Tag Archives: spotter

Maven Optics M.2 12x50mm Monocular

April 10, 2026Optics, Product reviewmaven, maven built, Maven M.2 12x50mm, maven optics, Monocular, optic, spottercoldboremiracle

Preface

Maven Optics has worked very hard at producing quality optics and selling them direct to customers. Their products are built in Wyoming (one of my favorite states) from high quality components sourced from places like Japan. I am not new to Maven’s products, and I’ve been very happy with my experience so far. You can read more about other Maven products I’ve used here. But today we are looking at a more recent product, the Maven M.2 12x50mm Monocular. A compact handheld 12X monocular, basically a handheld spotting scope.

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I love optical devices like this one, but my immediate thoughts were whether or not I would want this monocular over binoculars. Or if I would leave my spotter in the truck to carry this instead. Hunters love reducing their loadout weight, so carrying an extra optic might be a big ask. But what if it fits in the palm of your hand?

maven, maven built, maven optics, Maven M.2 12x50mm, Monocular, optic, spotter, size, in hand, — it fits nicely in the palm of your hand

The Maven Optics M.2 12x50mm Monocular

I eagerly opened the box containing the Maven monocular, and was impressed with the packaging and quality. The monocular came with a soft Maven cinch-bag, as well as front and rear rubber lens covers. It also came with a wrist strap that attaches to the lens body, but can be quickly detached by a clip if needed.

The controls of this thing are as simple as you’d expect. There is an adjustable eyecup at the rear, and a ring around the center of the body to adjust focus. That’s about all there is to it, as this thing was made for looking.

Specifications

Magnification	12x
Obj. lens diameter	50mm
Exit pupil	4.2mm
Field of View (FOV)	5.5°
Apparent FOV (FOV x Power)	66°
Field of view (ft/1000 yds)	289
Brightness	17.6
Light transmission (%)	93.80%
Twilight factor	24.5
Multi Position Eyecup Y/N	Yes
Eye relief	17.5mm
Near focus	7.5ft
Dimension WxHxD	2.31″x6.56″x2.31″
Weight	20.0 oz
Lens constr. obj.	3 groups 4 elements (ED)
Lens constr. ocular	4 groups 6 elements
Prisms type	Wide Angel Schmidt-Pechan
Prism reflective coating type	Dielectric Coating
ED Glass	Yes
Phase correction coating	Yes
Lens coating	Scratch and Oil Resistant
Pressure tested to what pressure	1m for 30 min. (IPX7)
Storage temperature	-40°~158°F
Functional temperature	-13°~140°F
Frame material	Magnesium
Internal gas purged	Nitrogen
Tripod Adaptable Y/N	No
Origin	Japanese components assembled in the U.S.

I spend a lot of time in the springtime Rocky Mountains, mainly chasing Rockchucks. I couldn’t think of a better reason to break the little Maven M.2 out, it would be great for glassing up some chucks.

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In the Field

On a beautiful spring day, my son and I climbed to the eight-thousand foot peaks near our home. And in the cool breeze we sat in the sunshine, looking for varmints that might be doing the same thing.

In the process I got very comfortable with the M.2. I was impressed with how small it is, and how great the image is when looking through it. Whether we were looking close at 100-yard targets or across a deep canyon, the M.2 provided a great picture. It’s 50mm objective lens is likely responsible for taking in so much of the view.

I was also surprised at how sharp the focus was, and particularly how close you could focus on things. It was also impressive that I could focus on things across my kitchen, as well as across a canyon. I wish I could attach this little monocular to my phone for taking pictures.

maven, maven built, maven optics, Maven M.2 12x50mm, Monocular, optic, spotter, looking over mountain range, — the wrist-strap is handy for keeping the M.2 close and safe from falls

The rubberized eyecup is nice, and rotating it you can accommodate your preference from the eye. Both front and rear lens covers are made of that stretchy and sticky rubber texture. This makes them more likely to stay in place. It also made it a little more challenging to put into the cinch-bag. The sticky texture of the rubber doesn’t like to slide against the fabric. Not a big deal, but slightly annoying as I like to keep it inside the bag to keep it clean and dust free.

The small strap loop built into the bottom of the housing is perfect for attaching the sling and lens cover lanyards. The wrist-strap is nice, but not sure I’d use it much. I almost wish they’d have put a small threaded boss in the bottom to allow attachment to a tripod. But I have no problem just setting it comfortably in one of my rifle saddles just as I do with binoculars.

