Have you ever considered the possibility of getting exactly what you want from a spotting scope? Well, even though this may seem too good to be true, we actually can be able to give you the best spotting scope under 1000.
Taking into consideration the fact that a quick search on the internet could lead you to get a substandard spotting scope, we are obliged to bring to you 2020’s #1 buying guide and review. Unlike what most people assume, it is not always about how much it costs or the brand name on the spotting scope but it’s a matter of whether or not you will get what you expect from it regarding the nature of the activities you take part in.
Well, without further ado, let’s first have a look at 5 of the best spotting scopes under 1000 after which we can then delve into what you should know before you buy one.
Sit back and relax because you’re about to have your mind blown…
3 of our best picks
To save you the trouble of reading all through, here’s a comparison chart of 3 of our best in 2020.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Nikon Prostaff 5 Proscope |
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Check Price |
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Pentax PF-80ED-A |
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Check Price |
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Bushnell Elite 20-60x 80mm |
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Check Price |
Top 5 best spotting scope under 1000 reviews
Are you willing to spend so as to get the ultimate spotting scope? Well, this list is definitely for you. Let’s have a closer look at 5 of the best you could get for your money.
1. Nikon Prostaff 5 Proscope
Starting us off on our list is the Nikon Prostaff 5. As far as ultimate performance is concerned, this one will definitely be worth every cent spent on.
Starting with the objective lens, it is 82mm in size which means that the spotting scope will allow quite an ample amount of light through it so as to give you the best visuals and most of all the brightest images.
As for durability, the spotting scope is both waterproof and fogproof i.e. it is nitrogen purged and sealed with an O-ring. This simply means that you won’t have to worry about moisture sticking on the lens surfaces or getting into the spotting scope at all.
There is also a built-in sliding sunshade which eliminates glare in bright conditions and in addition to this it keeps dust and rain away from the objective lens.
There is also a turn and slide eyecup that offers an enhanced eye relief.
- Comes with a built-in sliding sunshade to keep dust or moisture off the objective lens.
- Waterproof and fog proof design for utmost durability.
- An 82mm objective lens for the brightest images.
- The bayonet mount is a little bit weak.
2. Vortex Viper HD 20-60×80 Spotting Scope
Well, as far as getting the best quality images is concerned, the Vortex Viper HD is definitely something that you should go for.
Let’s see what it packs under the hood…
So as to give you both bright and clear images, it has got the multi-layer prism coating. Another added advantage that you get from having a multi-layer coating on the prism is that the images end up having the best color accuracy.
As for weatherproofing, it is both waterproof and fog proof. This prevents any form of moisture from damaging the lens surfaces and also from getting into the spotting scope hence no corrosion on the inside.
With the 20-60x zoom and the 80mm objective lens diameter, you get to have both an outstanding zoom quality and in addition to this, all the images will be brighter and you’ll be able to see more details on your observations.
- Both waterproof and fog proof- long-term use with minimal maintenance.
- 80mm objective diameter- get the brightest& detailed images all the time.
- Allows for a lower mounting height for the highest stability in windy weather.
- Use a stable tripod with it, otherwise, it may topple over.
3. Pentax PF-80ED-A
Well, with quite a number of options to choose from in the market today, the Pentax PF-80ED-A just so happens to be one spotting scope that will not disappoint you.
First of all, as far as durability is concerned, the receptacle has got a special ‘O’ ring assembly that allows the body of the scope to be filled with nitrogen. The advantage of this is that it is fog proof and in addition to this, it is also JIS Class 6 waterproof.
When it comes to the image quality, the spotting scope incorporates the Extra-Low Dispersion glass element which turns out to be one of the best when it comes to delivering optimum optical resolution.
To add on to the image quality, the objective lens on the spotting scope measures an outstanding 80mm. With this, the light passing through is enough to give you bright and clear images.
- Comes with a tripod socket with a click-stop rotation that allows for different viewing angles.
- With the built-in lens shade, excessive light is eliminated and so is dust and rain.
- The extendable eye cap allows for variable adjustments of up to 20mm of eye relief.
