Spotting Scope Review » Spotting Scope Buyers Guide

Angled Spotting Scope vs. Straight

Don Jenkins — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:45:29 +0000

The angle is great for low viewing

Angled and straight are the two basic body designs of the refractor spotting scope.

In a straight scope the eyepieces are aligned to each other while in an angled scope, the eyepiece is at an offset of 45 degree or 90 degree from the barrel. However, straight design is preferred by many.

straight body designed scopes can be easily mount on the glass window of a car to follow birds. It is also easy use at elevated position. While if you tall, you might prefer the angled scope. It depends on how you want to use your scope.

Some of the basic differences between a straight and angled spotting scope:

A straight scope your eyes are in straight line with the object under observation while in an angled scope you can look down into the scope observing the object, or you can even look from its side. With an angled scope you can do birding at different heights. You can rotate an angled scope to any of the sides. However, in a straight scope you have to adjust the lens according to the height.

With a straight scope, you have to bend on your knees to look through the scope while in an angled scope you just have to turn your head a little bit. An angled scope can be mounted lower for a better and steady image formation. A straight scope should be mounted at the height of your eye. angled scope can also work with a light-weight tripod. However, straight scope is preferred for birding from cars. The scope can be mounted on the car’s window and birding can be done easily. Some may even prefer an angled scope because of its larger arc of use.

Lastly, I would advise you to choose a light weight scope which is portable and easy to carry.

Weigh the cost of the scope against the benefits of the same to choose the best deal for yourself within your budget. If you can’t afford a Swarovski or Zeiss, you can look for a Nikon or Pentax. Buying a scope may be a onetime expenditure but will serve as a long term investment later.

There are a number of accessories which come along with the scope. Be smart enough to choose the right ones, according to your needs. Wait! Do not let your bank balance run out before you could buy a tripod for your scope. It increases its durability and stability.

Where to buy the best spotting scopes

Don Jenkins — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:20:19 +0000

Check each site I mention or you'll miss the best deals!

Over the past few years I’ve purchased over 10 different spotting scopes online for myself and my family. The best selection, prices and overall shopping experience has been at the following stores.

Only the best shops to buy scopes from

Frugal shopper tip: I’ve linked you right to the best deals below. Visit each store using my links for one click access to the biggest discounts.

Scope Deals at Amazon [recommended!] – The selection at Amazon, and often the prices as well can’t be beat. The lengthy customer reviews are also a great help when selecting a spotting scope.
Spotting Scopes Shop – This site offers some of the best deals you’ll find online and at times has that hard to find scope in stock when others don’t. Also useful for reading reviews and for buying other related optics products.
Binoculars Shop – Despite the name this binocular shop offers a large selection of scopes to choose from, and decent pricing.

Bookmark this page!

Don’t risk missing a deal or discount, use my links for one click access to the best deals whenever you shop!

Spotting Scope vs. Telescope

Don Jenkins — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:10:17 +0000

Spotting scopes can be used for Telescope sights

From the point of view of the design, a spotting scope and a telescope are not very different altogether.

Both are used for magnification and are constructed with an eyepiece lens and an objective lens. Both are used to be able to see long distance images clearly. Both the spotting scope and the telescope are designed in such a way that they can be mounted on tripods. However, this is where the differences arise.

The basic purpose of a spotting scope is to observe terrestrial targets, whereas that of a telescope is to study celestial objects. Spotting scopes are lighter to make them portable and are armed with rubber reinforcements. They also sport a more ergonomic design, as compared to telescopes, and are more rugged and durable. As compared to an astronomical telescope, a spotting scope has lesser magnification and a smaller aperture. However this enables the spotting scope to have a wider field of view.

Telescopes are optimized for being placed at one place and hence tend to be heavier than a spotting scope. A major difference between the two is that spotting scopes are designed to be mounted on generic camera tripods while telescopes require special mounts, which are quite expensive, to support them. The image produced by a telescope is always inverted and a spotting scope always produces a right side up image.

How to decide whether to use a telescope or a spotting scope? As mentioned earlier, a spotting scope is meant for terrestrial observations. Typically, when there is a need for high magnification, a spotting scope is chosen over a pair of binoculars. Due to the wider field of view that spotting scopes offer, as compared to telescope, they are better suited for observing moving targets. This makes them ideal for birding, hunting, surveillance etc. Spotting scopes are also used with guns for targeting. They can also be paired with a camera to shoot pictures of distant objects. In fact a spotting scope can also be used for star-gazing but will not provide as much clarity as a telescope would.

Astronomy telescopes are far better suited at observing stationary objects due to their narrower field of view. Also, due to their greater aperture and magnification than a spotting scope, they are suited for viewing objects at great distances such as stars, planets and the Moon. Although a telescope can be used to view terrestrial objects, it is not a recommended practice as not only is a telescope bulky but also produces an inverted image.

