Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 Spotting Scope Review

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With a successful hunting season behind me, I had the opportunity to take a solid bull elk. I hunted across large open landscapes of the West, an ideal setting to put the new Maven CS.2A 26-66×85 spotting scope to the test. Designed for long-range observation, this powerful spotting scope delivered exceptional performance over extended distances.

Maven has established itself as a leader in high-end optics, offering binoculars, spotting scopes, and rifle scopes. Their products are tailored to hunters, birders, outdoor enthusiasts, and wildlife watchers. While the optics market is crowded with quality brands, Maven sets itself apart with its direct-to-consumer model. You won’t find their products in retail stores; instead, they’re sold exclusively online. This approach eliminates retail markups, delivering premium optics at a more accessible price point.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to use Maven’s B.5 18×56 binoculars, which made spotting game a breeze and elevated my hunting experience. Impressed by their performance, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to test Maven’s new CS.2A 26-66×85 spotting scope.

About the Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 Spotting Scope

The Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 is part of Maven’s C line of spotting scopes, which offers a more economical option compared to the premium S line. Weighing 60 ounces and measuring 15 inches in length, this model is manufactured in China, combining affordability with high-quality features.

The spotting scope features a variable magnification range of 26-66x, offering a 2.5x spread of magnification. It is equipped with an 85mm objective lens, the largest lens Maven offers in its spotting scope lineup. The larger lens allows more light to enter, making it effective in low-light conditions such as dawn and dusk. The objective lens uses Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass, incorporating rare earth metals to reduce chromatic aberration. This ensures tighter light waves, delivering clearer images and more accurate colors. Additionally, the lens is multi-coated to reduce optical artifacts, minimize reflections, resist scratches, and repel grime and grease.

The eyepiece has a five-piece, eight-element design, providing excellent eye relief of 16-17mm and offering multiple adjustable positions for comfort. The exit pupil ranges from 3.3mm to 1.3mm, overlapping with the human eye’s typical pupil size of 2-4mm, ensuring optimal light transmission for most users.

The body is primarily polymer-coated for durability, with a magnesium and aluminum frame underneath for strength and reduced weight. The scope is nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging in cold weather, making it a reliable companion for backcountry adventures.

At the base, the scope features an Arca-Swiss mounting plate, ensuring compatibility with most tripod heads for easy and stable setup.

Thoughts on the Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 Spotting Scope

Hunting big game in the Western U.S. often involves covering vast, open expanses of land. Finding animals in such areas requires the right tools, and a good spotting scope is a must-have for this kind of hunting. It allows you to scan wide areas from a distance, pick out animals in the landscape, and study the terrain to spot other potential hunting spots.

This year, I used the Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 on two elk hunts. Both hunts took place in areas that were new to me, so I didn’t have the benefit of knowing the landscape well. In these situations, having a reliable spotting scope isn’t just about finding animals. It is about getting a better understanding of the terrain. With this scope, I was able to scout different areas, check out spots where elk could be hiding, and ultimately locate a great place to hunt. I’m confident the CS.2A played a big role in helping me find the area where I harvested my largest bull elk to date.

Performance

The Maven CS.2A mounts easily onto my tripod thanks to the built-in Arca-Swiss plate. I like that I can use the same tripod for both my rifle rest and my binoculars, which is super convenient. That said, this spotting scope is on the heavier side. At 60 ounces and 15 inches in length, it adds a decent amount of weight to my pack. While it’s bulky, I didn’t mind carrying it because the performance more than makes up for the extra weight. When you’re hunting in vast open landscapes and need to spot animals from a distance, it’s well worth having this scope with you.

Using the Maven CS.2A is straightforward and user-friendly. The eye relief is fantastic, making it comfortable for long glassing sessions. The eyecup can extend out, and it helps with finding the right fit for a clear view. If you’ve ever spent a long time behind a spotting scope, you know that eye strain can be a problem, but the design of this one makes it much easier on the eyes.