- It’s a bit too heavy and you may always need to use a tripod.
4. Viper Optics HD 15-45×65 Spotting Scope
Coming up second last on our list is the Viper Optics HD. Well, If you are looking forward to experiencing the best spotting scope experience, then you should definitely consider taking a look at this one.
First of all, it comes with the multi-layer prism coating which is one of the best coatings you could get for bright, clear as well as color-accurate images. Simply put, detail is not compromised on this spotting scope whatsoever.
The fact that it is both waterproof and fog proof alone qualifies it as the best spotting scope under 1000. This is so because you won’t have to worry about any moisture damaging the lenses or getting into the spotting scope which could be worse as it could cause corrosion.
For an improved resolution, color fidelity and utmost brightness, the scope boast the XR anti-reflective coatings which are backed up by the extra-low dispersion glass.
So as to make it more convenient for you to use, it comes with an eyepiece cap, an objective lens cover, a built-in Picatinny accessory rail as well as a custom fitted case. Anytime you’d like to take it with you, all you have to do is pack everything up and you’re good to go.
- Multi-layer prism coating for bright, clear and accurate images.
- Both waterproof and fog proof for ultimate durability.
- Comes with XR anti-reflective coating and ED glass for better resolution, brightness and color fidelity.
- On high power, it may take a little time to focus but on the bright side, you get to have the best quality.
5. Bushnell Elite 20-60x 80mm
As far as getting the best, getting an all-around spotting scope would definitely be one of the best deals you could get for your money. Coming up last on our list is the Bushnell Elite.
Well, let’s have a closer look at what you get out of the box.
Starting with the optics, it comes with the fully multi-coated optics which turn out to be the best when it comes to delivering clear and crisp image qualities. As for the prism system, the spotting scope boasts the BAK-4 Porro prisms. This gives you both brightness as well as high edge sharpness.
Durability: With the water repellent RainGuard HD lens coating as well as the rubber armoring, the spotting just so happens to be the one you should go for if you want something that will deliver long-term use with minimal maintenance.
With the ED prime fluoride glass, you get to have sharp and brilliant color resolution as well as clarity.
- 45-degree eyepiece for the best view of vertical objects.
- Comes with a rubber armoring for the best shock resistance.
- Has got an 80mm objective lens for the brightest and most detailed images.
- Despite its size, it doesn’t come with a tripod out of the box.
What you should know before buying one
Having had a look at 5 of the best you could get in 2020, we can now narrow down on the key things you should take into account before you actually make your first purchase.
Think of a spotting scope as a portable telescope that is made in such a way that even though its performance is close to that of a pair of binoculars, it is way better and at the same time, it is not as good as the telescope. Being one of the most precious instruments for anyone who loves bird watching and hunting and even in some cases lunar viewing, there’s a lot to consider before you actually get yourself one…
The lens sizes:
Well, as far as spotting scopes are concerned, the lens size just so happens to be one of the areas that should get the closest attention to. In this case, you really need to weigh your options and consider whether you want a lightweight spotting scope or whether you need quality images.
In most cases, most cases, the best spotting scope under 1000 will be in the high-end range or simply put, the lens size is normally the larges hence lightweight is not an option whatsoever. Generally, by saying high-end, it means that the spotting scope’s objective lens will have a diameter of between 60-100mm. The main reason for the large diameter is so that you can get the best light gathering capabilities as compared to the smaller spotting scopes hence all the images you see will be brighter and clearer.
Obviously, the bigger the size of the lens, the heavier the spotting scope is expected to be and you, therefore, have to consider where you will be using your spotting scope and for how long.
If you will go for the high-end spotting scopes, then it is best that you consider getting a tripod stand as well. Normally, the normal camera tripod should work just fine but on the other hand, taking into account the weight of your scope, it is best that you only go for the tripod that is specifically for use with the spotting scopes.
Choosing between an angle and a straight spotting scope
In most cases, the design that comes on most spotting scopes is either the angled design or the straight view spotting scopes.
Each of the two has got its own advantages and disadvantages.
