Welcome to the colorful and bright world of spotting scopes! We cordially accept both amateurs and professionals alike. Now, which category do you fall in to? What interested you in buying a spotting scope? Is it bird watching? Plane spotting? Hunting? Astronomy or simply viewing mother nature’s beautiful self, I’d say whatever it is, you have made the right decision to purchase a spotting scope – because it can provide you excellent magnification with lots of other exciting features in your budget.
The market is huge, there are a lot of options to choose from, which might seem confusing at first that how are you going to find which one to buy? But the trick lies in knowing what you need and want, once you are sure of that you will see the rest of the work is pretty straightforward, and I can help you in that particular arena.
That is basically the whole point of this post. Do you want to view things clearly in a long-distance? Yes, you do! That’s why some specific spotting scopes are designed. Not all the spotting scopes are capable of getting a clear view of long-distance. To help you out, this list will be helpful for you as here you will know about the scopes which will perform excellently in long distance. No one wants to invest in something which isn’t productive and efficient.
As a matter of fact, you should be careful about what you are paying for. Making your mind on the budget is also a big step. Depending on your interest, the model will also vary, as all the spotting scopes do not work well in all sectors, of course, you cannot watch night sky without special eyepiece glass that is designed for it. Enlightening you about the scopes is the key motive of this guide. So please bear with me.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
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Zeiss Victory Harpia 85 Spotting Scope Body |
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NightForce TS-80 20-60x80mm Hi-Def, Angled Spotting Scope |
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Meopta S2 80mm Spotting Scope Angled Body |
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Vortex Optics Viper HD Spotting Scopes |
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Celestron 52312 Regal M2 LER 27×80 ED Spotting Scope |
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Celestron C5 Spotting Scope |
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Vortex Razor HD-60×85 Spotting Scopes (Angled) |
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Leupold SX-1 Ventana 2 20-60x80mm Spotting Scope |
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Redfield Rampage 20-60x60mm Straight Eyepiece Spotting Scope |
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Konus 7122 20x-60x100mm Spotting Scope |
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Check Price |
Choosing the Best Spotting Scope for You
Since you are researching about spotter scopes, it is easy to assume you to be a sensible buyer who is wise enough to not let the market and their exaggerating description about their products blind you. Investing smartly is always admirable and when it comes to products like these, it is great to make sure that the product you are buying can fulfill all the purposes you need it for. Here I have chosen 10 of the best spotter scopes that I found while doing my research. There are certain aspects that you must consider before buying one. Such as
Angled or Straight:
The body of the scope is also a pretty vital aspect to look into. While the straight one allows you to look straight through the scope, the angled one is designed with an eyepiece situated on the 45 degrees’ optical plane, allowing you to look without straining your neck regardless of your height. The old models used to be more straight.
Magnification:
The sole reason for your purchase of the scope is because of its magnification, so better make sure that you’re getting service of your money’s worth. A large magnification range will let you see the more faraway object while a larger objective lens will ensure clarity and better details – but big scopes also make it kind of heavy to carry around. So you’ll have to balance it out keeping your budget in mind.
I tried to conduct this and state my opinion as unbiased way as possible. But also I haven’t used all of them to know their exact utility, for that, I based my statement on the user feedback, both positive and negative, the durability of the product, its weight, efficiency, eye relief, focus length, magnification, and clarity. Also before I forget, the serial they are written in doesn’t mean anything, it is not a ranking. So while checking them out give each of them some thought more or less, as they are all astounding products.
Top 10 Best Spotting Scopes for Long Range Shooting
#1. Zeiss Victory Harpia 85 Spotting Scope Body
The global optics leader Zeiss has come out with the brand new Zeiss Victory Harpia 85. In this, you can get a vast amount of light through the glass into eyes with amazing details. This has the Dual Speed Focus System which is just outstanding. The long-ranging capabilities are just excellent. The Schott glass is world-class. This scope is excellently weatherproof even it is scratch proof! However, it is expensive. Since the advanced formulas they’ve used to coating, this is top secret! But if you can afford it. This will be the scope for your lifetime. There’s nothing to be disappointed when it is in action.
Features:
- 22-65x is the magnification range.
- The objective diameter is 85mm.
- The close focus length is 11.48ft.
- It delivers a wide field of view:207.3-68.9ft/1000 yards.
