Compact Spotting Scope Review: Swarovski vs. Kowa vs. Vortex

[@kschmo3981]

I soundly declare that you have the best hunting equipment reviews on the internet. Keep up the excellent work

[@MindfulHunter]

@@kschmo3981 I deeply appreciate that! Always trying to improve!

[@raider2503]

I detect no lies!

[@MindfulHunter]

@@raider2503 💪

[@NHBackcountryGuide]

agreed! Unbiased and in-depth. Hunters have seemingly infinite options to spend money on and access to an independent and unbiased source of information is so important.

[@huntnusa659]

This guy is pretty awesome with his reviews of equipment. Approaches it like an engineer. Nice work, bro.

[@MindfulHunter]

💪

[@JosiahB-u4x]

Thanks for the in-depth review, I’m gonna be watching a lot more of your stuff!

[@MindfulHunter]

👍

[@danielxiafei]

great lineup!! This review gonna help a lot of us.

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@fb1273]

Always enjoy your review videos Jay. Thank you!

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@rfcorreiaiv]

Great review, thank you. I live with a vortex budget and this review makes me feel pretty good about it LOL

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@moose_moof]

man, that was a thorough review.. thank you

[@MindfulHunter]

💪

[@vancejohnson1778]

Kick ass review man, awesome to see the results, could definitely see a spot for a mini in the gear locker 👌

[@MindfulHunter]

Thanks bro!

[@hawaiianhunter]

Yes best hunting gear reviews by far, #keephammering brotha 🤙🏽

[@MindfulHunter]

🙏

[@sethheath9568]

Great review.. Very thorough and well put together. I like the different perspectives at the end.

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@wyndy1879]

Thank you! Been waiting for your input before comitting.

[@MindfulHunter]

Let me know what you decide to go with.

[@bryanstave6214]

Awesome thank you!!!

[@NameL3ss71]

ill take the Kowa any day of the week, that FOV is awesome!

[@MindfulHunter]

👍

[@Eric-bh7jy]

I just watched the same review/comparison on huntin fools gear channel 2 hrs ago. 😂 your detail is much better. One thing they had was Olin scope footage to show the image quality. That was pretty cool to see on the review. Thanks as always for the information

[@MindfulHunter]

@@Eric-bh7jy yeah I need to start including that. Appreciate the feedback.

[@davidlopez1112]

As always, another great review!

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@fisherofmenmatt4194]

Excellent review, was surprised to hear your take on the razor haha

[@MindfulHunter]

You and me both 🤣

[@bulletterminalperformance]

Another excellent review!! Thank you for your time on these!

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@LaneTaylor-s1m]

Wonderful review as always.

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@Freezer003]

Great review! one thing, you'll probably start seeing that Vortex on the street for $600, which makes it a LOT more attractive to a lot of people

[@MindfulHunter]

They’re a great deal even at $1k retail.

[@richardmullowney7440]

Another great video review

[@MindfulHunter]

💪

[@dagging3122]

Been waiting for this one for sure, owned the Vortex, had struggles with my glasses so sold it and had my hands on the ATC and think I'm going to go with that one, then the Kowa came out and I haven't been able to get my hands on one to have a gander

[@MindfulHunter]

Swaro will be the best for eye glass wearers for sure

[@dagging3122]

Yeah, I think after watching this and seeing the stats head to head I'll just pull the trigger on the Swaro. The orange is pretty nice cause its burnt orange vs what the el range ta come in so that'll be the pick. Thanks for the great info Jay

[@bryanstave6214]

Outstanding review!!!

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@aaronwilcox6417]

Appreciate this review. Im interested in the Swaro scope. Ive used my old Nikon 50mm ED spotter for years and prefer this size class of spotter over my Swaro 65 and 85 models because its just so much easier to use and carry afield. I just might have to get the little Swaro and run it against my little Nikon.

[@MindfulHunter]

👍

[@scottparks95]

All of the Vortex Razor spotters,to include the 13-39 in this video, is made and assembled in Japan and USA respectively.

[@MindfulHunter]

Can you share where that is published? Based on my research Razor spotting scopes were made in Japan pre-2018 at that point they moved to china. After 2023 they also started manufacturing in the Philippines. The last couple years they won’t publish specific manufacturing origin data for their products. If you have access to other information I’d be grateful for it.

[@scottparks95]

@@MindfulHunter The razor spotter does say assembled in USA on it. A little history, 2010-2015ish the spotters were made in Japan. Then moved to china until 2017ish. Then(2017ish) gen2 razor spotter(the current spotters) have always been Japan/USA. The 13-39 came out later around 2022. Another note they have never made any spotters in Phillipines

[@scottparks95]

The one exception is the previous 11-33x50 model mini razor spotter. It has always been made in China.

