Obviously there are pros and cons. Good (pricey) glass does resell pretty well but is it worth it to a guy that will never sheep hunt or mtn goat hunt? I used a Leupold spotter that I bought used for $100.00 on my summer trip out west. I bought it as a range spotter initially but took it on my trip just to see how it would do. Saw some elk and a bull moose at distances form 800 yards to approx 1.25 miles away and saw everything I needed to see. Certainly it is not near the quality of Swaro, Kowas and the alike but I would have gained nothing for this particular trip with higher cost and higher quality optics.
A couple of things that I believe are often overlooked: Is the optic going to be the same for you as a guy with better or worse eyesight? Do you really need to be able to read a note card from 1000 yards? (as some of the optic test use these types of things as part of the evaluation).
I believe quite a few of us overspend on optics and then try to justify the $ spent. I realize optics are different that firearms but I think of one of the most accurate guns I've owned-it is a Savage that I bought used for $200.00 and I likely can shoot it as accurately as any gun I now own or have ever owned and the Savage is likely the least expensive of them all. Similarly I see guys buying hunting/skinning knives for hundreds of $. Is it worth it? It must be to those that buy them but I opt for good quality and not top of the line price wise.
I would try to find a good pre-owned high quality spotter and have some funds left over for other items that you'll need. When I get ready for an upgrade I will buy pre-owned and not look back.
I’m going to have to disagree with you.
Your Leupold spotter May have done the trick for you on this trip, but like mentioned above, a top quality glass is the difference from picking out that g2 from the branches he’s behind and simply seeing brush.
Every spotter I have ever played with has a focus adjustment to adjust to people’s eyes. That’s what makes them clear. Just because someone has worse vision doesn’t mean they can’t focus on an object, it simply means that their focus adjustment is different than yours. Another advantage of top tier glass is the depth of field. More ranges are in focus in your FOV thus glassing country more effectively.
Yes I need to be able to read a note card at 1,000 yards (your analogy) so I can pick out that earflicker or antler tip at that distance as well.
There’s no such thing as overspending on optics, you are investing money into coming home with what you set out for and eliminating another variable to an unsuccessful hunt. I’ll gladly spend the money on quality glass and take the weight penalty to have the best chances at finding a big buck any day.
I’ve spent many evenings glassing with people who say the same thing as you about optics and truth is, in good light, a good pair of binos and spotter do ok against top end glass but when the sun fades over the hill, I’m finding deer pop up while their optics are already in their backpack because they can’t see...
It sounds like you scored on a good shootin rifle and I’d hang on to that one if I were you.
Nothin wrong with preowned glass at all. I would get the serial number and check with the manufacturer though to make sure it is not a knockoff and not stolen.