Optical Clarity

I have been quite happy with the optical performance of this unit since I first looked through it. The images are very sharp and detailed, giving excellent observational use. Low light conditions like just before dark or as the sun rises are also seen very well through the Maven M.2. The large objective does a great job compressing the landscape into a smaller high definition package for the eye.

With its 12X, some might feel it is a bit much for a handheld device. As I only plan on using it supported, its almost like having a tiny spotting scope in your pocket. When supported by a tripod or backpack, it allows impressive definition of targets and their surroundings.

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Usability

This thing is much smaller than I anticipated, which is great news. You wont believe this, but it just like having… half a binocular…

It fits great in the pockets, and is easily used single handedly while your other hand holds a gun or tree branch. The real question when it comes to usability is whether you want to carry the M.2 monocular AND a pair of binoculars, or the M.2 monocular OR a pair of binoculars. It seems not only superfluous to have both, and perhaps even a bit gaudy if you throw a rangefinder into the mix as well.

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Durability

As with other Maven products I own, this M.2 Monocular is very well built. Everything is tight and tucked neatly together, I have every expectation that this optic would last for years. There is very little to wrong with it, so unless it gets dropped or run over I don’t see how it might otherwsie fail. And even if it did, Maven has a great unconditional lifetime warranty.

Value

Looking for comparable monocular choices, I found very little that is even close. There is a wide variety of monoculars for significantly less money than the M.2, but they don’t look to be anywhere near the same class either. Most other monoculars that cost more are thermal monoculars that cost thousands not hundreds.

That said, I think you really need to want this monocular in order to justify it. For around the same price you can get a similar pair of binoculars from Maven. Unless you are a one-eyed pirate, there must be a good reason to want the monocular configuration.

maven, maven built, maven optics, Maven M.2 12x50mm, Monocular, optic, spotter, viewing in thick wooded forest, tripod, two vets tripod, — set atop my Two Vets Tripod, this thing is stable and very handy for spotting

Pros and Cons

One reason you might want a monocular is because they are lighter than binoculars. This unit is surprisingly light for what you get from it. If I was on a very remote hunt where every ounce mattered, the lightweight of this unit would be appealing. Its amazing views would be very helpful for both identifying and evaluating trophy animals. As well as general observation. The controls are tight and feel very smooth.

The only downside I can think of is that if you already have comparable binoculars then you probably dont need this. In my opinion it would be an excellent optic to keep handy, unless you already have a pair of binoculars for the same purpose. This does fit easily in the glove box of the truck, giving me an always available high quality optic for observing.

Last Thoughts

Whether you use this as your main spotting optic, or like me, as a capricious indulgence, the Maven M.2 is a very nice addition to your kit. Its quality build and excellent imagery make it suitable for just about anything you need to look at.

-CBM

Maven Optics CS 1A 15-45 Spotting Scope

August 8, 2024Optics, Product reviewmaven, maven optics, spotter, spotting scopecoldboremiracle

Preface

A very common topic we cover here is the rapidly progressing sport optics market. With enumerable new product lines and releases, its hard to keep up. One of the names that continues to pop up in this sphere is Maven Optics. I’ve had the opportunity to use at least one of their products in the past, one of their RS rifles scopes. Today we are looking at one of their CS Spotting scopes, the Maven CS 1A spotting scope. This compact spotter has a 15 to 45X zoom and a 65mm objective lens.

As an avid looker at things, I was excited to see how this little scope compares to others. The compact size made it ideal to bring along on hikes and deep woods hunting trips.

The Maven CS 1A Spotting Scope

Specifications

Magnification Range	15x-45x
Obj. lens diameter	65mm
Exit pupil	4.3mm / 1.4mm
Field of View (FOV)	3.3° / 1.5°
Apparent FOV (FOV x Power)	50° / 70°
Field of view (ft/1000 yds)	174ft /81ft
Brightness	18.5 / 2.0
Twilight factor	31 / 54
Multi Position Eyecups Y/N	Yes
Eye relief	16mm – 19mm
Eye piece construction	5 group 8 element
Near focus	12ft
Dimension WxHxD	11.4×5.6×3.1
Weight	40.4 oz
Prisms type	Schmidt-Pechan
Prism reflective coating type	Fully multi-coated
Phase correction coating	Yes
Lens coating	Fully multi-coated
Pressure tested to what pressure	1m for 30min. (IPX7)
Storage temperature	-40°~158°F
Functional temperature	-13°~140°F
Frame material	Magnesium / Aluminum
Internal gas purged	Nitrogen
Objective filter thread	No
Focus system	Standard
Lens type	ED
Origin	China

Field Use with the Maven CS

My plans for this little scope were to bring it along on some of my scouting trips. It easily fits into a day pack, and is much lighter than my bigger spotting scope. After attaching a tripod foot to the scope, we hiked into the freshly stormed Rocky Mountains.