Using a Spotting Scope for Astronomy

Don Jenkins — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:06:07 +0000

Try a spotting scope for astronomical views

Over recent years, the use of spotting scope has gained popularity due to its portability. Moreover, it often results in clear images and is much cheaper than a conventional scope. Spotting scope is a durable telescope which is used for bird watching, hunting and even digiscoping. Depending on the configuration of the lens and eyepiece, it can be either used with or without a tripod. The major difference between a spotting scope and a telescope is that telescope gives inverted images unlike spotting scope.

The length of the spotting scope is around 300-400mm and the diameter of the lens is 60mm. Most lenses are of diameter between 60-80mm. A clear and sharp image is formed by a large lens while a small lens makes the scope portable and can be used without a tripod. The eyepiece of the spotting scope is set between 25x-35x while as the cost of the spotting scope increases the highest possible magnification also increases.

You can also choose a scope which offers variable zoom lenses. However, it is important to note that with the increase in magnification many other factors lowers; field view, image brightness, image sharpness etc. With a high magnification, the field of vision gets shortened and the amount of light collected also reduces, thereby decreasing the quality of the picture. It is advisable to use a scope with the lowest available magnification to gain a clear image. Scopes can also be fitted with the eyepiece of the telescope to increase the range of use.

Spotting scopes are best for nighttime stargazing and viewing heavenly body located close to earth. If the conditions are suitable, they can also be used to spot planets. However, a conventional telescope proves to have an edge over the spotting scope for viewing the other heavenly bodies in the sky. If you have to choose between a spotting scope and a conventional scope, think of the 80/20 thumb rule. According to the thumb rule, if you have to spend 80% of your time in viewing terrestrial objects and 20% of your time in watching stars, go for a spotting scope. However, if you are looking for your scope to perform a variety of functions like: electronic tracking, the ability to get sync to a computer, or studying deep astronomy, then you should go for a conventional scope. You should base your choice depending upon how you will use the scope.

Tips for Birding using a Spotting Scope

Don Jenkins — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:50:59 +0000

A spotting scope will widen your horizon for most bird watching. You can see a bird more clearly with spotting scope. All of us know that sometimes we need more than the usual 7x to 10x binoculars to locate those rare species of bird which we missed otherwise. However, it is not only used for rare species of birds but you can use a spotting scope for all kind of birding. The best thing about a spotting scope is that you can watch the sensitive species from a friendly distance; not disturbing them in their natural habitat. Some may feel that using a spotting scope is much difficult than a binocular but this idea of theirs can be debunked with a little practice.

Higher the magnification lower is the sharpness and the brightness of the image. Many other things are also lost in favor of higher magnification. More emphasis should be given to sharpness and clarity of the image rather than magnification. You should know how to use a spotting scope with a higher magnification. Make sure that you always start using the scope with the lowest available magnification and gradually increases it to the highest possible. Lining up with the target is the basic skill which is required to master the spotting scope. The best solution to the narrow scope is wide field of view, which can be achieved by wide- field eye pieces.

Spotting scopes are available in two different designs: straight and angled. straight designed scopes are the most preferred one and is characterized by an eyepiece that is in line with the body of the scope. While the angled scopes have the eyepiece aligned at an angle of 45 degrees to the barrel of the scope. straight designed scopes are considered best for birding from cars as they can be easily mounted on the car’s window. On the other hand angled scopes are best for bird watching at a height and they are also easy to use for watching stars at night time. All you need is practice, no matter which ever scope you use.

Some of the things which you should keep in mind for a better view are: keep your both eyes open while observing, wear your glasses if you suffer from astigmatism, use the stronger and the sharper eye as your scope eye, relax the muscle around the eyes while observing. However, if you cannot keep both the eyes open, try to keep the other eye partially open. This is considered to be a good practice and with little practice you can master the technique.

How-to pick a Spotting Scope for Birding

Don Jenkins — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:41:03 +0000

Get closer when birding with a scope

There are many kinds of scopes available. Birding spotting scopes come with many features and its price generally ranges from $100 to $2,000. The costlier ones are characterized by large objective lens and special coated optics.

While purchasing a spotting scope, one should consider many factors. The factors include: the objective lens’ size, alignment of the eyepiece, total magnification and even the money one can spend on the scope. If you willing to purchase a scope you can visit the Scope section for acquiring detailed information about spotting scopes and can compare them as well . You can also take a tour to the Cornell lab of Ornithology to read authentic reviews of the latest spotting scopes available from a variety of manufactures.