- In length and weight, it is respectively 15.1 inches and 1933 grams.
- The elaborated lens system is equipped with FL glasses that ensure color fidelity and sharpness of image even it is used at maximum magnification.
- Features 72 degrees’ subjective angle of vision ensuring a great field of view.
- Is unaffected by weather. Provides a clear image all year round.
- A versatile unit due to its close focus settings.
- Equipped with an integrated universal tripod plate.
- Sturdy build and durable.
- It can be quite heavy.
- Bit expensive of a deal
Zeiss has made quite the name in the market, if you can afford it, it will be quite a thing to have in the collection and will definitely be worth the investment.
#2. NightForce TS-80 20-60x80mm Hi-Def, Angled Spotting Scope
The stunning scope from NightForce has shown the excellency on the ground because of its capabilities. The price of it is very appreciated as the way it performs. It is practically indestructible. It also has the Digiscope adapter just like the Victory Harpia. The low light performance is just good as you expect. It has the perfect ED glass and the coating is hydrophobic. It is totally weatherproof to perform in any condition just like the premium scopes out there.
Features:
- The magnification range is high which is 20-70x.
- The objective diameter is 80mm.
- Field of view: 144.36-68.9ft/1000 yards;
- Weight: 4.3 pounds; Length: 12.83 inches;
- Close focus length: 13.62ft.
- Efficient design – angled and the exterior is wrapped with a rubber coat for longer durability.
- Produces clear images.
- Fog proof and waterproof.
- Easy to use and figure the device out.
- Lightweight.
- Some people did have a bit of an issue with the stiff zoom ring.
- The eyepiece has to be bought separately.
The price is very much acceptable. Observing things will be much easier with it. It is very suitable for hunting or to spot anything in long distance. It is a must-have for your collection if you are planning to hunt in low light.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
#3. Meopta S2 80mm Spotting Scope Angled Body
Features:
- The magnification range is high which is 20-70x.
- The objective diameter is 80mm.
- Field of view: 144.36-68.9ft/1000 yards;
- Weight: 4.3 pounds; Length: 12.83 inches;
- Close focus length: 13.62ft.
- Efficient design – angled and the exterior is wrapped with a rubber coat for longer durability.
- Produces clear images.
- Fog proof and waterproof.
- Easy to use and figure the device out.
- Lightweight.
- Some people did have a bit of an issue with the stiff zoom ring.
- The eyepiece has to be bought separately.
The price is very much acceptable. Observing things will be much easier with it. It is very suitable for hunting or to spot anything in long distance. It is a must-have for your collection if you are planning to hunt in low light.
#4. Vortex Optics Viper HD Spotting Scopes
Just like the viper of the snake family this Viper HD Spotting scope is by no means can be taken lightly. This scope is packed with exceptional qualities. In low light conditions, there will be no problem with getting crisp detailed images. The image quality is super bright in long distance. For allowing maximum light transmission the objective lens is being made massively. In windy conditions, you will be provided stability with mounted low on a tripod. You can adjust the scope precisely for medium to close-range shooting.
Features:
- 15x-45x is the magnification range.
- Equipped with exquisite glasses and high-end optics.
- Coated with anti-reflective XR coatings on the exterior.
- Objective Diameter: 64mm; close focus length: 16ft;
- Weight: 3.33 pounds; length: 15.8 inches and
- The field of view is 140-65/1000 yards.
- Proper eye relief ensured by multi-positioned eyecup.
- Purged with argon and sealed O-ring
- Built-in sunshade prevents sun glare.
- Ease in rotating.
- Rubber armor enhances the grip.
- It can be quite heavy.
Vortex Viper dominates the market of rationally priced high-end spotting scopes. With ultra-sharp images, you can get a clear vision of faraway objects even in zoom mode. It is water and fog proof so it will be easier for you to continue your work in any weather condition.
#5. Celestron 52312 Regal M2 LER 27×80 ED Spotting Scope
You will get pleasure at spotting something at a long distance with it because of having a long linear field of view. You can operate this scope effortlessly with its stunning magnesium body. It is useful to a person who is used to wear glasses by having a long eye relief experience. As I mentioned earlier that it has a stunning magnesium body that is much durable. It is fully waterproof.
Features:
- The magnification range is 27x.
- Objective diameter is 80mm, Extra Low-dispersion objective lens; close focus length – 21.3ft
- Weight: 15.4 pounds; in length, it is 21.3 ft. and
- The linear field of view is 110-37ft/1000 yards.