Maven’ s CS scope comes with rubber scope covers that are friction fit. As well as a cinch-closed soft cover that helps protect it. Using the two covers together is necessary, as the caps wont stay on in your backpack. But when used in conjunction with the soft case everything stays put.

After hiking into a position high into the cloudy canyons, we sat down to do some glassing. I mounted the scope to my tripod and set it up so I could do some looking. One of the first things I noticed about the scope was its convenient controls.

Focus is adjusted using the large barrel around the center of the scope body. It was smooth and easy to get a clear image while maintaining control of the scope. Also in the traditional position, the magnification is adjusted just below the eye piece.

The body of the scope also rotates on its mounting foot. There is a small thumbwheel you can loosen to release the scope, and rotate it for better spotting angles. This is very handy for those long days of spotting, where you can adjust the scope to match your posture for maximum comfort.

Spotting

Using the CS at it’s low setting of 15X made it very easy to get onto a specific target. Zooming in to 45X brought more detail to the image. I did find that like most every other optic I’ve used, higher magnification also reduces brightness. I’ve also noticed that many optics often loose some of their sharpness at max power. Maven’s CS was not immune to this phenomenon.

That said, I still found it very useful for looking at animals from a mile or two away. The strong point of this little scope for sure is its compact size. While it may not have the high magnification of other larger scopes, I feel that the 45X is plenty for field use. If I am sitting next to my truck glassing up a canyon, I might use my other spotting scope options. But if I am hiking up that canyon, I would for sure take the little Maven CS instead.

macen CS — pulling the little Maven scope from my **Badlands Backpack**

The optical clarity at 45X is good for a scope at this price point, I find it more than adequate enough for determining deer values within a thousand or two yards. I will also say that I wish there was just a touch better image at max power. But even at 30X it is significantly better than scopes and binocular options. I rarely use optics at their maximum setting when trying to get the best detail. Instead I use them at 80-95% of maximum zoom, they seem to be clearer there.

Pros and Cons

With a soft rubberized exterior, the Maven CS is easy to grab one-handed and endure the rugged use of the backcountry. The controls of the scope are easy and smooth to operate, whether looking through it or not. The small size and weight make it ideal for carrying into places where larger scopes would be a hinderance. And the price when compared to the market is more affordable than some of the big names. I also like the Uniform size of the eye-piece, which makes it very easy to use phone-scope adaptors to take photos and video through your spotter. Something that has become very popular nowadays.

maven spotting scope — Left: phone adaptor attached. Right: image captured in cloudy mountains approximately 700 yards away

On the downside, the Maven CS is built in China. Which has surprisingly upped their game in the optics production and quality. But to many it remains a negative aspect. And though the Maven CS is manufactured overseas, it does seem like some of their best work. Even if it doesn’t measure up to the Japanese and European produced competition.

My Recommendation

If you are looking for a compact spotter, to take with you into the dark and weathered country of the Rocky Mountains. And if you prefer to not spend thousands on a spotting scope to take with you there. But still want something you can rely on, and positively identify your quarry, this Maven CS spotting scope might be right up your alley.

I have used nicer spotting scope options, and far worse. This scope performs much better than the trash tier optics you find at sporting good stores who’d rather sell basketballs and tennis rackets. And its a step above the entry level scopes you’ll find elsewhere. Its just the kind of scope I’d want to haul through the rough and tumble country where I’d be too afraid to damage one of those expensive green spotting scopes.

I’ve been using the Maven CS spotter for a while now, it has been doing double time looking for summer marmots and big game. I’ll continue using it through hunting season, as it seems well up to the task. Don’t wander off, as I’ll update this article as I continue to build an opinion. If all this sounds like something you too could use, you might do yourself a favor by looking into the Maven Optics CS 1A spotting scope.

-CBM

Sig Sauer Oscar 3

January 13, 2018Optics, Product reviewbinoculars, Optics, sig sauer, spotter, spotting scopecoldboremiracle

I am a sucker for optical doodads, and usually anything that is heavy and comes in a small package. That said, I’ve never been a huge proponent of large or bulky spotting equipment. Sure, there are advantages to them, but for the kind of shooting I usually do and am involved in, they are a bit more than necessary. Most times, another rifle scope of similar magnification and quality will do, especially if it is mounted to someone else’s rifle, who can tell what I’m doing wrong.
I do have a small field spotter, it works very well for what I need, and it has a handy reticle for making corrective calls a “breeze”. Other than that, the scope on my rifle, and a good rangefinder, I have never felt much of a need for more. Once again I was forced to challenge my own prejudice regarding equipment, when a friend handed me a small package with the instructions to “try it out”.

