I have the Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50. I searched for a good year before I went on my elk hunt in CO last fall. I wanted something light, small and that I could pack around anywhere. I was on ebay every single day for 6 months, and there really wasn't anything used (at that time) for under $1000 that wasn't beat to piss, as far as Swaro was concerned. There is a difference between Swaro and a HD vortex. I've put them side by side recently, last week when we were spotting a few deer. The Swaro is slightly better, but it doesn't blow it (Vortex HD) out of the water by any means. Low light conditions was about the only time you could tell a difference, during the day hours, very comparable. The Swaro was also a larger scope so I know that the bigger mm did help it some with gathering light. I have been beyond happy with my purchase of the Razor HD for $700. Now, if a guy is looking for more of a 60-80 mm optic, I think a good used Swaro would be solid, but in the end, lifetime warranty on the razor combined with their great customer service is great too. Either way I think a guy is going to be happy. As far as angled or straight, I do alot of digiscoping now, and the angled is great. All of my past scopes were straight, but I for surely have liked the angled better over the past year or so.