Apart from the factors stated above, you should go for a spotting scope with a suitable eyepiece’s angle. Spotting scopes which come with an eyepiece angle of 45 degrees is more stable as they tend to lower the tripod stand. Increase in stability reduces vibration.

There are two designs for spotting scopes: straight and angled. straight design is the best option for those who is fond of birding from cars. For mounting the spotting scope on the window, many types of window mounts are available in the market. Moreover, a straight designed spotting scope is also easier to use from an elevated position.

Using the spotting scope with a zoom eyepiece is preferred by many birders. With the help of the zoom, the user can easily switch from a lower magnification ( say 20x) to a higher magnification (say 60x). It is a known fact that the higher the magnification the more is the light collected, the less the magnification the less is the light collected. If the vibration affects are not reduced the images captured at high magnification can result into poor images.

Expensive scopes come with a special optical glass and coating to prevent the images from getting blurred at high magnification.

Generally, images captured at 20x level results into best photographs. However, images at 60x level are very useful for identification of birds.

The adapters for digital camera are very expensive. Often the adapters designed for the digital camera by the manufactures is suitable for only that line of scope. It is advisable to check the price of the adapter before purchasing the spotting scope, so that later you don’t end up paying huge amount for the adaptor.

How-to pick a Spotting Scope for Target Shooting

Don Jenkins — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:16:49 +0000

Take your target shooting to the next level

One very popular use of a spotting scope is for target shooting. This requires a premium quality spotting scope as compromising with the quality can lead to compromise with accuracy which you cannot most certainly afford.

Most target shooters are usually confused as to what features a spotting scope should have for effective target shooting. One very important factor to keep in mind while using a spotting scope is the environmental conditions. Dust, heat, humidity and dirt can greatly affect the quality of performance of a spotting scope. Very often we end up blaming the spotting scope for a poor performance when the actual cause is the surrounding environment.

The major points to keep in mind while buying a spotting scope for target shooting are quite a few.

The first thing to consider is the eye relief. The eye relief should be of a comfortable length that provides enough relaxation to the eye while shooting. An added bonus is a rotating eye piece which can used to adjust the target according to your convenience. The spotting scope should also have a large objective lens. The larger the objective lenses the more light it allows in and the brighter and clearer the target will appear. You should also remember to ask for the close focus or minimum focus feature in your spotting scope as it is not always a part of the package. The quality of the eye piece is of prime concern. If the eye piece is of inferior quality you can never get a perfect shot as the target will almost always appear distorted or blurred. So it is advisable to invest in the best quality eye piece for optimum results. The prism system is also a very important part of the spotting scope. Make sure that the prisms are of premium quality and are properly arranged.

For a distance of 100 yards a 600mm to 80mm objective is sufficient. For 300 yards the requirements are much higher and of greater specifications. You cannot afford to settle for a cheap objective lens. The minimum size required is 80mm for greater clarity at higher magnifications. The glass making up the lens should be of exceptional quality and be preferably ED glass. At a distance of 400 yards the conditions get more severe and so do the requirements. The optical quality has to be the best. You cannot settle for a cheaper option. Since the distance here is more the environmental conditions would have a greater role to play. Also the target remains in focus for only a short while and hence better quality ensure a bull’s eye hit. The Kowa Fluorite, Nikon Fieldscope 82mm ED, Zeiss 85mm, Swarovski 80HD or Leica 77APO are excellent options in this category. For 500 yards of distance between you and the target the optical quality really has to be at its best. The spotting scopes in this case need help to function accurately and that help is through a spotter or tagger. The spotter aids the spotting scope to work properly in such extreme conditions.

Tips for Buying the Best Spotting Scope Tripod

Don Jenkins — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:14:07 +0000

my tips for getting the best tripod

Tripods play an important role in providing stability to a spotting scope. It is believed that even the world’s best spotting scope is useless if not stable. Tripods come in variety of shapes and size. They are also available in different colors and variety of head configurations. (Head of the tripod is the place where you fix the scope).

Here are some of the tips which may help you in your purchase of a tripod:

It is advisable to choose a light-weight tripod. The latest carbon fiber tripods are light weight and portable. However, mounting a heavy scope on a weak tripod may lead to vibrations which would result in blurred images. So always choose a tripod which suits your scope.
Silver-colored tripod should be avoided as the reflection of the light from the shiny surface may frighten the birds and even disrupt your image brightness. Tripods are available in different colors, you can choose either a camouflage combination or a jet black.
Buy a tripod whose height is comfortable for you. Prefer an adjustable tripod whose height can be adjusted according to your requirements.
Prefer a tripod which has fewer joints per leg. It takes less time to fix the tripod on the surface. However, if you travel by air, you may go for a tripod with more joints as it will be easier to carry.
If you looking for stability even on rough surfaces then look for a tripod whose legs spread far apart from each other. You can also buy tripod shoes which provide firmness at rough surfaces.
Consider a scope with padded legs if you planning to carry it on your shoulders to the field. Otherwise, you can look for a tripod which comes with a strap so that it can be hung on the shoulders like a rifle. You can also buy a scope back pack with which you can easily carry your scope and tripod on your back.