As I opened up the box which I had been told contained a spotting scope from Sig Sauer Electro-Optics,I thought for sure that I had the wrong package. But further investigation revealed it was indeed a spotter, just a more compact one than I had expected. It was the new Oscar 3, which is a handheld 10-20X image stabilizing scope.
Perhaps some of you are thinking the same as I did, “what good is a handheld spotter at 20X?” but having been surprised by Sig Sauer on more than one occasion, I decided to save my judgement until after a good field testing. I took it straight to the roof, and began scanning the neighborhood for hostile looking deviants. Like many other quality optics, the view and resolution through the Oscar were very clean, and bright. The warm sunshine that bathed the neighborhood made for crystal clear recognition of tiny minutia on a wide variety of prospective targets. There was of course, one pending issue. The problem that I had first imagined the second I heard “20X handheld spotter” and that of course was the inability for a wobbly twerp like me to hold still long enough to do any good while spotting. Even with my best efforts, it was difficult to hold still enough to read license plates at the end of the street, I could see the characters, and almost tell what they were. But the shaking caused by the slightest breeze, or perhaps even the beating of my heart, made it just barely beyond the grasp of my eyes.

The time had come to test the core function of this handy little scope, I reached with my index finger across the top of the Oscar, and engaged the stabilization function. I was amazed as the auto induced jitters quickly disappeared, and the picture I had struggled to see just a second earlier, suddenly became a floating image. A clear image, centered between my eye and the object that reflected it. No longer did I have to concentrate on holding still, instead I could focus my attention on interpreting the images. The license plates that I couldn’t read, were now steady and clean, not only could I read the plate numbers, but the state identified on it.

I had quickly become less skeptical about this little scope, and couldn’t wait to get it into a real field shooting position to see what it can really do. Easily operated, the Oscar has an adjustable zoom from 10-20X on the ocular end, and the focus is done by turning the objective end of the scope. The switch on top of the unit turns on the stabilization.
Fast forward a few days, and I found myself surrounded by hundreds of miles of Utah’s west desert. Myself and a few friends had made our way up the steep edge of a rocky ridge, overlooking a seemingly unending sage brush flat. Our quarry that day was any number of jackrabbits who called the sagebrush home. We had already spotted several, and knew they were out there, hiding among the brush. Their color matching almost perfectly the plants and ground that they inhabited. So many times one would spot a rabbit, and until it moved, you could never be sure what exactly it was.

It was time to put the Oscar to work, laying down in tumbleweeds and rocks to look through my rifle scope was just too cumbersome, at least to spot the rabbits. My rangefinder was handy, but with only 8X, it made target investigation a little tedious. The Oscar’s ability to zoom in to as much as 20X, and its image stabilization would be perfect for picking out the slightest movement. The quick nature of engaging rabbits made for some challenging transitions from a spotting to a shooting position. But one after another, we found the jackrabbits, sneaking about through the brush. Some of them were quite close, others were as far as three or four hundred yards away. The fate of the former was quite “dispersed” no thanks to my SRS, who has grown quite a taste for large rodents.
As the rabbit population either “aired out”, or burrowed furiously out of sight, and I sat there picking the rocks and tumbleweed stickers from my elbows, I continued to test the Oscar. Taking pictures of a nearby cattle herd through it, as well as scanning the surrounding area. The only gripe if any I might have about this little scope, is that when engaged, if you look really hard at some things, you can almost see a “boiling” impression. An effect I assume must come from whatever tech Sig uses to stabilize the image, I didn’t find it to be a detrimental factor, nor did it impede my ability to spot my targets.

I’ve taken the Oscar from the hot dry desert, and its mirage laden plains, to the snow covered tops of the rocky mountain’s peaks. The Oscar 3 from Sig Sauer has certainly proven itself to be very valuable in my opinion. I think I would even trade a good set of binoculars for it. As a hunter, I think it would be a very valuable tool to inspect potential targets. And also as a hunter, I can greatly appreciate the compact size and weight it comes in. Giving me an on the go kind of spotter, quick to deploy and keep tabs on a moving target. All while providing an outstanding image with which to judge by.
I wonder if, even with the image stabilization, would it be worth it to add a coarse reticle to the Oscar. To provide corrective calls and range/size estimations. I suppose that would be a question for the engineers at Sig.
As for me, I plan on keeping this little handful of help as close as possible, for as long as I can. It has already proved to be a valuable tool to keep in my pack, and I intend on using it thoroughly as this season comes in.
-CBM

