Choosing a spotting scope: What is the best spotting scope for you?

Choosing a spotting scope is something you want to make sure you get right the first time. These units can be expensive and there are many criteria that must be met before you can be sure you are getting the best telescope for your needs based on price, weight, length, body style, optical zoom and more.

There are a multitude of uses for spotting scopes. The most common uses are bird watching, wildlife viewing, hunting, and astronomy. Regardless of your hobby, the same criteria apply when choosing a spotting scope. This article looks at the components you’ll want to consider when purchasing a spotter. For more information on specific models of spotting scopes, see the link below.

Price and Quality: You get what you pay for, so go for the best you can afford!

The first element that must be taken into account is the price. Everyone has a different budget; therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the best telescope for you may be different from someone else’s due to price alone. Spotting scope prices range from under $100 to over $3000, and you can bet there are plenty in between. When deciding on your budget, it is important to realize the difference in quality that the price offers you. First of all, you need to spend at least $300 to get a spotting scope of any kind of quality, though $500 is where the quality really starts to shine. After that, the law of diminishing returns applies and the quality does not increase at the same level as the price. For example, a $500 scope is usually twice as good as a $250 scope, but a $1000 scope is usually not twice as good as a $500 scope. A $2,000 scope is also not twice as good as a $1,000 scope. There just isn’t a huge difference between the mid price and the high price unless you have them side by side. Still, generally, the more money you spend, the better range you’ll get. That’s why it’s important to choose the best viewer you can afford, because by choosing a viewer you definitely get what you pay for.

Size: Weight, Length and Objective

There is a wide variation in the size of the spotting scopes. What you use it for will determine how big you can get it to work. If you plan on birding, hunting, or viewing wildlife away from the road, you’ll want to choose a spotting scope that’s small enough to fit in a backpack. A good size scope for this would be one that has an objective lens of 65mm or less, is no larger than 12 inches, and weighs about 36 ounces or so. You’ll also want to invest in a good lightweight tripod.

If your needs for a spotting scope will keep you within sight of your vehicle or on your rig, then you can certainly get by with a much larger spotting scope. Larger visors equate to greater light gathering capacity, a larger field of view, and a higher price. When it comes to higher-end models, it’s hard to tell the difference between larger viewfinders with 80mm lenses and viewfinders with 60mm lenses, unless they’re side by side. Even then, the difference is only noticeable in low light conditions. However, as I said, if this scope is going to be mostly stationary, you won’t regret choosing a larger scope.

body type: straight or angled

When choosing a spotting scope, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is whether to go for a straight or angled body. Both have their pros and cons, but in the end it all comes down to personal preference.

angled body:

• Best for situations when standing as it requires less height from a tripod and will be best for multiple users of different sizes as it requires less height adjustment.
• Harder for beginners to find game due to angle.
• While it’s good for standing in the field, it’s more difficult to pack.
• Doesn’t work well at all for viewing in a car with a window mount.
• straight body:
• Easier to get on the intended object.
• Easy to use with window mount and sitting in a car.
• Better for packing.
• Slightly less expensive than angled.
• A taller tripod is needed and more adjustments are required for multiple users of different heights.
• author’s preference:
• Direct is the only way to go for my viewing style. I spend a lot of time throughout the year observing wildlife from the comfort of my vehicle with my spotting scope on a window mount. I also pack my spotter in my backpack a lot when I go hiking. I’m not going anywhere without it, so I need all the space and packing capacity I can get.

optical zoom:

Optical zoom is another very important factor to consider when choosing a spotting scope. Most are variable with a range between 15-75x magnification. You want to make sure the range is low enough that it’s easy to find an object due to the larger field of view and less shaking. On the other end of the spectrum, you want to have a scope that once you find something, you can zoom in on it for a close-up view from afar.

The higher the magnification power you have set, the more grainy (or less clear) the image will be. It will also have a smaller field of view and movement will be magnified making things look choppy. With high-quality spotting scopes, the optics provide a generous field of view, collect plenty of light, and provide sharp images. This makes it possible to have a clear image at higher magnification levels. This is not the case on less expensive models, causing image quality to deteriorate as magnification increases. So, if you’re looking for a less expensive spotting scope on the market, you’ll want something with a magnification that starts low, say around 15 power, and goes up to 40-50 power. With more expensive telescopes, you can get by with something that gives you more magnification and still get a clear image.