The zoom is one of my favorite features of this scope. The zoom ring is oversized, which makes it easy to adjust magnification, even when you’re in a hurry or wearing gloves. The 26-66X zoom range is incredibly versatile. At the lower end, you can scan wide areas quickly to pick up movement or spot animals. When you need more detail, you can zoom in and really focus on distant objects. Whether you’re looking at the landscape or trying to pick out the shape of a distant elk, the zoom works smoothly and accurately.

Low Light

One of the most important aspects of a good spotting scope for hunting is low-light performance. Most of the time, big game hunting takes place during the twilight hours, when animals are most active. The Maven CS.2A performs well in these low-light conditions. The ED glass and 85mm objective lens let plenty of light in, ensuring bright, clear images during the early mornings and late evenings when visibility is low. While I don’t think I’d be able to use the scope all the way up until the last legal minute of shooting light, it still works great for the majority of the time when animals are active and visible. The clarity is excellent, with very little chromatic aberration or distortion. This allows you to see fine details like antler tips and body size which are the details that matter when you’re trying to determine if an elk is worth pursuing.

Quality and Protection

The build quality of the Maven CS.2A is solid. The polymer coating gives it a rugged feel, and it’s designed to handle the demands of backcountry hunting. Whether I’m moving through dense brush or traveling on rough roads, this scope feels like it can take a beating. That said, I do wish Maven included a more protective case with the scope. For the price, a hard-sided case would offer better protection during storage or travel, especially when driving on bumpy, washboard roads. Maven does offer a scope cover as an accessory for $100, but it would be nice if something more durable came with the scope from the start.

At a price point of $1,300, the Maven CS.2A is certainly an investment, but it’s one I feel is worth making. Compared to other high-end scopes, it offers great value for the price. The image quality, low-light performance, and overall durability make it a solid choice for serious hunters. While it’s not the cheapest option, the Maven CS.2A provides performance that competes with much more expensive models, making it an excellent value for the price. I’m very impressed with how well it performed throughout my hunts this year, and I’m confident it will be part of my gear for many hunts to come.

Specifications on the Maven CS.2A 26-66 X 85 Taken Directly From the Maven Website

• Mid-Range Model
• Size: 14.9 in.
• Weight: 59.9 oz.
• Durable, Well-Balanced, and Lightweight Polymer Frame
• Extra-Low Dispersion ED Glass
• Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
• Integrated Arca-Swiss Mount
• Phase Correction Coating 
• Exceptionally Clear, Bright, High Contrast Image
• Excellent Color Fidelity
• Waterproof and Fog Proof
• Lifetime Warranty
• Direct to Consumer / No Retail Markup

Final Thoughts on the Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 Spotting Scope

The Maven CS.2A 26-66X85 is a high-quality spotting scope that delivers impressive performance for big game hunters who need to cover big landscapes. Whether you’re glassing for elk in open meadows or scouting rugged terrain, this scope offers the clarity, light-gathering ability, and versatility you need to succeed. Its 26-66X magnification range is ideal for quickly spotting animals at long distances and zooming in for details when necessary, while the ED glass and 85mm objective lens ensure bright, clear images even in low-light conditions.

The sturdy, ergonomic design of the Maven CS.2A makes it easy to use during long glassing sessions. Its comfortable eye relief and smooth zoom ring contribute to a positive experience behind the eyepiece. While the scope is a bit bulky and adds some weight to your pack, it is a tradeoff worth making for the exceptional performance and durability it offers in the field. The solid polymer coating and nitrogen-filled housing ensure the scope holds up to the tough conditions of backcountry hunting.

At $1,300, the Maven CS.2A offers excellent value in its class. While it could benefit from a more robust carrying case, the overall quality, performance, and price make it a worthwhile investment for hunters who demand reliable optics. If you’re looking for a scope that can help you spot animals from great distances while handling the challenges of the wild, the Maven CS.2A is a top contender. For more info or to check one out for yourself, visit mavenoptics.com or amazon.com.