Rangefinder Shootout

January 9, 2018blog, Optics, Product reviewbinoculars, distance, optic, Optics, range, rangefinder, scope, spotter, spottingcoldboremiracle

Rangefinder Shootout

One of the most important tools a marksman can have in his bag, is a good rangefinder. When I first started shooting, I didn’t have the money to buy one, neither did I have the sense to. Interesting how something seemingly insignificant would soon become indispensable. I figured a lot of these things out the hard way, the stupid way you could even say. Despite my hardheaded approach to distance shooting, I got pretty good at estimating range. A skill that was later confirmed by the rangefinder that had done without far too long.
By the time I finally purchased a laser rangefinder, I had at least gained enough smarts to recognize what I needed.
My first purchase was a Leica 1200, a good piece of equipment that served me very well. I quickly learned as I played with other rangefinders that good ones usually reach beyond their limits. While lower end units, wouldn’t even reach advertised distances.
As my skills matured, and distances became longer, I out grew that old Leica, and it’s since been replaced by a newer CRF model. I also stepped up to a Swarovski Laserguide, as with my Leica, the Swarovski reached well beyond its advertised envelope, reaching to 1800+ yards in the right conditions.
These tools have sharpened this shooters abilities, through day to day use, and confirming estimations.
Well, I was recently handed one of the new Sig Sauer Kilo 2000 rangefinders. I have heard many good things about this new line of optics from Sig. And this Kilo seemed like a big winner.
With an advertised range of 3400yds (reflective) I was very optimistic. In my opinion, it fell into that price range where rangefinders always underperformed. But even so I thought, if it reaches half what they advertise, it’d be worth the money.
I quickly made my way to my Rocky Mountain haunt, to put the Kilo against my Leica CRF1200, and my Swarovski Laserguide.
I’m a simple guy, I don’t care much for bells and whistles. So though the Kilo features an angle adjusted range, I switched it to simple range only. I can do field math, I like whole numbers, and percentages. I don’t need my optics to do it for me. Plus I like to know exactly what I’m getting into.
A quick run through the various rock piles in my cold and snowy canyon would tell me how well the Kilo measured up.
At the quarter mile mark, all three rangefinders barely broke a sweat. My first impression of the Kilo was how fast it returned with a reading. Faster than my Leica, and twice the speed of the Swarovski. “This will triple the speed at which I miss my targets.” I thought to myself, “better slow down”.
I soon noticed a slight difference in color while looking through the Kilo, a bluish hue that was quite apparent (see pics). This is certainly not a big deal, at least to me. It was certainly lighter as well, easily placed in a pocket to be carried. The optical field of view looking through the Kilo was almost exactly the same as my CRF1200, the quality was comparable as well. Both of them were narrow compared to the Laserguide, which also had a better image I might add. But for twice the price of the others, it ought to.
I pushed all three RF’s one after another out to 1050yds, all three of them working flawlessly. And returning ranges to within +/-1 or 2 yards. Perfectly acceptable for a guy who’s targets are +/-2 or 3 yards wide right?
Up to this point I had to say I was pretty happy about the results. Simply because For most people I know, a good rangefinder that will reliably hit 1,000yds plus and cost under 500$ is a pretty good deal.
Well I had to push them further. The sunlight was fading somewhat as it hid behind the evening clouds to the west. I thought surely I could push the Kilo further, but to my surprise I couldn’t get it to read on anything further out.
I thought that perhaps maybe this Kilo couldn’t hang with my “higher end” RF’s. So I pulled out my Leica, and the Top hat it came with, and tried to hit the same rock. To my surprise, it wouldn’t read either. I suppose the light and conditions weren’t good enough for either RF to read. But before I put shame upon the two smaller units, I figured I’d check to see how the Swarovski would fair.
Sure enough, as usual, the Laserguide came through. Showing 1300yds. My suspicions about light angles and conditions were confirmed, as my Swarovski would reach no further in the cold quiet canyon. Leaving me scratching my head.
Further testing is warranted, and no doubt I will get more info. I’d like to see how far this Kilo will really go, I am skeptical that it will actually reach advertised distances due to my experiences, as well as those of others. None the less, I am very impressed that Sig has produced this RF for less than 500$ and that easily hits to 1000 yards and beyond. If I could go back to the beginning of my shooting career and sell myself this Kilo, it may have been one of the best purchases made.
I won’t be replacing my Swarovski anytime soon, but if I was in the market for a new rangefinder, for hunting, or practical shooting, the Kilo 2000 would be top contender.