Do you want to get a spotting scope? Are you an outdoors person who likes to observe nature, the animals, and the stars with a spotting scope? Do you know what to look for when choosing a spotting scope? In this article, we discuss tips to help you make an informed decision on a spotting scope.
1. Magnification
One important tip when choosing a spotting scope is to find out what is its magnification. The magnification indicates how closer the target will appear to you than it is to the naked eye. Magnification is represented by a number that is followed by the letter “X”. An example is a 30X with the magnification being 30. Most spotting scopes have magnifications in the range of 15x to 60x and the higher the magnification doesn’t always indicate a better spotting scope.
2. Zoom Lenses
It is becoming more popular today that optics have zoom lenses. They make it easier to zoom in to clearly see your target from a very far distance. Another tip to consider when choosing spotting scopes is to look for one with zoom lenses. Most spotting scopes today are built with zoom lenses but it is always good to verify that the one you want to get indeed features zoom lenses.
Zoom lenses can change the magnification power to as much as 3 times its normal magnification power. They are just awesome and enhances the quality of viewing.
3. Glass Quality
The glass the spotting scope is made of is also very important and you should read the manual or ask the store associate about it. The quality of the glass will become evident when you are in a low-light area. There is a remarkable difference in the brightness and image clarity between high-quality glass scopes and scopes made with standard glass.
4. Light Gathering Capacity
How much light the spotting scope gathers is another important factor to consider when choosing a spotting scope. This capacity is directly related to the size of the objective lens. The larger the objective lens, the stronger the light gathering capacity of the objective lens and the clearer the image will appear.
However, the larger the objective lens, the heavier the spotting scope will be. This is one factor to consider when you want a spotting scope with a large lens.
5. Eyepiece Placement
Another tip when choosing a spotting scope is to consider the eyepiece placement. There are two types of eyepiece placements. They are the 45 degrees angled eyepiece and the straight-through. The 45 degrees angled placement makes viewing easier and has become the popular choice in modern day spotting scopes.
You can read about eyepiece placement before getting a spotting scope or talk to the store associates about the type of eyepiece placement that are in the spotting scopes they have. But the trend today leans toward the 45 degrees angled placement.
6. Eye Relief
When considering a spotting scope, another tip is to find out about its eye relief. Eye relief is the distance between the lens of your scope to the tip of your eye. Eye relief is very important and you must get the right eye relief for the spotting scope you want to get. An eye relief of 12 to 15mm is the normal range. You may get a distorted, fuzzy image with a black ring around the field of view if the eye relief is the wrong one.
7. Focus Knob vs Focus Collar
You want to get the best image from a spotting scope and this is done with a focusing mechanism. Most spotting scopes today feature a focus knob while others have a focus collar. When choosing a spotting scope, always find out if the spotting scope features a focus knob or collar and it is better to choose one with a focus knob. It is easier to operate and makes the job of focusing the spotting scope faster and more efficient.
Conclusion
Spotting scopes have become very popular for avid outdoor individuals like star gazers, nature lovers, hunters, hikers, and others. They allow you to clearly see the target from a very far distance. It is a dream device for nature lovers and star gazers as it allow them to clearly see the minute details of birds, animals, and the stars. In this article, we discussed some tips to help you choose the best spotting scopes for your outdoor adventures.
