Best Spotting Scope

Sometimes, a pair of binoculars just isn’t good enough to get the job done. Maybe you need more magnification, or maybe you need something that can be mounted on a tripod. Maybe you’re a photographer, and you want to take long-distance photos with more magnification than you can get from a telephoto lens.

No matter what you’re using it for, we’re here to help you find the best spotting scope on the market. We’ve found the most popular models available online, and put them through their paces to find out which one is truly the best.

There’s also a buying guide after our reviews, where we’ll answer some common questions about spotting scopes. We’ll be emphasizing hunting, but we’ll try to keep other uses in mind as well.

Like other types of optics, spotting scopes come with a wide range of features and zoom options. They also vary widely in terms of quality. As a result, there’s a lot of price variation in these products. Some cost less than your monthly phone bill, while others cost as much as a used car. We’ve tried to cover a broad range of products, so there’s a spotting scope here for every budget.

Best Spotting Scopes

1. Gosky Spotting Scope

The Gosky 2019 Updated 20-60×80 Spotting Scope Kit is a low-priced scope that comes with a full starter kit for photographers. It includes a smartphone adapter, as well as a clamp-style mount for keeping your phone next to the eyepiece. Just point it at your target, put it in focus, and take your picture.

The nitrogen filled body provides good clarity and is waterproof and fog proof. It includes a carrying case, as well as a tabletop tripod. This isn’t professional-grade glass, but it’s perfect for amateur photographers.

Pros:

• Includes a smartphone mount and adapter
• Nitrogen filled body
• Waterproof and fog proof
• Includes a carrying case and tripod
• Affordable

Cons:

• Not professional grade

Why it’s recommended: The Gosky 2019 Updated 20-60×80 spotting scope kit is a great starter kit for amateur photographers.

2. Emarth Angled Spotting Scope

The Emarth 20-60×60 Waterproof Spotting Scope is the cheapest scope on our list. This is, admittedly, a budget option, and we wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with deep pockets. But if you’re trying to get into the field on a budget, it will get the job done. It’s waterproof and fog proof, and the lens has a protective coating.

This scope includes a tripod and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. That said, the image isn’t very clear. It’s not useful for target shooting, even at close ranges, and we wouldn’t use it for any kind of photography.

Pros:

• Multi-coated lens
• Waterproof and fog proof
• Includes a tripod
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Costs as much as a trip to the movies

Cons:

• Not clear enough for photography or target shooting

Why it’s recommended: The Emarth 20-60×60 Waterproof Spotting Scope is a dirt cheap field scope that will spot game with no problem.

3. Vortex Optics Diamondback

The Vortex Optics 20-60×80 Diamondback Spotting Scope is designed for giving the clearest possible image at an average price point. To this end, the body is nitrogen purged to remove humidity and prevent fogging. The dielectric prism coating on the lens increases light absorption without creating a halo, and the retractable sunshade further reduces glare.

This scope can be mounted on a tripod and has a minimum focus distance of 22 feet. It’s also waterproof and fog proof. That said, this is purely a field scope. It just doesn’t have the clarity for HD photography or target shooting beyond 150 yards. You’ll also need to provide your own carrying case.

Pros:

• Fog and moisture resistant
• Dielectric prism coating
• Nitrogen purged for clarity
• Can be mounted on a tripod
• Retractable sunshade
• Close focus of 22 feet

Cons:

• Not clear enough for long-range target shooting
• Not clear enough for photography
• No carrying case

Why it’s recommended: The Vortex Optics 20-60×80 Diamondback Spotting Scope is a solid, middle-of-the-road spotting scope for finding game or short range target shooting.

4. Vortex Optics Viper

The Vortex Optics 20-60×85 Viper HD Spotting Scope has an argon purged tube and finely polished lens for true HD viewing. The XR coating on the exterior surfaces prevents glare in low light situations, and the extendable sunshade helps out under brighter conditions. The lenses are Armortek coated to protect them from dirt and grease.

The tripod ring rotates 360 degrees, so you can easily use it for searching out game without moving the whole tripod. Thanks to the watertight, fog proof construction, it’s excellent for taking outdoors in any weather, although you’ll need to provide your own case. It’s fairly pricey, but it’s worth every penny.

Pros:

• HD lens
• Argon purged tube
• XR coated surfaces
• Armortek coated lenses
• Waterproof and fog proof
• Rotating tripod ring
• Extendable sunshade

Cons:

• Pricey
• No carrying case

Why it’s recommended: The Vortex Optics 20-60×85 Viber HD is a high quality hunting spotting scope that can also be used for nature photography or target shooting.

5. Vanguard Endeavor

The Vanguard Endeavor HD is an affordable spotting scope that’s well suited for scouting game locations. With its durable magnesium body and waterproof, fog proof seals, it’s tough enough to handle use in the field. The low dispersion, prism coated lens provides a good enough image for hunting, but it isn’t crisp enough for photography or long-range target shooting.