- The scope is featuring 32mm eye relief
- Stylish olive green design.
- Constructed with a durable magnesium alloy body.
- Waterproof body and purged with nitrogen.
- For attaching to the camera the eyepiece has T-threads.
- Comes with a stay on the case.
- Generous eye relief.
- Does not have a sunshade.
- Carrying case not equipped with pads.
This spotter scope does exactly what they say and serves your purpose for purchasing it for your money’s worth. You should observe carefully yourself to see if it would be suited perfectly for you. You easily connect it to your phone, the field of view is also very impressive. I’d encourage this one if birdwatching is the major reason behind your purchase
#6. Celestron C5 Spotting Scope
Aiming and shooting on this scope is great because of having a 50x magnification range. This is specially designed for hunting and aiming targets. It has the compact feeling in hand with smooth finishing on the body. It performs just right with its effective 1250m focal length. You will get standard detailed images by using it. It can be bought by most of the average customer just because of the price tag it has.
Features:
- The scope’s magnification range is 50x which is perfect
- The 5’’ aperture objective lens can gather more light than a 65mm lens which is good to use.
- Close focus length is 20ft, 13 inches in length, the weight of it is 12 pounds.
- Features 5 inches’ Schmidt-Cassegrain optical design.
- Coated with StarBright XLT coatings.
- Features 45 degrees’ erected diagonal image.
- You can take amazing images by adding T-Adapter.
- Comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
- Exclusive aperture design.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Supports a wide range of astronomy eyepieces.
- Various mounting options.
- Lack of clarity and sharpness.
- Hard to use a finderscope mount.
This long-ranging spotting scope is made for customers by keeping in mind about budget and the demand. It covers both the performance and budget which should be suitable for most of the folks out there who are willing to hunt and shoot. It is also incredibly useful if you are interested in and star gazing.
#7. Vortex Razor HD-60×85 Spotting Scopes (Angled)
This is a tremendous spotting scope from Vortex which is perfect for target shooters. It has ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass as well as the HD (high density) glass to make the lens more useful and the magnesium plating body of it is very lightweight and it is durable. The lenses are multi-coated. It has a rotating tripod collar.
Features:
- It has a 27-60x strong magnification range.
- The objective diameter is 85mm. 16.4 ft is the close focus length.
- It is 15.5 inches in length and 6.5 pounds in weight.
- Field of view: 117-68ft/1000 yards.
- Equipped with the APO system that combines with the HD
- The package includes – the scope, a see-through carrying case, eyepiece
- cup, and objective lens cover.
- Produces High Definition images due to its HD lens element and ED glass.
- Equipped with Porro prism that offers maximum clarity
- Fully multi-coated.
- Very sharp image.
- Comes with the APO system.
- Disappointing quality control.
- Too expensive, but worthy, however.
It is a great purchase as it produces clear, bright, color-accurate images because of having dielectric prism coatings. It is fully weatherproof even it is scratch proof. Very useful if you’re a hunting enthusiast, as the image stays clear even when you zoom in to the maximum.
#8. Leupold SX-1 Ventana 2 20-60x80mm Spotting Scope
Features:
- The magnification range is 20-60x.
- The objective diameter lens is 80mm. 24.4ft is the minimum focal length.
- In length and weight is respectively 17 inches and 2.3 pounds.
- The field of view is 89-47ft/1000 yards.
- Sturdy build that is resistant to water and shock.
- The lens is coated is an ion that sheds fingerprint also water to produce a sharp and clean image.
- Offers Twilight Light Management. Gives you 10 extra minutes of glassing light.
- Light and compact design are ensured for the Folded Light Path technology.
- Smooth focusing provides fine adjustment.
- Enough space for eye relief.
- Durable and stylish.
- Comes in both straight and angled versions.
- Comes with a tripod.
- According to some users, it does not provide true 60x magnification.
But also remember that it doesn’t have the rotating eyepiece. It is important for some shooters. Before buying this scope, you have to consider the matter but this isn’t any kind of deal-breaker. It is Nitrogen-filled, water and fog proof
#9. Redfield Rampage 20-60x60mm Straight Eyepiece Spotting Scope
In the world of spotting scopes, Redfield is not far behind. They have used quality material on the unit and guarantees a lifetime of use and the package is also rich with all the equipment you may need while using the scope, and also for a very affordable price. This is a budget-friendly spotting scope for the shooters. The eyepiece configuration of it is a straight view. It has the Bak-4 prism to deliver bright images with lots of clarity. The rubber armoring around the body makes it slip-resistant which is pretty welcomed by most of the shooters.