Starting with the straight spotting scope, you get to look straight ahead while using it. The advantage of using this spotting scope is that it is more trivial for you to use. As is expected, this just so happens to be one of the best choices for anyone who’s into hunting since you can use it while lying on the ground.
If you’ll be doing your observations while looking down on something from an elevated position or if you’ll be looking straight ahead of you, this one’s definitely the best choice to go for.
For the angled spotting scope, the eyepiece is slightly tilted upwards hence you have to look down on it. This is the best if you love bird watching or making lunar observations. The good thing about using these spotting scopes is that you will use them easily for extended periods of time. You will also be able to aim skywards more comfortably using the angled spotting scopes.
The magnification power.
As stated earlier, the spotting scopes qualify as mid-range telescopes. The magnification power that you will be getting n most of them is between 15x and 60x. so as to change this, there is either the single zoom eyepiece or the interchangeable eyepiece whose lengths are fixed.
Here’s what you should do when adjusting:
Whenever you’ll be scanning an area with a spotting scope, the best thing for you to do would be to first start off with the low magnification power or rather the lowest setting then go up the scale once you have spotted your target.
The glass quality.
Besides the size of the lenses, the size of the glass on the spotting scopes is something else that should be paid close attention to.
The best spotting scope under 1000 will have fluoride-coated glass. This will be either the high density or the extra-low dispersion type of glass. As compared to standard glass used by the same manufacturers that have designed a different spotting scope using the high-quality type of glass, the difference between the two is quite large and highly noticeable.
Regarding the distance of how far you’ll want to make your observations as well as how clear you will want your images to be, you can decide whether or not you want the high-quality type of glass on your spotting scope.
The eye relief.
For anyone who uses eyeglasses and is a fan of the spotting scopes, the eye relief just so happens to be one of the most important things you should take into consideration while shopping for the spotting scope.
With a longer eye relief, you will have the optics direct the focal point back behind the eyepiece lens so that the observer wearing the glasses can get to have a complete view of the field of view. This is usually measured in millimeters. Generally, the standard size that is considered adequate is 12-15mm for most of the glass wearers.
So as to accommodate those who do not wear glasses, some of the spotting scopes will come with a movable rubber eyecup.
Which focusing mechanism does it have?
When you think of focus, the next thing that you should ask yourself is how precise o you need your focusing to be. Normally, there are two types of focusing mechanisms. The first one is using the focusing collar; in this case, the whole barrel of the scope is rubberized so that so as to make the image sharper, all you have to do is twist the barrel clockwise or anticlockwise.
The alternative to the barrel focus is the focusing system that comes with the focusing knob. With this one, you will, in most cases, find the focusing knob on the top of the scope and close to the eyepiece. Though they are slower to use, you may find them in the best spotting scope under 1000 since they give you a more precise focusing.
The prism system
Before we look at the types of prism systems, let’s first have a look at the types of prism glasses you will get on most spotting scopes.
Most of the spotting scopes are made from either borosilicate (BK-7) or barium crown (BAK-4) glass. Between the two, the latter is better since, with it, you get to end up with not only the brightest but also high edge sharpness on your images
The prism systems…
Simply put, this is what gives you an upright image and there are two types: the roof prism system and the Porro prism system.
Roof prism system– in this case, there is a close overlap between the prisms hence the objective lenses are able to line up directly with the eyepiece. The end result of this is that you get a streamlined and slim shape that is corrected and magnified by the prisms in a straight line.
Porro prism system: if you want a greater depth perception, this is what you should go for. The objective lens, in this case, is offset from the eyepiece. The other thing you get to enjoy from it is a wider field of view.
Final Verdict:
Coming to the end of our review and product listing of the best spotting scope under 1000, one thing that’s for sure is that you should greatly consider image quality vs price. Some models will give a clearer and brighter image as compared to others and some will obviously be heavier than others.
Though the higher end is always better, the weight is a burden that you should be ready to deal with; a tripod could take care of this for you.
All in all, the most important thing is that the spotting scope is good enough to give you the best observations regarding what you’re interested in.
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