Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black

I bought this new scope based on the scarce reviews and hoping I would not have to return it for a scope costing 2 to 3 times as much. HD glass here, not ED glass. I am happy with the purchase. Nice features and a sharp image. The big focus ring like the ones on Swarovski scopes and the twist up eyepiece are nice. So is having a big 2 1/4 inch eyepiece. Polycarbonate housing is light weight, but seems sturdy enough for moderate use. Many of my photo lenses have poly bodies, too, with no issues. Very clear image in bright light. Low light is where you pay big money to excel. I wish scope manufacturers rated their scopes by how much light they let thru like photo lens makers do. Standardized f-Stop ratings would make buying decisions a lot easier. And make junk scopes harder to sell.Most telephoto lenses let in less light as you zoom, unless you spend LOTS of money. This scope is no exception. In full daylight it matters little. 2 1/2 inch letters on parking signs can be easily read 1/2 mile away if they are in direct sunlight. A license plate in the shade at the same distance is almost possible, but not quite. Jupiters' moons are clearly visible, while with my astigmatism, Jupiter's stripes are difficult to see and barely visible. A neutral density filter may help. ED glass and more expensive coatings might help too,, but those are expensive upgrades. At dusk, colors lose their intensity above 40x zoom. That being said, at dusk trophy bull elk can be told apart from average bulls a mile away in a field visible from my home, even with the bull standing a few feet into the trees. Depth of field is very narrow when zoomed at 60x. A very light touch is required on the focusing ring at 60x. If you are not patient while focusing, I can see why so many reviews claim mid priced scopes are blurry at max magnification. Part of that is a manufacturing price compromise, part may be a little operator error. A Neoprene "view thru" case is not listed but one is included. All in all, a decent "mid priced" scope for those wanting to avoid cheap junk but unable to spend big bucks on premium glass. More than adequate for an average shooter's needs like mine. Specialty needs will require spending specialty prices. I would recommend this to a friend to use as the point of diminishing returns to decide whether to spending a lot more money is worth the expense.

I recently received my Argos HD 20-60x85, and man, it's a game-changer! This thing blew me away, and I couldn't be happier with it.First off, it's built tough. Feels solid and well-made, yet it's surprisingly light and easy to carry around. Plus, the included case and tripod is super handy.In terms of value for money, this spotting scope is a winner. The performance and build quality you get for the price are unbeatable. Athlon Optics has really hit the mark with the Argos HD.As far as optics go, this thing blows my telescope out of the water. The 20-60x85 setup lets you get up close and personal with whatever you're looking at. I pointed it at a tower that’s just under 1,700 yards and the details were crisp and clear. The colors pop, and it stays bright even when it's not-so-sunny outside. These pictures were taken just before sunset.Note: The eye relief is pretty tight and I couldn't get my lens close enough to the eyepiece, so the picture of the tower is not a true representation of the real life picture, just wanted to show the clarity and magnification.Focusing is a piece of cake, and that adjustable eyepiece makes sure you get the perfect view. The focus wheel is smooth and precise, so you can zoom in on your target without any fuss.Another standout feature is the ruggedness of this scope. It's waterproof, fogproof, and seems like it’s built to withstand harsh weather conditions in the field.In a nutshell, the Argos HD 20-60x85 is a winner for me. It's got power, clarity, and toughness at a more than reasonable price. I plan to use it for long-range shooting and based on what I’ve seen so far, this is a perfect fit for me. I couldn't be happier with my purchase, and I highly recommend it to anyone in need of a high-quality spotting scope.

This works great has a very clear view but VERY HEAVY and can’t get any tripod to hold it steady. I’ve even got a bog deathgrip tripod and it can’t even hold it in place.

This is a great spotting scope! We’ve taken it on several excursions to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Badlands. I would estimate you can see about a mile off with the scope (wildlife will be small at a mile, obviously!) If you want a phone mount for the eyepiece, which I highly recommend, be aware that the eyepiece on this scope is pretty wide. Most phone mounts won’t fit on the eyepiece well. Other than that, we like this scope a lot! It’s a heavy rig, so make sure you have a sturdy tripod with a good head. The scope case is a nice bonus for those (like us) who travel. We tuck it carefully in our carry-on suitcase and it travels fine. The display is pretty bright and clear. If you’re looking at things from far off, you will get wavy lines of heat. That’s unavoidable and it’s not the scope’s fault!Overall, I’d definitely recommend this scope. We’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment from it!

I purchased this to replace and, hopefully, upgrade my Leupold SX-1 Ventana 20-60x80 angled spotting scope. Turns out, the Leupold has better clarity, sharper image at full magnification, and colors were more true. While the Athlon is a great value, the clarity and crispness of an adult seagull (large bird) at 125 yards at 20x was not great, and I was unable to focus clearly on the birds beak. At increased magnification it didn’t get any better.From my home I was looking to known distances of 640 - 830 yards (via a laser rangefinder) and was unable to make out vehicle license plate numbers and street corner signs.If you’re just looking to have a spotting scope for looking at basic scenery without a need for crisp clear images, this scope would do the job. If you’re looking to spot details on animals at distances out past a few hundred yards, I would suggest you consider a higher quality optic.I have returned mine and will have to make the jump to the $1,500 price range to meet my needs for clarity beyond 500 yards.