The History of Spotting Scopes
Have you ever seen a sniper with another person that spots the target and guide the sniper? That person is called a spotter, and what does he use? A spotting scope!
So what exactly is a spotting scope? A spotting scope is a small portable high-power telescope with additional optics to present erect images, it is usually used for looking at terrestrial objects.
Binoculars, telescopes, magnifying glasses, and spotting scopes are all from the same family. Some are used for close objects and some for distant objects while some are used for extremely distant objects such as stars and the mysteries of the universe.
The first form of spotting scopes were magnifying glasses, reported to be invented in the 12th century, followed by telescopes in the 16th century. With some technical advancements, came binoculars which were first used in the 18th century then shortly came what we now know as a spotting scope.
Why do you need a Spotting Scope?
There are various occasions and activities where you would find yourself in a need of spotting scopes. These situations usually occur when you need to capture a beautiful moment in terms of photography, videography, or even when you need to shoot or hunt down wildlife. You may often notice people using spotting scopes during birding, viewing landscape, hunting, stargazing and other activities that require distant observation.
Here are 3 of the best budget spotting scopes in my opinion that you can purchase that can give you what you are looking for and to help you in your spotting endeavors.
Table Of Contents
Celestron – Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope – 20 to 60x80mm
Product’s review:
If you need a spotting scope under $250 then the Celestron Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope is the best one to go for in my opinion. It features an 8mm lens, multi-coated optics, 20x-60x zoom eyepiece, and 45° angle. It’s great for birding or stargazing and I could say it gives an excellent outcome for the price.
I have had this spotting scope for several months now in my collection and after using it during this time I can confidently say that I am glad I purchased it. I was really surprised with the results that I have found.
One thing that really stood out is even at minimum magnification the viewing imagery was stunning to say the least, that in itself is worth the cost of this scope. As you gear up to the maximum magnification however there may be slight blurriness as I have discovered and which I knew about before I purchased it. However, that being said I haven’t had the need for maximum magnification all the time as of yet. I would suggest to the company in future models to improve the brightness stability as it changes with the increase of magnification.
The other issue I have had is if you are planning to use this scope in conditions that are wet or damp you may notice some fogginess on the lens at times. This spotting scope is suppose to be waterproof so really it hasn’t given me too much of an issue for the most part.
To get the best results I would also suggest getting yourself a sturdy tripod to really get the best viewing experience from this scope.
The accessory package it comes with is also a bonus.
- extend plate
- zoom eyepiece with integrated T-adapter
- carrying case
- eyepiece lens cap
- eyepiece port cover
- eyepiece carrying case etc.
For warranty claims:
They have a great customer support phone service to ask for help regarding the setup and they will provide you with clear instructions if you are having any difficulty. It also has limited life-time warranty.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Decent build quality
- Great image quality
- Light weight
- Ability to swap out ocular lens
Cons:
- No sun shade on objective lens
- Non-padded carry case
- Eye peace falls out
- Unattached Len’s cap cover
- Doesn’t come with a tripod
- Not suitable for x60 power
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for the perfect spotting scope for a low budget then there’s no better option than Celestron Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope – 20 to 60x80mm. Take it to birding or shooting, there’s no way you will regret having it.
Gosky - 20-60 X 80 Porro Prism Spotting Scope
Product’s review:
I am an avid bird watcher, amateur wildlife photographer and sky-watcher and from my years of experience I will give you an honest review of the Gosky Porro Prism Spotting Scope.
I have had this particular model for about 2 months now and I can say it is one of the best spotting scopes that is affordable to most people.
It produces stunning high quality images with full crispness and brightness. You’ll be hard pressed to find another spotting scope in this price range that delivers as this one does.
The main features of this scope are its multi-coated 80mm green film objective lens, eyepiece and quality prism. For short to medium range spotting it works great and you won’t be disappointed however, for longer range spotting of say 200 yards or more the blue fringing is noticeable and the quality gets a little blurred.
It has a complete waterproof and fog-proof body which is great if using in extremes weather conditions. The tripod is not tightly fitted but works well once you adjust it properly. I would recommend though to getting a full size tripod as this one comes with a tabletop one.
The digiscoping requires a little bit of effort to sort out however once your able to set it right the results are worth it.
The Gosky 20-60X 80 Porro Prism is specially designed for wildlife, archery range, shooting and other outdoor activities. Don’t doubt a single thing about the durability as the Magnalium framework successfully makes the body withstand the toughest of the weathers and the shock-absorbing rubber armor ensures maximum overall protection.
In practical usage, the overall performance is among the best. Once you know how to handle it you can expect perfect shots at any given.
For warranty claims:
Personally with me I had some difficulty with customer service, the provided phone number seemed to be unreachable which was not good. I discovered that the customer service was located in China and just gave up.
I did manage to email them but do expect a 4 or 5 day response time back to you. By the time they got back to me I figured out the issue I was having on my own.
For customer support email the company at service@gosky-optics.com or call at 0871-68586981
It comes with the following accessories:
- Digiscoping adapter
- Tripod
- Carrying Bag
- 1 x Tripod
- 2 x Lens Cap
- Manual
Pros:
- Good value for money
- Amazing build quality
- Great image quality
- Comes with tablet tripod
- Comes with digiscoping adapter
Cons:
- Field of view is small
- Not ideal for long range
- Tripod fitting is poor
- Customer service needs work
Conclusion:
With the excellent built quality and lenses, Gosky – 20-60 X 80 Porro Prism is your best choice when it comes to short to medium range usage but if you’re looking for something that will give you great quality at long range then this one is not for you.
Barska Benchmark Spotting Scope 25-125x88mm
Product’s review:
The Barska
It has an 88mm objective lens and will deliver stunning images with clarity and detail. All lenses are fully multi-coated to ensure high quality performance and scratch resistance. Unlike other spotting scopes, this one even at 60X won’t have chromatic aberrations and will give you bright & clear images. The adjustable objective lens allows you to make fine adjustments to the spotters focus setting all the while maintaining a visual on the target object.
This scope includes a tabletop tripod and an AccuGrip handle to ensure a steady viewing and the tripod mount will fit most standard tripod mounting screws so if you have your own favorite tripod just hook that up easily.
It also comes with hard and soft carrying cases for easy transport.
It doesn’t only capture moments but creates beautiful memories.
What’s in the box?
1 x Spotting Scope – 25-125×88 Benchmark
1 x Tripod – To stabilize and elevate the camera.
2 x Protective Case – 1 hard case and 1 soft case to ensure complete protection.
1 x ACCU-Grip
1 x Lens Cloth
1 x User Manual
Pros:
- Money Value
- Quality Name Brand
- Excellent Quality
- Large Field View
- Light Weight
- Comes With Tripod as well as 2 cases
Cons:
- Tripod is not the best quality
Conclusion:
Barska