Anyone care to share? I just got a Konus 80 to compare to my Kowa 601 based on a review here: http://www.jarheadtop.com/KONUS.htm
I plan to have a review of a relatively cheap spotting scope vs. a moderate priced spotting scope.  The Konus was $210 shipped from Midway and the Kowa was about $400 (body only) from Champions Choice with a $100 eyepiece I got from www.nationalmatch.us From opening the Konus package and looking down the street, the clarity and eye relief of a Kowa is obviously better but the Konus can easily image a license plate at 180 yards pretty well. The Konus has an 80mm obj and my Kowa has a 60mm. Despite the diff. the brightness of the image is nearly the same. The Konus has a 20-60x fixed eyepiece and the Kowa has a removable 25x LER eyepiece. The Konus did get a little bit darker and ER decreased a bit but the image was about the same at 20x and 40x.

Nice review..was looking to upgrade from a $60 barska..the konus sounds pretty good for the price cuz dont want to spend more than $200..maybe ill do a review and compare the two $60 barska vs konus..think you know how that will turn out..lol

I think the Konus is the best budget spotter I've looked through. I had a Burris spotter initially; that thing was tough and a good imager but it was a bit more than the Konus.  My Kowa is out for repair work and in all fairness to the Kowa, I did not always treat it kindly. It was banged around, dropped and sometimes kicked (out of my frustration from shooting badly) and Kowa fixed it once through warranty.
I think I may keep this Konus for awhile. I got it on sale here http://www.midwayusa.com/product/466045/konus-spotting-scope-20-60x-80mm-with-tripod-photo-adapter-and-soft-case-armored-green
I have it mounted on a Ray Vin stand

I got it on sale here http://www.midwayusa.com/product/466045/konus-spotting-scope-20-60x-80mm-with-tripod-photo-adapter-and-soft-case-armored-green

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001DX7Q8W/?tag=2ahawaii-20

Found it more cheap braddah ren (don't forget to use HDF's amazon link) 

I'm pretty close to getting sometime mo' betta, this might be it or maybe the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD...

I saw this Meade scope at Costco for about $80.  The tripod was not usable for the range -- wind knocked it over too easily.  So, I substituted the Vanguard VS-80 Table Top Digital Camera Tripod from Amazon.  Tripod was $20.95, which still makes the total cost less than some others.  On top of that, it's smaller and lighter than the Konus model.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/meade-20-60x60-spotting-scope-81011.html

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00022K2RW/?tag=2ahawaii-20

yeah
they had that scope in the fall at costco, but i never got a chance to check the reviews before it was already sold out
how's the performance?
have you compared it against others?

I saw this Meade scope at Costco for about $80.  The tripod was not usable for the range -- wind knocked it over too easily.  So, I substituted the Vanguard VS-80 Table Top Digital Camera Tripod from Amazon.  Tripod was $20.95, which still makes the total cost less than some others.  On top of that, it's smaller and lighter than the Konus model.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/meade-20-60x60-spotting-scope-81011.html

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00022K2RW/?tag=2ahawaii-20

yeah
they had that scope in the fall at costco, but i never got a chance to check the reviews before it was already sold out
how's the performance?
have you compared it against others?

I don't have any complaints.  Focuses well, enough field of view for the targets, and plenty bright enough in overcast conditions.  I compared it to my friend's Konus (same model discussed here), and it really didn't impress me enough to justify spending twice the price. 

With all the cash I've plunked down on shooting gear lately, it's nice to save a $100 now and again.  Meade is a good brand, and I think this scope is in the "great bargain" category from Costco.  Not top of the line, but a definite keeper.

I'd like some info on a tripod.  Every one I've had has been a piece of doo doo and has broken.  Unless I spend some $$ I'm sure it's going to happen again.

I have it mounted on a Ray Vin stand

I like that stand. Where did you get it from and how much was it?

Found this site
http://www.creedmoorsports.com/shop/Ray-Vin_Scope_Stand.html

I like that stand. Where did you get it from and how much was it?

It was bought from Ray Vin http://www.ray-vin.com/
but now his line of stands were taken over by Creedmoor Sports as you have found. When I bought it in 2004 they were $180 and came with a 1" diameter 4 foot tall rod.  The key to any stand is the diameter of the rod. 1" is the ideal as it flexes the least.
Some other great scope stands are Giraud, EWing and they are mostly geared towards the HP shooter as they allow the scope to be slid up and down from standing, sitting to prone.
The most economical ones are the ones sold by Champion Shooters and Champions Choice.
http://www.champchoice.com/cat-Scope_Stands-604.aspx

thanks
the champs ones look ok, but I wonder if I should just bite the bullet and get a ray vin. I hate buying something and then wishing later I had spent a little more to get the better one

Nice set up ren.. maybe gotta save up and get something good vs just buy what i can afford at the time.