Herknav
Member
In the market for a spotting scope for the range. I know virtually nothing about them. Any suggestions? Used is fine with me.
Spotting Scope--good value?
- Thread starter Herknav
- Start date
Luepold, Redfield, Burris are the quality and affordable names. Most everything else, less than $200, is junk or more than $500 is too expensive.
This opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it. I am the former owner of BSA and Simmons spotting scopes. My 1990 Redfield and two current production Burris scopes are used regularily.
This opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it. I am the former owner of BSA and Simmons spotting scopes. My 1990 Redfield and two current production Burris scopes are used regularily.
Dennis The B
US Veteran
I own two Nikons, and they're great.
don95sml
Member
The last time I checked out spotting scopes was in 2007. At the time I was really impressed with a Celestron Ultima 60SV 20X-60X, which was offered at $146 at OpticsPlanet.com - Binoculars, Sunglasses, Night Vision Goggles, Riflescopes, Flashlights, Telescopes, Rangefinders, Microscopes - Hunting, Outdoor, Science, & Military Gear
Here we are 3 years later, and I have procrastinated enough that I still have not made a purchase. I'm not sure that the scope I listed is still available, but thought you might want to go to that website and check out their current offerings. They appear to sell quality scopes at a reasonable price.
Here we are 3 years later, and I have procrastinated enough that I still have not made a purchase. I'm not sure that the scope I listed is still available, but thought you might want to go to that website and check out their current offerings. They appear to sell quality scopes at a reasonable price.
socal s&w
Member
I also bought a Celstron scope, simply for 25 yard pistol target viewing. It works very well and has different power settings.
Clarity is very acceptable in all three power bands. It's short and fits into my range box well without taking up too much room. It's mounted to the Gelbhart (sp?) mount inside the lid.
IIRC, I also got it at Optics Planet and it was around $90 shipped.
I did look at the higher priced Leupolds, Burris and Nikons but decided that for my use, I could not justify the cost.
Clarity is very acceptable in all three power bands. It's short and fits into my range box well without taking up too much room. It's mounted to the Gelbhart (sp?) mount inside the lid.
IIRC, I also got it at Optics Planet and it was around $90 shipped.
I did look at the higher priced Leupolds, Burris and Nikons but decided that for my use, I could not justify the cost.
Wow.......what timing......I just got back from a favorite pushers store and have in tow a Burris 12x-24x-50mm Compact spotting scope (item # 300135) and a Vanguard Lite 1 compact tripod. I got this for 177.95 together. this should fill the bill really nice. Good luck in your choice.....
I also got a Leupold Sequoia, and it wasn't any better than my old cheaper, smaller Bushnell. Took it back. Ended up with a 80mm Konus. It's pretty good for a low end scope. I like the angled eyepiece, but the tripod is pretty flimsey though. It was about $200. I did look through a 80mm Swarovski with HD glass. It was unblievably clear. it was also about $3500. I didn't get that one.
Wayne02
Member
I'm thinking about getting this one and mounting it on a pistol box for use at 25 and 50 yards.
Konus Spotting Scope 20-60x 80mm with Tripod, Photo Adapter and Soft Case Armored Green - MidwayUSA
Konus Spotting Scope Review | Airfield Shooting Club
Konus Spotting Scope 20-60x 80mm with Tripod, Photo Adapter and Soft Case Armored Green - MidwayUSA
Konus Spotting Scope Review | Airfield Shooting Club
mwtdvm
Member
I have a Kowa w/out the ED glass and I am disappointed. ~$800 and not worth it IMO. Chromatic aberration and not so sharp resolution. OTOH I have had cataract SX and while my vision is supposed to be "the best of my life", but reality does not bear this out.
It is hard to justify 1+K for something that is used as infrequently as mine is..
Don't even look at a Tasco... POS
It is hard to justify 1+K for something that is used as infrequently as mine is..
Don't even look at a Tasco... POS
Dennis The B
US Veteran
Unless...
...you need to see at very long range, a 60mm or 80mm scope will do nicely. You should get one with a variable eyepiece. With a 60mm scope you'll generally get 15x-45x; with an 80mm scope you generally get 20x-60x. The 60x is adequate out to 200 yards and beyond (the larger the objective lens, the more power for a given eyepiece).