Tripods come along with many accessories which add to the overall cost. You may choose the accessories according to your requirements. Uses of tripods play an important role in providing stability and helps in better birding. However, if you want to save yourself from the burden of carrying the tripod and the money, you can avoid one. Just be careful eno

Spotting Scope Tripods 101

Don Jenkins — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:34:29 +0000

Spotting is easier with a tripod

If a scope is not held steady even the world’s best spotting scope will be of no use. Using a tripod is the most common and the easiest way to hold the scope firmly. The tripod includes: the legs and the central column of the tripod and the head on which the scope is mounted.

Your scope should be placed on the tripod’s head in such a way that it could easily rotate horizontally and vertically. Some years ago, tripods were generally used by the photographers in the studio to take high quality picture. They were more concerned with the rotation of the camera and not with the speed. At that point of time, with the help of two handles which were located on the tripod’s head, the camera was made to rotate horizontally and vertically. It was a tedious process and consumed much time. However, in today’s scenario, the photographers are concerned with speed and hence the system has changed. Instead of the unlocking and relocking system, tripods now allow the tension to be preset to facilitate easy movement of head in both the planes.

Pistol grip, which looks like the handle of a hand gun, is another latest design of a tripod. The head moves in some direction with the squeeze of the trigger; once released the head locks. Everybody cannot use this as it requires some practice and some strength.

Earlier the fixing of the scope to the tripod was done by screwing a knob through the head into the scope’s bottom. However, this method was ruled out because it used to damage the scope and the pliers used damaged the knobs. With the advance in technology, many quick release machines have been developed. A plate is attached to the scope’s bottom and it is fixed with its counterpart which is on the tripod’s head.

As already stated, that the world’s best scope will be useless if not stable therefore, stability plays an important role. The heavier the tripod is the greater is the stability. The latest carbon-fiber light weight tripods which are available in the market have though revolutionized this idea. They are portable. However, a heavy scope placed over a light-weight tripod introduces the risk of vibration. So, you need to careful. Tripod with padded legs makes it easier to carry. There are many other accessories which can use with a tripod like: tripod strap, Scope back pack, Tripod shoes etc. There are some other devices which can be used as an alternative for tripods; they are: monopods, gunstock mounts, and window mounts.

Digiscoping 101

Don Jenkins — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:04:15 +0000

Nikon spotting scope with Coolpix camera for digiscoping

Digiscoping: is a combination of the words digi and scoping wherein digi comes from digital cameras and scoping comes from spotting scopes.

Have you ever tried taking a picture by placing a digital camera in front of the spotting scope eyepiece?

Not yet? Try it! It has a great advantage over the normal bird spotting scope.

Let me explain me how it works.

A good spotting scope can produce excellent images at a magnification of 30x. The latest digital cameras have a 3x or a higher optical zoom. The combination of a 3x optical zoom with a 30x spotting scope can produce brilliant images with a magnification of 90x. This is almost equivalent to a picture captured by using a 35mm camera.

Isn’t that wonderful?

Digital cameras have many advantages over the spotting scope and hence their combination produces excellent images. In a digital camera, one can immediately get a look at the quality of the image captured. It also facilitates easy removal of the bad images, thereby saving memory. The exposure levels can also be adjusted when a photo is being shot. Moreover, it is cost effective as there is no film involved in capturing images and pictures can be easily transferred to the computer.

You might wonder how to differentiate between 3x of a digital camera and 3x of a spotting scope. In a scope, X refers to the normal size. Therefore, 3x actually means three times the normal size. While in digital cameras, X refers to the shortest focal length, thus 3x is actually three times of the shortest focal length.

Digiscoping began in the year 1999 when Laurence Poh of Malaysia, took his first ‘digiscoped’ photograph with the help of his Nikon CoolPix 950 camera along with his birding spotting scope. Earlier a bottle or milk carton caps were used to form the separation between the lens of the camera and the spotting scope. With the advance in technology and increasing popularity, many more mounting devices have been developed. However, still the bottle cap serves as the most common separator for a digiscoping.

Digiscoping is regarded as an effective tool for capturing the most unusual bird sightings. You can capture beautiful digiscoped pictures with the help of a digital camera and spotting scope. So, if you own a bird spotting scope and are planning to buy a digital camera, you are on your way to capture some best “digiscoped” photographs.