The lack of spotting scope videos online is wild, and the prices for "good" spotting scopes are absolutely outrageous. This video was extremely well done, and i just purchased one based on this video. Sorry i didnt use your links, i got it somewhere else, but i have liked, shared and subscribed! Thank you for your effort.
Thanks for the Sub in any case. I've started reviewing higher end spotters but this is still my go-to scope because it's sharper than most of other scopes I have on the shelf.
Thanks. I got kind of tired of watching video reviews with the guy just telling you how sharp something was when they looked through it. I wanted to showing you on a sample target that was repeatable and comparable. Hope you subsribed.
@@MoondogReviews Yup, liked subscribed and used your affiliate link when I bought one. My own resolution test gave results only 2% different than yours.
@@MoondogReviews I printed out what looks to be the same target at the same scale as you used as a reference, and then adjusted for the difference in distance and scale of the target I used to compare microradian to microradian. I might have a little error in converting between targets, but either way the results were surprisingly close.
A really good review!...thank you! It's perfect for the shooting range! And it's within my budget! I used your link. And I like your other videos also. 😊
Thanks. Let us know in the comments in a couple of months how well it holds up to deer hunting. Long-term, real-world durability is something I couldn't test before editing this video.
It is sharper than my buddy's Leupold Mark 4 spotting scope. You can also compare to a Leupold Mark 5 rifle scope which presumably has better glass than the M4 though a smaller objective. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1MqQHh2dZ-c.html
Just purchased one but haven't received it yet. I think I'll be satisfied with it. Impulse buy with less research than I normally do. Glass looked great outside which is where I shoot. Thanks.
I haven't found any spotters with reticles for under 1000. A "budget" option would be to buy a 15-30x scope and mount that on a tripod as a spotter? amzn.to/3Jz5WMO
I just sub'd and purchased at Amazon using your affiliate link. Thank you for your excellent review and great methodology for comparison. I will definitely be checking out your other work.
I have been browning my dads spotting scope he has a Leica awesome spotting scope but no where near my budget definitely going to be having a look at this
Great review, I wonder how the ED glass versions of the SVBony 46P and 406P and Gosky ED does on your resolution chart. They range from $243 - $390. I've seen an Athlon Argos spotter review on RU-vid that had terrible image resolution and it's a step up in level and price compared to this Talos.
You can check it out yourself. Subscribe to my gadget channel Moondog R&D where I've moved all of my spotting scope and telescope content: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o7D3fjDXgxs.html
@@MoondogReviews I sure will. I really appreciate your reviews and that you used the same testing on each so we could see the difference ourselves and make a more unformed decision. I was torn between the Gosky Updated 20-60x80, Emarth 20-60x60AE and the SVBONY SV28...hopefully the Athlon performs as well as I expect.
Glad it was helpful! This still remains one of the best performing low budget scopes I've tested and still currently use when I go to the range. I have sharper scopes but this one is both sharp, powerful and light weight.
Not a bad scope and great review!! I think this is a better scope than the SV46 20-60x80 Spotting Scope you did a review on and it's a lot less..... What do you think?? I wonder if you have ever done a review on Simmons 20-60X60 Venture Black Fmcwptripodhard/Soft Case which another scope in the same ball park?? Thanks for sharing
Great review, I am wondering though why a removable eyepiece. I am hoping maybe that it is to replace with a ranging reticle eyepiece down the line sometime. Yeah, I bought a Talos spotting scope, before I seen this video actually. This is only my second spotting scope, first one was a Leupold Seqouia from a pawn shop. I shouldn't have to tell you how that comparison test went. Now I know what it feels like to own a legit spotting scope. I know your question, (Did, Athlon just throw their name on a junk scope to make a few extra bucks). was rhetorical, but No! they did not. Thanks.
I haven't seen Athlon roll out a reticle eyepiece for this so I suspect maybe it's just just a standard manufacturing spec and that you can theoretically buy a 3rd party eyepiece?
Check the range target footage and compare vs. my other scope reviews. Those target frames are in an hooded target bay and provide a more consistent venue for comparing relative glass performance using the resolution chart. Light gathering and passthrough is honestly subjective using a human eye or a camera because we automatically adjust our iris.
Great review...seems like a great first scope and a true bargain. The one thing you didn't talk about was the chromatic aberration which really showed up on the shot with the pine cones and brances. What is your verdict about how it handles that problem? Is there a way to eliminate that in post production?