I recently bought a Konus 100mm scope from B&H Photo in New York, for something with which to experiment. A 100mm objective lens lets in a lot of light, but it doesn't resolve color as well as my Nikons. It has a purplish ring around the black area of a standard 52-B target, so the color resolution is somewhat faulty. It does show targets well, even .22 caliber at 200 yards. It's nice and bright, so it does the job.
Dave B makes a good point about the Leupold scopes. There are several unfavorable reviews of them on Cabelas' web site. I looked at one there, and I wasn't very impressed.
The following web site provides some buying guides and ratings of some of the scopes.
Spotting Scope Review ? My reviews of all the best spotting scopes
Good luck.
...you need to see at very long range, a 60mm or 80mm scope will do nicely. You should get one with a variable eyepiece. With a 60mm scope you'll generally get 15x-45x; with an 80mm scope you generally get 20x-60x. The 60x is adequate out to 200 yards and beyond (the larger the objective lens, the more power for a given eyepiece).
I recently bought a Konus 100mm scope from B&H Photo in New York, for something with which to experiment. A 100mm objective lens lets in a lot of light, but it doesn't resolve color as well as my Nikons. It has a purplish ring around the black area of a standard 52-B target, so the color resolution is somewhat faulty. It does show targets well, even .22 caliber at 200 yards. It's nice and bright, so it does the job.
Dave B makes a good point about the Leupold scopes. There are several unfavorable reviews of them on Cabelas' web site. I looked at one there, and I wasn't very impressed.
The following web site provides some buying guides and ratings of some of the scopes.
Spotting Scope Review ? My reviews of all the best spotting scopes
Good luck.
Marksman
Member
I have had a very nice vintage Bausch & Lomb BalscopeSR 20X Spotting Scope for sale in the classifieds for some time now with no takers. It is in VG+ to EXC condition complete with a Freeland tripod. These scopes are 100% made in the USA and were the standard against which all others were judged years ago. I've just done a BTT so it will be easy to find, thanks for looking.
LouisianaJoe
Member
I have had a LOMO Astele 60 for several years and am very pleased with its performance. It is very light and uses mirror optics that allow for a lighter and shorter scope. One thing that I like about it is that it uses standard 1.25" eyepieces. Since I have a telescope for astronomy, I can use the eyepieces from my other scopes. I recommend the zoom eyepiece. The scope is made in Russia and is very high quality.
Here is a link to their US site.
Home -> Products -> Telescopes -> Spotting scopes -> ASTELE™ 60
Here is a link to their US site.
Home -> Products -> Telescopes -> Spotting scopes -> ASTELE™ 60
HEAD0001
Member
You need to define exactly what you want to do with it. Exactly What you are going to use it for. There are a bunch of them out there. So you need to give more information. For example which would work best. Angled or straight?? Are you wanting to see 45 caliber holes at 50 yards. Or 22 caliber holes at 400 yards?? Do you want to use it for digi-scoping(camera attached)?? Too many variables, not enough information.
Best I can tell you to do is call Doug at CameraLand. He has some good deals right now. I just bought a new one to do digi-scoping with. It is a real dandy, and I got a great deal from Doug.
The best advice I can give you is you get what you pay for in optics. If you want quality then it costs. Tom.
Best I can tell you to do is call Doug at CameraLand. He has some good deals right now. I just bought a new one to do digi-scoping with. It is a real dandy, and I got a great deal from Doug.
The best advice I can give you is you get what you pay for in optics. If you want quality then it costs. Tom.
With optics, form follows function to a great extent.
Yesterday, I was sighting in a new combination of rifle/red dot, and was adequately equipped with a cheap POS range rental that probably cost +/- $100, but was capable of resolving .223 bullet holes at 100 yards. Wouldn't want to rely on that cheap optic for much else, but it was up to the task at hand.
A week ago, hunting mule deer in big, open, desert country, I used a 77mm APO 20x-60x Leica spotter to note a tag (about half the size of a playing card) on the backside of the ear of a mule deer doe, in deep shade, at a laser-ranged distance of about 600 yards. The tag was easy to see (no, I couldn't read the number...). Even easier to spot was the white radio-telemetry color the doe was wearing... At today's prices, this is probably well over $3K worth of scope and eyepiece, not to mention the substantial tripod necessary to support it, it's necessary expensive case, and etc.