Features:
- The magnification range is 20-60x
- The objective diameter is 60mm. The minimum focus distance is 19.8ft.
- It is 14.4 inches in length and 2.4 pounds in weight.
- Field of view: 114-51 ft/1000 yards.
- Equipped with BAK4 prism.
- The lens shade is capable of retracting.
- Sturdy – constructed with polycarbonate material.
- The package adds an eyepiece cover, objective lens cover, a tripod, and a soft carrying case.
- Comes with a lifetime warranty.
- Long-lasting and waterproof
- All in one spotting scope set up.
- Rubber armor makes it slip-resistant
- Lightweight.
- The image gets a bit blurry at long-distance viewing.
- Not enough space for eye relief.
This spotting scope is a perfect value for the money. If you want to point at something too quickly then you shouldn’t be afraid while carrying it. You will get better performance for how much you are paying for it. Even after having a low price tag, it is fairly water and fog proof.
#10. Konus 7122 20x-60x100mm Spotting Scope
Features:
- The magnification power ranges between 20-60x
- The objective lens diameter measures 100mm and the close focus distance is around 26 yards.
- Field of view: 88 FT/1000 yards
- The product is 18.8 inches in length is weighs about 7.3 pounds.
- The exit pupil should be 5mm at 20x and 1.67mm at 60x zoom.20mm eye relief.
- Durable and the package includes the scope, lens cap, and a camera adaptor with a carrying case.
- Very budget-friendly.
- Easy to figure out and use.
- Excellent image quality for the price you pay.
- Too heavy to carry around.
- Does not come with a tripod.
- The image quality can drop at maximum zoom.
This spotting scope is like a prize in this price range. Before buying one, you better remember what kind of shooting you are going to perform, or the purpose of your purchase. That’s where the decision lies that which one will be exactly the perfect spotting scope for you. Since it is a value scope, this will do a good job in many sectors and also not so good on many.
FAQ
Q.1: Why do I need a Spotting Scope?
A.1: Spotting scopes are a monocular telescope that offers a fair range of magnification depending on the eyepiece. This optical device is a great help in observing faraway moving objects of an open area. The high magnification comes in great aid for bird watching, hunting, star gazing, etc.
Q.2: What do the numbers, such as “60×85” stand for?
A.2: The first number stands for the magnification and the other indicates the diameter of the objective lens of the respective scope. So a 60×85 scope would mean that the scope’s maximum magnification is 60x and the diameter of the scope is 85 mm.
Q.3: What should be an average magnification of a spotting scope?
A.3: Typically, it should be 30x, most spotting scope’s range within 15x to 60x.
Q.4: What is the foremost quality that one should look for in a spotting scope?
A.4: Diameter of the objective lens should be the priority since it indicates its light-gathering power.
Q.5: What do the words ED and HD mean in the scope’s description?
A.5: HD stands for High Definition and ED is the abbreviation of Extra-Low Dispersion. These define the quality of glasses that are used in the eyepiece. Such features also make the scope pretty expensive.
Conclusion:
Spotting scopes are a must-have if you fancy looking into distant places and have a whole new world of wild wonder unfold in front of you. There are certain distances that the binoculars do not cover, in those certain premises you will find spotting scopes to be very useful.
However, since they provide large magnifications that is why their field of view is quite small if we compare it to the wide FOV of binoculars. So, if you want to look further away and more clearly then there is no alternative, you’ll love it once you will get the hang of it. But choosing which one will suit your need best amongst the huge sea of different models and features can be quite a hassle, but not impossible.
There are many uses of spotting scopes and they are also very versatile, no matter what is your reason for buying one, for indoors or outdoors, there are some basic things that you got to check before you make up your mind on one. If they are lightweight and easy to take around with you and if it offers enough clarity in magnified images.
On this accord, I hope my review on these 10 popular scopes were able to make a difference. It’s okay if you wanna research more about them, in fact, I recommend it. Know more, learn the better, and choose what you most vibe with. Good Luck with your quest!