Chromatic aberration seems to to show up a lot when I turn a scope toward the pine tree across the street because of the position of the sun when I test in the morning. It's partially backlit or directly overhead. This has been the case with many of the scopes I've tested. See my Channel Library and compare it to the more expensive Athlon Argos.
great video, i am looking to spot the neighbors selling houses about 100yards away, also the nosey neighbor with her blinds open when i go outside, the turn tables will soon turn hehehehe.
This is what I use now. So much beter than the one I used to film the Talos ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DnoUDkI5XNE.html Hope you subscribed.
I hope a $500 ceiling is possible. The rifle scopes I use are $800+. I saw some of the spotting scopes have the reticle that can be purchased separately. Perhaps a spotting scope with that feature.
The Athlon has an Ares reticle eyepiece which is about $200. But that eyepiece is not compatible with the Talos. If $500 is your ceiling, you could get a Midas G2 Pro 12x binocular with a MRAD reticle. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yMWmNKHCYhE.html
Me too; sharper and less chromatic aberration. But the Argos just feels tougher. So if you're trecking back country, the Argos is probably gong to survive more trips.
Depends on your budget. If you have $1.5K-$3K, yes there are better scopes by Kowa and Zeiss. But you won't find a sharper scope at the same price as the Talos.
@@Thetankguy308 Yes, I recommend the Talos. As I said, I have not found a sharper scope at the same price as the Talos. The Leupold Alpine is about as sharp but costs more than twice.
im between a really cheap scope like the glasshawk creative xp HD 20x60x60 (usd60), then like a middle budget one: the glasshawk creative xp HD 20x60x80 (usd90, i suposse it has better clarity) or at the top of my budget this Athlon Talos 20x60x80 (usd120), do you think its worth buying the athlon ? im open to other brands also... Thanks. I will be using this as a shooting scope, 150-200m max.
I haven't tried a Glasshawk so can't say for sure. It is likely about the quality of an SVBony SV28 50mm or 70mm which I reviewed which is good for a scope under USD80. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KvnfV_iReUo.html But the Talos blew both of them away in terms of clarity. For 150-200m ranging, I'd go with the Athlon Talos.
@@yannicksaint-priest4358 You can see for yourself by comparing the same target test footage in both the Talos and SV28 (not SV24) review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qLkwv3G8YsY.html Subscribe to my channel and you'll have an easier time finding my other spotting scope reviews.
since the eye piece is removable, are you able to replace it with other ones that may provide some sort of advantage depending on what situation youre in?
@@Moondog2A from what ive been seeing it seems like the more expensive units offer this feature. i just figured maybe it was to add some type of benefit to the user.
Perfect for sighting in a hunting rifle at 200yrds. But I suspect it's not armored enough to take on a back-country hunt. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel.
I RAN out & got this Athlon after using a couple of older Simmons, Tasco & a Harbor freight one some guys let me try @ the range. This Talos is like said in video, over & above those others. Yes, you will get Chromatic Aberrations on the edges or Out of focus things like video showed in the 50 yd pine cone trees. BUT, if you wanna get rid of that be prepared to layout some serious cash! I used this scope out @ the range after I got it & YES it is ALL that +. @-400 yds are NOT a problem @ 60x. NOT for this price. You can find em for $100 - $110 if you look. My range buddy after using mine went out & got 1 as well. Can't beat em!
Agreed. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE and thanks for chiming in to backup my thoughts, it's so much better to get other folks opinions on the gear I'm testing.
Haha, I suppose if you could get the angle of the eyepieces right But two 80mm spotting scopes aren't designed to be in the correct distance for two eyes side by side.
It is funny it looks exactly like the generic cheap brands selling for $50 on Amazon and eBay. It all probably came from the same factory assembly line in China just slap on different brand names. I have one just like this I got for $20 on eBay
Outside they all start to look the same. But when you look through the glass the difference is measurable. Check out my other reviews on the SVBony and GoSky and compare the resolution measurements I got using the same chart and the same distance and you'll see what I mean. But if your $20 scope works for what you need then you got a good deal!
@@MoondogReviews Hello, have not tried it for astronomy as I do not own this model. Enjoyed your website as I recognize many locations. I used to go to Coyote when it was CF, Bob Chows in the 70's....Cheers!
