owned or had a chance to really use an angled spotter. I have had a lot of time behind strait eye pieced spotters. I am looking for a new scope and wanted some opinions. I would think with the angled my neck would get sore after a day of glassing game with the angled, enlighten me please.

I have had both and prefer the straight. With the straight configuration, you can get on your quarry quicker by eyeballing right over the top. With an angled spotter, you will keep moving it around to find that trophy. Only time an angled is better is if you are spotting while shooting prone.

 

[Greyfox]

I prefer straight for hunting. Faster game acquisition and easier to access from a prone position.

 

[FEENIX]

Which do you guys prefer and why? I have never owned or had a chance to really use an angled spotter. I have had a lot of time behind strait eye pieced spotters. I am looking for a new scope and wanted some opinions. I would think with the angled my neck would get sore after a day of glassing game with the angled, enlighten me please.

Although I don't use mine often, I have an angled spotting scope. If possible, it is best to try them both for your particular application and spotting position, it really boils down to personal preference. Most my spotting scenarios I am sitting down and looking up a mountain and prone for across the canyon or when getting ready to shoot.

[ame]https://youtu.be/Gi73uURvCLE?t=180[/ame]

[ame]https://youtu.be/P0CsS2IlRxo?t=14[/ame]

lightbulbNOTE: I have no affiliation with Vortex nor stirring you towards their product other than the message content in the videos for what it is worth.lightbulb

BTW, here's an older poll >>> http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f44/spotting-scope-angled-straight-66350/

Cheers!

 

[ZSteinle]

I prefer angled. Right away with the angled scope it took some time to get on an object that you want to look at but with anything you learn and now I can get on anything nearly instantaneously. I also like that I can have it sitting lower on a tripod which in turn makes it more stable. I also find angled works well if other people are also going to be looking through the scope at the same spot, you don't need to adjust the height of the spotter for different height people. just my 2 cents.

 

[muleystalker]

All these points are points I have thought of for reasons for both. Lol. Kep it coming. I'm going to a long range varmint silhouette shoot I. A couple weeks, I will try and get some time behind an angled scope. The fact about the angled being lower center of gravity and thus more stable was one that keeps me interested in the angled.

 

[Jaxdialation]

I can tell you that the transition from/to naked eye and spotter is much more intuitive with a straight scope. Also adjustable angle scopes insert an adjustment/movement in the optical train. The best optics generally result from completely rigid optical path.

There is a reason astronomical refractors are all straight and rigid. There's a reason that straight through optics are used for finder scopes on virtually all astronomical telescopes. There is a reason you never see angled camera lenses.

Yes, I have to agree an angled scope is handier at the range. But generally they are "pointed" and never moved from a target. Hunting applications are more dynamic.

 

[muleystalker]

That's why I have always had strait scopes. I'm just getting ready to buy a new one and am thinking in the back of my head am I missing something. I could see if maybe you wear a guide on a traile in a park or a bird watcher where all your looking was standing and a lot of people were looking through your scope. Or at the range where it was going to be stationary all the time. But glassing for game your always making adjustments and moving. But hey, I like all different points of view, I don't mind looking at all the angles when buying big dollar items. Keep it coming.

 

[Pdvdh]

Straight for hunting. Even with the straight I at times fumble getting the game into the field of view. But with the straight at least I can aim down the top of the tube and get close. There are scenarios where time is critical, and fidgeting with the spotting scope is most frustrating at those moments.

 

[Sully2]

Straight scope for me...

 

[FEENIX]

I can tell you that the transition from/to naked eye and spotter is much more intuitive with a straight scope. Also adjustable angle scopes insert an adjustment/movement in the optical train. The best optics generally result from completely rigid optical path.

There is a reason astronomical refractors are all straight and rigid. There's a reason that straight through optics are used for finder scopes on virtually all astronomical telescopes. There is a reason you never see angled camera lenses.

Yes, I have to agree an angled scope is handier at the range. But generally they are "pointed" and never moved from a target. Hunting applications are more dynamic.

No expert but I believe that too is a matter of personal preference (at least not the Kitt Peak Observatory type ). My friend a retired astronomer/instructor use one of these ...

Vixen Optics BT126SS-A Binocular Telescope with Alt-Az 38068 B&H

If I win the lotto, I sure would like to own one.

 

[Dosh]

The angled make my neck sore, the straight don't. Most of my hunts are relatively flat with only a hundred ft. difference. If I was mostly looking sharply uphill the angled would have an advantage, steep downhill may also be a problem with an angled.

 

[Jaxdialation]

Your friend's binoculars are for looking at the sky. I'd almost suggest that you call your friend and ask why the eyepieces are angled/moveable and get back to us. But I'm afraid that set of binoculars only shows your friend is low on cash, and does not do serious observing. Vixen in particular is extremely poor quality -- think Burris (or less). You know that 90% of the people at Kitt never look at the sky through a visual instrument don't you? Have a look here and tell me how many visual instruments you see listed: Current Telescopes/Instruments | ast.noao.edu.

You are free to use a periscope for finding game if you would like But I am much more comfortable with an instrument that sees the way I see -- straight ahead. It so happens the straight scope is also optically superior and that's based upon science, not preference

No expert but I believe that too is a matter of personal preference (at least not the Kitt Peak Observatory type ). My friend a retired astronomer/instructor use one of these ...

Vixen Optics BT126SS-A Binocular Telescope with Alt-Az 38068 B&H

If I win the lotto, I sure would like to own one.

 

[Broz]

Had a straight, then bought a Swaro angled, then a Nightforce straight. I could not wait to sell the straight NF and quickly replace it with the NF angled again. I sit on side hills and spot. I prefer the short more stable tripod for this positioned below me with the angle up, or beside me with the angle over to me. same goes if I am spotting while prone, angled much better for me. If using a window mount on my truck, the angled is much better there. I have the option to rotate the head to look forward of the truck or behind the truck without leaving the driver seat. With the straight I always had to scoot up against the steering wheel. Hated it. Another thing about the window mount is the angled scope will be lower with only about 2" of window up. With the straight you need the window up higher and it is not nearly as stable, especially if it is windy.

Angled all the way for me please.

Jeff