For range work, inexpensive scopes are fine. For serious trophy evaluation, etc., there's no limit to cost and quality...
For a basic discussion of optics, see my article, " How to Choose Binoculars" under my nom de plume, "jkendrick", at ehow.com.
Yesterday, I was sighting in a new combination of rifle/red dot, and was adequately equipped with a cheap POS range rental that probably cost +/- $100, but was capable of resolving .223 bullet holes at 100 yards. Wouldn't want to rely on that cheap optic for much else, but it was up to the task at hand.
A week ago, hunting mule deer in big, open, desert country, I used a 77mm APO 20x-60x Leica spotter to note a tag (about half the size of a playing card) on the backside of the ear of a mule deer doe, in deep shade, at a laser-ranged distance of about 600 yards. The tag was easy to see (no, I couldn't read the number...). Even easier to spot was the white radio-telemetry color the doe was wearing... At today's prices, this is probably well over $3K worth of scope and eyepiece, not to mention the substantial tripod necessary to support it, it's necessary expensive case, and etc.
For range work, inexpensive scopes are fine. For serious trophy evaluation, etc., there's no limit to cost and quality...
For a basic discussion of optics, see my article, " How to Choose Binoculars" under my nom de plume, "jkendrick", at ehow.com.
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I wanted to reply to this thread becuse I got a spotting scope for Christmas. I like to shoot 300-500 meters with .22 and .30 caliber rifles. I was going to get the Leupold sequia but I read all the reviews I was not impressed with what they said. Most said the scope was good to see large animals but when the target shooters reviewed the leupold they were not impressed.They said it was a chinese low end scope and didnt represent Leupolds quality.It just had Leupolds name on it.
I keep up my search and I remembered a target shooter telling me about a Konus. I started reading the reviews. I was pretty impressed.The reviews said it was not a high end scope but for the money it was very good. They also compared it to the Leupold sequia and said it was better.That cought my eye as well. Target shooter said it was good and you can see bullet holes at 300plus meters.
So I bought the Konus 20-60x100mm spotter, It needs a good tripod. I have one that I still might upgrade. This is a big scope. I got it at opticsplanet for $257 shipped.
I didnt get to use it yet on targets but I put it on my front lawn and looked at a license plate approx 275-325 yards away and I could read the numbers and letters no problem. I could also see the lug nuts on that cars wheel very clear.
I am hoping at 400 and 500 meters I will be able to see my bullet holes.
I wanted a good scope but I just dont have that type of cash for a high end one. All I want to see are bullet holes. 2500 bucks is not on my to do list.
Please note if you get this scope dont get a tripod with the quick release camera mount. You need a very sturdy tripod. I put a bolt through the quick release mount so it would not fall off.
You can also get this scope in 20-60x80mm. I could care less about the size I want to use it only at the target range.
Good luck.
I keep up my search and I remembered a target shooter telling me about a Konus. I started reading the reviews. I was pretty impressed.The reviews said it was not a high end scope but for the money it was very good. They also compared it to the Leupold sequia and said it was better.That cought my eye as well. Target shooter said it was good and you can see bullet holes at 300plus meters.
So I bought the Konus 20-60x100mm spotter, It needs a good tripod. I have one that I still might upgrade. This is a big scope. I got it at opticsplanet for $257 shipped.
I didnt get to use it yet on targets but I put it on my front lawn and looked at a license plate approx 275-325 yards away and I could read the numbers and letters no problem. I could also see the lug nuts on that cars wheel very clear.
I am hoping at 400 and 500 meters I will be able to see my bullet holes.
I wanted a good scope but I just dont have that type of cash for a high end one. All I want to see are bullet holes. 2500 bucks is not on my to do list.
Please note if you get this scope dont get a tripod with the quick release camera mount. You need a very sturdy tripod. I put a bolt through the quick release mount so it would not fall off.
You can also get this scope in 20-60x80mm. I could care less about the size I want to use it only at the target range.
Good luck.