This scope has a built-in tripod mount and comes with a carrying case. It zooms from 15x to 45x, which is less than most other spotting scopes but is powerful enough for most purposes.

Pros:

• Durable magnesium body
• Waterproof and fog proof
• Low dispersion, prism coated lens
• Built-in tripod mount
• Includes a carrying case
• Affordable

Cons:

• Relatively low zoom
• Not sharp enough for photography
• Not useful for long-range target shooting

Why it’s recommended: The Vanguard Endeavor HD is the best spotting scope in its price range. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done.

6. Vortex Optics Razor

The Vortex Razor HD Spotting Scope is a high-end scope that comes at a middle-of-the-road price. The prismatic lens is exceptionally clear and has an Armortek coating to protect it from dirt, dust, and grease. The body has an anti-reflective coating to prevent glare.

This scope is an excellent choice for long-range target shooting and photography. It’s clear enough to spot a bullet hole in a plain paper target at 400 yards, or in a splatter target at 500 yards. It also includes a carrying case for taking it into the field. The only downside is the poor eye relief. You almost have to touch your eye to the eyepiece to see the full field of view.

Pros:

• Armortek coated lenses
• Anti-reflective body coating
• Prismatic HD lens
• Built-in tripod mount
• Includes a carrying case
• Clear enough for long-range target shooting

Cons:

• Poor eye relief

Why it’s recommended: The Vortex Razor HD Spotting Scope provides a clear, crisp picture even at very long distances.

7. Swarovski Objective Lens

The Swarovski ATX/STX 85mm Modular Objective Lens is one of the most powerful spotting scopes available. At 30-70x, it’s certainly the most powerful on our list. Even at these high zoom levels, the coated HD lenses give a pristine image – good enough for long-range target shooting, or for getting a perfect picture from 1,000 yards away. The body surfaces are coated with an anti-glare coating, to limit light exposure to what you’re looking at.

This scope is very expensive, but it’s built for field use. It’s waterproof, fog-proof, and has a sturdy magnesium body with a rubberized grip. It also has a tripod mount. That said, it does not come with an eyepiece, so you’ll need to buy one separately.

Pros:

• Coated HD glass
• Zooms from 30-70x
• Coated body surfaces
• Sturdy magnesium tube
• Rubberized grip
• Built-in tripod mount

Cons:

• Eyepiece not included
• Expensive

Why it’s recommended: If you need a crisp image and more than 60x zoom, the Swarovski ATX/STX is the best choice available.

8. Kowa Spotting Scope

The Kowa TSN-880 Spotting Scope is made to deliver the most vivid colors possible. It does this with a fluorite lens, which shows truer colors than other types of optics. The nitrogen filled tube provides further clarity, and the entire construction is waterproof and fog proof. The polycarbonate body is durable to stand up to abuse in the field.

This scope is a high-end boutique scope and is probably more than most hunters will need. That said, it’s one of the best on the market for wildlife photographers. The eyepiece is not included, but it does come with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.

Pros:

• Fluorite lens for vivid colors
• Durable polycarbonate body
• Nitrogen filled tube
• Waterproof and fog proof
• Lifetime manufacturer’s warranty

Cons:

• Eyepiece not included
• Very expensive

Why it’s recommended: The Kowa TSN-880 Spotting Scope is a wildlife photographer’s dream scope.

9. Celestron Spotting Scope

The Celestron Regal M2 Spotting Scope is a durable field scope that comes with a carrying case and includes a photo adapter for wildlife photographers. It only has 16-48x magnification, which is less than most field scopes, but the magnesium body and coated lens will stand up to anything the outdoors throw at it. It’s also waterproof.

The tripod mount rotates, so you can easily pan with it without moving the whole tripod. That said, it’s a bit heavy on the back end, and tends to droop rather than staying in place. This scope is very affordable and will get the job done for most hunters and beginning photographers.

Pros:

• Multi-coated lens
• Durable magnesium body
• Waterproof
• Rotating tripod mount
• Includes a carrying case and photo adapter
• Affordable

Cons:

• Only 16-48x magnification
• Back end heavy

Why it’s recommended: The Celestron Regal M2 Spotting Scope is a well-designed medium-range scope at a reasonable price.

10. BARSKA Spotting Scope

The BARSKA Colorado Waterproof Spotting Scope is designed purely for target shooting. Although it’s waterproof, it’s just not durable enough to take into the field, thanks to the hard nylon body. It includes a cotton carrying bag and has an impressive magnification of 30-90x. Even at 60x, it’s extremely clear, but you’ll have trouble seeing .22 holes beyond that level.

This is a big scope, with a 5-inch lens. The eye relief is poor. You’ll have to get very close to the eyepiece to see clearly. That said, it’s extremely inexpensive. You won’t find a quality target shooting glass cheaper than this.

Pros:

• 30-90x magnification
• Surprisingly clear for the price
• Waterproof
• Includes a cotton carrying case
• