ZeroTech Trace Advanced 20-60×80 Review: Field Test

Last updated on August 2nd, 2026

This ZeroTech Trace Advanced 20-60×80 review is based on the reason I got hold of the scope: I wanted a tough spotter with a MIL reticle for long-range shooting. Spotting impacts and calling corrections is where I use a spotter most, and the first focal plane Optimised Spotting Reticle was the feature that separated this model from a conventional observation scope.

This is a field-tested review, not a launch-spec rewrite. The Trace Advanced has been carried between stages at Precision Service Rifle matches and taken to repeated long-range sessions. I have used its controls, watched trace and splash through it, compared the view directly with my Vortex Viper HD, and seen what hot Queensland conditions do to the usable image.

Quick verdict: the Trace Advanced 20-60×80 is the better ZeroTech spotter for a shooter who needs to measure misses and communicate corrections in MRAD. Its OSR reticle, ED glass, straight-body controls and accessory interfaces are genuinely useful. The trade-off is simple: at 2377g it is a range and match tool first, not an ultralight backcountry spotter.

What I Tested

That test basis matters. I can report how this unit handled, focused and resolved detail for me, but I am not turning a field comparison into a laboratory transmission score. Atmospheric conditions, tripod stability and eyesight all affect what any 60x spotting scope can show.

ZeroTech Trace Advanced 20-60×80 Specifications

The specifications explain the role well. This is a large, sealed observation optic with a precision reticle and enough mounting flexibility for a dedicated range setup. The 30mm eye relief is generous for a spotter, while the weight is the number that needs the most honest thought before carrying it far from the vehicle.

The OSR MRAD Reticle in Use

The glass-etched OSR is offset rather than sitting across the centre of the image. That gives me a relatively clean observation area for picking up bullet trace and splash, while the calibrated section remains available when I need to measure a miss. The 0.2 MRAD marks are useful for normal correction calls and the 0.1 MRAD bars provide a finer reference for measuring known-size targets.

Because the reticle is in the first focal plane, its angular values remain valid as magnification changes. If the shooter is also working in MRAD, I can see a miss, measure the offset and call the correction directly without converting units. The MIL versus MOA guide explains why matching the spotting and rifle systems reduces avoidable mental arithmetic.

This does not make every wind call automatic. Mirage can move the apparent image, splash can be hidden by terrain and trace can be difficult against a poor background. The reticle gives a common measuring language; the observer still has to identify what actually happened.

Optical Performance and the Viper HD Comparison

The Trace Advanced uses ED glass and fully multi-coated lenses, but the useful question is what I could see. In a side-by-side field comparison with my Vortex Viper HD spotting scope, the ZeroTech resolved detail better for me when targets sat in shaded or darker areas. Contrast and colour looked strong, and that extra definition helped when I was trying to follow trace or identify impact detail.

That is a comparison between the units I had in front of me, not a claim that every Trace defeats every Viper in every condition. It is still meaningful: I owned and understood the Viper view, and the ZeroTech gave me the clearer result in the situations I checked.

At one match in roughly 38-degree heat, I initially thought focus was the problem. It was not. Heavy heat shimmer and mirage were limiting the view. Winding from 20x toward 60x only magnified that moving air. That experience is worth more than promising that maximum magnification is always the best setting: on a hot range, backing the zoom down can produce the more useful image.

Focus, Zoom and Tripod Setup

The in-line magnification, focus and dioptre controls suit the straight-body layout. I could make changes quickly without hunting for a small side knob. The rings on my sample were firm enough to resist accidental movement but not so stiff that normal adjustments became annoying.

At the high end of the zoom range, the tripod and head are part of the optical system. A small vibration can hide the same detail that better glass is meant to reveal. The Trace Advanced can attach through a conventional tripod plate, and its ARCA/Picatinny options make it easier to build a repeatable range setup. M-LOK interfaces at 12, 3 and 9 o’clock also allow accessories such as a rangefinder or wind meter to be positioned around the body.

The rubber armour has dealt well with transport, stage changes and the bumps that come with outdoor use. A neoprene cover is included; I regard that as worthwhile extra protection for hunting or transport rather than something the scope needs to function at the range.

How I Use It to Call Shots

My normal workflow is to begin at the lower end of the zoom range, find the target and settle the tripod before adding magnification. Once the image is stable, I set the dioptre for the reticle and then use the focus control for the target plane. That order helps avoid chasing focus when the real problem is eye position or support movement.

When a shot breaks, I try to watch the target area rather than follow the rifle. If I see splash, the OSR gives me an angular reference for the correction. If I see trace, it can indicate the path into the target area, but trace alone does not always prove the final impact point. I only call what I can identify.

The offset reticle is useful here because most of the central image remains open. For a fast correction, I can move the relevant scale onto the miss instead of observing everything through a full crosshair. This is the feature that makes the Trace Advanced more than a clear conventional spotter for me.

Trace Advanced 20-60×80 vs Thrive 20-60×85

For my long-range spotting role, the OSR reticle is the reason to accept the extra weight and price of the Trace Advanced. If the job is checking groups, observing game or helping a shooter see impacts without measuring them, the field-tested ZeroTech Thrive 20-60×85 is the more economical option.

Who Should Buy It?

What I Like

• The offset FFP OSR reticle gives me measured corrections without covering the centre of the view.
• The Trace resolved shaded target detail better than my Viper HD in the comparison I performed.
• In-line zoom, focus and dioptre controls are quick to understand and use.
• The rubber-armoured, IPX7 body and multiple mounting interfaces suit hard range use.

What to Consider

• The 2377g body is heavy before a suitable tripod and head are added.
• There is no illuminated reticle, so the etched markings depend on available contrast.
• Sixty-power viewing is often limited by mirage and support stability rather than the zoom ring.
• A buyer who only checks targets may get better value from a simpler non-reticle spotter.

ZeroTech Trace Advanced 20-60×80 FAQ

Is the OSR reticle first focal plane?

Yes. The Optimised Spotting Reticle is a first focal plane MRAD reticle, so its angular measurements remain consistent throughout the 20-60x magnification range.

Can it call corrections to an MOA scope?

It can, but the observer must convert the measured MRAD correction into MOA. The cleanest workflow is a MRAD spotting reticle paired with a MRAD rifle scope.

Is 60x always useful?

No. Sixty power can help with fine detail in calm, clear conditions, but heat shimmer, mirage and tripod movement may make a lower magnification more informative.

Is it a good hunting spotter?

Optically and mechanically it can perform the role, but its 2377g weight makes it better suited to vehicle-supported or short-carry hunting than an ultralight walk-in setup.

Does it include a reticle light?

No. The OSR is glass etched and non-illuminated.

Related ZeroTech Reviews

Start with the ZeroTech optics review hub for the full range. For the rifle paired with a spotter, compare the field-tested Trace Advanced 4.5-27×50, Trace Advanced 4-24×50 TREMOR3 and Trace Advanced 5-30×56.

Sources checked: ZeroTech Australian product page | ZeroTech product resources | ZeroTech instruction manual | ZeroTech warranty. Specifications, prices and availability can change by market.