[@adamvisser9815]

VORTEX wow I'm surprised hahahah. Awesome review man.

[@MindfulHunter]

Really testing the limits of how unbiased I can be lol

[@adamvisser9815]

Good on you. I really like that about your reviews.

[@clcmarc]

Great work with the review, full disclosure, Kowa owner. The only missing element for me was … how does each work with a Phone Scope system? I have a Leupold and love the scope but when you adjust the power, the phone attachment moves too. It appears that the Vortex might as well. And that makes it virtually worthless if you want to video a shot thru the scope and need to adjust the power. I could not tell with the Swaro but my Kowa works perfectly with my phone.

[@MindfulHunter]

Good point. You can use a digiscope with all three no problem. The magnification wheel moves independent of the eye piece.

[@chrisbozman9980]

Thanks for confirming my purchase! Heck of a little scope.

[@MindfulHunter]

💯

[@Isaiah_50_7]

Great review. I would just add a couple things, but I totally get it's your review. With such a detailed scoring metric you're comparing, I'd say to be more accurate don't create ties in scoring when one of the products is edging the other product out, even if it is a small detail. For example, eye relief is measured in millimeters, edge to edge is measured by either a persons perceived sharpness or by viewing a chart, but either way a winner is declared by the slightest of margins. So to my point on certain categories, an ounce or two lighter is a winner in this modern market, not a tie. 5 or 6 feet greater FOV at a 1000y is relatively small, but how many feet does the FOV equal if you're viewing something at 3 miles? It compounds. Anyway that's my 2 cents. 🤙

[@MindfulHunter]

👍

[@jamesmooney5348]

Thanks!

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@b9133]

After watching your content multiple times, I still can’t decide between a Kowa 66 or Swaro STC. I don’t own a spotting scope and only want to buy one within that compact/65/66 size range. I have the NL Pures in 12x, so I’m looking for that one do all spotter to go along with it. I’m leaning towards the Kowa 66, but would like to know your thoughts.

[@MindfulHunter]

I’d go with the kowa if it’s your only spotter. More versatile.

[@marvol699]

hello, would you recomend the atc also for birding? (because vg eyebox-forgiveness...) or definately the kowa...? Have a nice christmas!

[@MindfulHunter]

That’s a great question. If backpacking is not an issue I may give the edge to kowa. Slightly better glass and a better focusing system.

[@marvol699]

@@MindfulHunter Thanks, I think about it and try to compare them side by side. Have a nice Christmas Eve!

[@NHBackcountryGuide]

One interesting tidbit about the mini spotters - as if the spotters themselves weren't interesting enough - are the companies making "Big Eyes" kits for them. Essentially a kit that mounts two spotters side-by-side to function as binoculars. For the desert mule deer hunter where good glass reigns supreme, this seems like a viable option.

[@MindfulHunter]

That’s a great point.

[@phild9813]

Any idea how these compare to the mini Maven 12-27x56 or Leupold 15-30x50? I have both but am looking at some of the newer higher power conpacts.

[@MindfulHunter]

I have not used those but with what I know about those product lines these would be superior.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

I was one of the guys asking for this... Kinda as expected 😅 Frankly, having all the optics is far too expensive for me. Even if you have the cash that's still a lot of money. I almost always buy top of the line. Question is just what you really want to spend on? 10x, 12x or 15x binos, compact spotter of 65mm asl? Or larger? What hunts are you going on and how often? I think another consideration is just materialism per se. Chasing the best newest whatever is a loosing game anyways, you'll never have everything you want, but you might just get a what you need. Idk! Thanks anyways.

[@MindfulHunter]

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[@swj2556]

Have you done a mid-size Vortex vs. Kowa vs. Swaro review???

[@MindfulHunter]

@@swj2556 I’ve done 65 and 85 comparison reviews that both had vortex kowa and swaro in there. I did not have the 65mm vortex at the time but owned it previously and can comment that I did not like it.

[@nicholascoventry5031]

Got my kowa for 1,600 new..... and with that kowa is the new winner lol

[@MindfulHunter]

🤣 fair point!

[@nicholascoventry5031]

​@MindfulHunter love the pod and the comparisons!!! U and the hunt back country guys are the only ones I trust on gear! I'm worried ur poor experience with the Wyoming hunt will dissuade people from finding hunting partners digitally.

[@MindfulHunter]

@ I hope that’s not the case. Just do your due dilligence and maybe don’t go on hunts where you’re 100% reliant on the other person for your first trip together

[@13hawks32claws]

Your reviews are elevated by your ability to give clear unbiased information at all price points. 💪🏻

[@MindfulHunter]

@ thanks brother!

