Chris Redlich gets up close with a ZT spotting scope
It was after my first hunting trip in the mountains of New Zealand more than a decade ago, I truly realised the necessity of a spotting scope. Now, with several Alpine trophies including a large NZ red stag proudly displayed in our living room, it’s clear to me that without being able to examine horns or antlers through a spotting scope first, I may well have returned to Australia empty-handed.
A good set of binoculars should always be an inclusion for locating game, yet for taking a closer look at potential trophies, a spotting scope is just as important. Likewise, the latter lends a genuine advantage to anyone spending hours testing rifles and ammunition at long-range targets or simply sighting-in a scope much closer.
My introduction to ZeroTech optics began almost seven years ago and, now that pleasantries have well and truly passed, it surprises me how they continually turn out new quality products aimed at all budget levels. Products made in China are sometimes stigmatised, though ZeroTech maintains rigorous quality control through its Australian R&D team. And with some of their higher-end gear also produced in Japan, the company has established a solid reputation for reliability and excellence.
The last ZT product I reviewed was their Trace HD and, while it was a great scope for long-range shooting, I didn’t feel it was best-suited to hunting. I first laid eyes on the new Thrive spotter during a recent visit to Tasmania’s largest gun store, the Sports Hut. A truly impressive place, they cater to all hunters’ needs, including Thrive spotting scopes and I thought then that if I ever had the chance to review one, I’d jump at it.
That chance duly arose and, as per ZeroTech standards, the scope came in a well-presented padded box which included front and rear rubber lens caps, a lens cleaning cloth, shoulder strap and real nifty, zip-removable neoprene cover. The inclusion of this cover shows ZeroTech are serious about protecting their gear, which is intended for rough use on a hunter’s journey. I like the way it can be unzipped so the scope can be used without complete removal.
This scope appears quite large at first glance, though not unexpected for a spotter with an 85mm objective lens. The increased field of view and light transmission from the big glass is a real advantage for tracking objects clearly at long range. In fact, the specs reveal a broad 33m field of view at 1000m on 20x magnification and 16m when wound out to its full 60x zoom, providing plenty of viewing window for tracking and observing game.
The tubular prism lenses combined with large multi-coated objective lens are intended to enhance image quality and reduce glare, which they do very well. A manual extender sunshade which sits as a sleeve over the objective, slides out squarely and will further reduce invasive glare.
The cylindrical magnification dial and centre focus wheel are large with chunky rubberised grip lines. Both rotate firmly and combine to fine-tune images on varying zoom and ranges. Unlike some other brands the ZT Thrive is only available in an angle model. Now I’ve always found angle-style spotting scopes most practical for glassing in the mountains, though equally useful at the range when sighting-in rifles or testing ammo.
Unlike my Swarovski ATS spotting scope which has an interchangeable eyepiece, the Thrive’s eyepiece is fixed. It has a twist-up eyecup which caters to three levels of eye relief and for those who wear glasses. The eyepiece sits at a 45-degree angle to the scope body’s centre axis and is fully adjustable, while twisting a thumb-lock screw allows the rear eyepiece section to be moved and locked left and right, for viewing all manner of targets from all kinds of awkward positions.
I find this rotating feature particularly handy when shooting from a bench, which allows me to view my shots by simply leaning and looking, without the need to be directly behind or above the spotter. I’ve found this especially useful when glassing hills on a tripod, whether sitting or standing. The rotating centre piece also includes a standard camera ¼-20 UNF metal thread for tripod mounting, while the opening on the neoprene cover allows the scope to be mounted completely unobstructed while remaining fully protected.
I’m unclear of the exact materials used in tube manufacture, though it appears to be mostly polycarbonate with some smaller alloy and metallic components. I’m sure this was a decision taken to not only help reduce weight, but also building costs as well making the unit affordable and more appealing to the backpack hunter.
The scope exterior has a firm, rubberised protective coating, though this was my first time testing a new hunting optic which isn’t advertised as fully waterproof. The specs reveal what’s referred to as ‘IPX5 rating’ waterproof, which I’d best describe as water-resistant only. This means it won’t handle being completely submerged though can tolerate water jets, so I reckon it’ll cope with showers. Full submersion would be extremely rare in any case, though my advice would be not to drop it the drink or risk testing its fogproof ability in extreme conditions.
The Thrive is 425mm long, weighs just on 1.9kg and, not surprisingly, was much bulkier than my Swarovski ATS 65. Despite being proportionately larger however, it’ll still tuck away comfortably in most mid-sized day packs. During an extended testing time it hitched a ride in my 25L pack, the same one I’d used many times in New Zealand. It did use a little bit more room though not enough to be a pain, and the 85mm objective lens provided clear imagery with a noticeable increase in field of view, particularly when glassing targets at long range.
I found all adjustments operated well when fine-tuning in on targets whether stationary or moving. At full magnification, though not entirely unusual, was noticeable miraging which can have an adverse impact on image resolution. Not everything was negatively affected by this phenomenon though, as my ability to observe game remained consistent. Miraging was more of an issue on hot days, when trying to accurately read groups on paper targets at ranges beyond 150m.
It wouldn’t make sense for me to compare the Thrive with optics like my Swarovski spotting scope, as they’re not meant to compete at the same level as high-end European gear. However for a unit priced around $699 at time of writing, it’s highly appealing for anyone seeking good performance in its category, or perhaps a cheaper introduction to that first spotting scope.
ZeroTech have established a firm foothold in the Australian market and I enjoyed putting the new spotter through its paces regularly at the range and in the hills. As with all other ZT gear, the Thrive is protected by their robust ‘Any Owner, Any Problem, Always Covered’ lifetime warranty. More at www.zerotech.com.au or www.tsaoutdoors.com.au.