I’ve been wanting for a long time to upgrade my spotting scope and had been watching EBAY for a good deal on a new or used Vortex Razor 20-60. I had seen a lot of guys using them at the PNTC matches and I was sure this would be the model I chose.
Then while at AGC a few months ago I saw a guy using a Burris Signature HD. He was cool enough to let me check it out. For the most part it seemed to be about the same size and quality as the Vortex, but he had a ranging reticle and an adaptor for a red dot mounted on the side. I started looking into them and found a company called Optics Agent online listing them at $1248. I did some research and that price seemed to be about $150 cheaper than anything else I could find and on par with the phased put Gen 1 Razor. I hadn’t heard about the company so I setup a temporary credit trough my bank and took a chance.
My order was processed before thanksgiving. I got notified that it was in processing right away then waited and waited for weeks. I tried calling and emailing but couldn’t get a person on the line. Just about when I was ready to call the bank and reverse the charge I finally got an email that it shipped on 12/18. It arrived right before Christmas.
Other than take it out of the box for inspection and attach the fast fire, I didn’t have any real chance to check it out during daylight until today.
So let me say that I am not an experienced optical expert. I’ve scored matches with someone else’s Vortex Razor, Bushnell Elite, Leupold Mark 4 , and $2500 Swarovski Binocular. And I’ve used my own Konos 20-60 which cost $329.
So on Sunday I put it out on the deck to do some wild life observation. It was a pretty crappy day and I couldn’t see much but I was pretty happy with the results. The clarity at 60x is good and I couldn’t detect any chromatic aberration. I was able to read 1/8” text at 144ft and resolve <1” features at 400yds.
I decided to 3D print an adaptor for my phone so that I could capture some pictures. From what I can tell when I zoom the image on the camera the image on the screen appears to match closely the normal perception and viewing angle from my eye.
Here is a shot of a transmission tower 452 Yds away 60x on the scope and no zoom on the camera.
60x Scope and Full Zoom on camera
Here is a shot of a broadcast tower (WPOC I think) about 4006yds (~2.25mi) away. No zoom on camera and 20x on scope.
Full zoom on camera and 60x on scope
. There is a steady 5-8mph breeze with gusts 15-20 so there was quite a bit of vibration happening at the scope and probably the tower in the distance as well. I will need to test this again on a calm day, as I think the image would have better resolution.
(Note for scale standard access ladders should have the rungs at exactly 12”) So I’m pretty sure using this at a 1200yd steel plate match should be more than suffices to see impacts as well as observe dust clouds from misses.
Then while at AGC a few months ago I saw a guy using a Burris Signature HD. He was cool enough to let me check it out. For the most part it seemed to be about the same size and quality as the Vortex, but he had a ranging reticle and an adaptor for a red dot mounted on the side. I started looking into them and found a company called Optics Agent online listing them at $1248. I did some research and that price seemed to be about $150 cheaper than anything else I could find and on par with the phased put Gen 1 Razor. I hadn’t heard about the company so I setup a temporary credit trough my bank and took a chance.
My order was processed before thanksgiving. I got notified that it was in processing right away then waited and waited for weeks. I tried calling and emailing but couldn’t get a person on the line. Just about when I was ready to call the bank and reverse the charge I finally got an email that it shipped on 12/18. It arrived right before Christmas.
Other than take it out of the box for inspection and attach the fast fire, I didn’t have any real chance to check it out during daylight until today.
So let me say that I am not an experienced optical expert. I’ve scored matches with someone else’s Vortex Razor, Bushnell Elite, Leupold Mark 4 , and $2500 Swarovski Binocular. And I’ve used my own Konos 20-60 which cost $329.
So on Sunday I put it out on the deck to do some wild life observation. It was a pretty crappy day and I couldn’t see much but I was pretty happy with the results. The clarity at 60x is good and I couldn’t detect any chromatic aberration. I was able to read 1/8” text at 144ft and resolve <1” features at 400yds.
I decided to 3D print an adaptor for my phone so that I could capture some pictures. From what I can tell when I zoom the image on the camera the image on the screen appears to match closely the normal perception and viewing angle from my eye.
Here is a shot of a transmission tower 452 Yds away 60x on the scope and no zoom on the camera.
60x Scope and Full Zoom on camera
Here is a shot of a broadcast tower (WPOC I think) about 4006yds (~2.25mi) away. No zoom on camera and 20x on scope.
Full zoom on camera and 60x on scope
(Note for scale standard access ladders should have the rungs at exactly 12”) So I’m pretty sure using this at a 1200yd steel plate match should be more than suffices to see impacts as well as observe dust clouds from misses.