[@Joel_Unbound]

While not quite as light why not the Maven 15-45 CS1? Seems like solid optic and lower price than those you mentioned. Is it Swaro or Kowa? Of course not but many cant afford those costs.

[@MindfulHunter]

Already reviewed the spotter on my 65mm comparison. It was very underwhelming and it would be apples to oranges against these anyways.

[@Joel_Unbound]

@@MindfulHunter Thanks I will find that review! Keep it up!

[@nickdondey678]

I owned the Maven CS1 for a few years. I compared it to the Razor and it’s not even a close comparison, the Razor is significantly better

[@iancurrie8844]

You can still find Vortex’s outgoing 50mm baby razor for sale. They have a reputation for having a higher resolution than the new one, better acutance, and a FAR superior focusing system, just the the Kowa one you enjoy. Vortex claims that their new design has superior optics (of course) but that doesn’t seem to line up with independent testing. Like it or lump it, Chinese manufacturers have been investing heavily in the worlds best automated optics manufacturing equipment and they’re getting A LOT of practice using it. You can get just about any level of quality out of that country you’re willing to pay for and spec out. The new baby razor which is assembled in the US from foreign parts (ahem) doesn’t seem to be put together as well as the older ones made in China. Go figure.

[@iancurrie8844]

Hello friend, I’m from Alberta too. I believe you may be mistaken with regards to ED glass and fluoride. ED is not entry level class, in fact it’s usually shorthand for an optical system that contains fluorite elements. Of course there’s no such thing as a lens, which only contains some fluorite. When they say that they mean That some of the lenses are made of fluorite and some are not. Of course, this is completely natural. You could not have an optical system with only fluoride lenses. It would not work. They cannot be exposed to air on the outside of the optic. They are far too brittle and sensitive to temperature.When an optic maker says that they use an ED glass ED prime or anything of that nature, it actually means that the optical design includes fluorite elements. Of course actual entry-level glass is described as non-ED. I’m using speech to text so sorry that it keeps writing fluoride incorrectly.

[@MindfulHunter]

Well that’s interesting because if you go on Mavens comparison chart they list their entry level products as having “ED Glass” and only their premium B5 line as containing fluorite in the glass. Now they also list their lens construction of their objective as being ED. There are many manufacturers that use extra low dispersion glass that does not contain fluorite. Vortex is another example. I can’t find a single vortex product that contains fluorite in its glass.

[@iancurrie8844]

@ …they just don’t specify the type of lens. You can have a triple/ quadruple etc lens group which makes up the objective lens group and it can have aspherical elements, or not. It can have fluorite or not. But if it’s advertised as an ED objective (they mean the objective group) then at least one of those elements in the group will be made of fluorite. Again, there is no such thing as a lens element which is partially fluorite. That doesn’t make any sense. But, a lens element in a lens group will be made of fluorite. So, you could say that the objective lens (group) is partially fluorite but that’s just being pedantic. Please note that calcium fluoride coatings are not the same thing and do not do the same job. Just because a manufacturer doesn’t give clear specifications and instead leans on marketing terms is not evidence that they don’t use a certain type of lens. It just means they don’t talk about it. They make optics with AK prisms at tremendous expense. You don’t think they have fluorite elements? Please. All those Japanese designs use fluorite. They might be assembled in the US but with optics from LOW in Japan. Trust me on that.

[@iancurrie8844]

@@MindfulHunter I should ad: I’m glad mavens lower end products start with ED glass. That doesn’t make it entry level, though, it just means that maven starts above entry level in their designs. There are MANY manufacturers who don’t use ANY ed glass in their lower end designs including Leupold, Bushnell, Vortex.

[@1koadog]

where's the Maven?

[@MindfulHunter]

Maven doesn’t really have an offering in this class. I do have a review of the S.3A coming up though.

[@DavidS-x9y]

Vortex over a Swarovski!

[@MindfulHunter]

@@DavidS-x9y 🤔

[@meraremi5604]

Neuer ewer

[@meraremi5604]

Neuer ewer

[@tyb3938]

Comparing a vortex and swaro is like comparing a s-class and a kia. Vortex warranty, who cares as the glass sucks. I compared their best binoculars to our NL Pure and Leica in the mountains and the vortex is garbage, straight back to Cabelas went the vortex.

[@MindfulHunter]

🫡

[@FurdTerguson86]

Until I can afford nicer optics I wont look through anything but my Vortex stuff. Ignorance is bliss.

[@MindfulHunter]

Great plan!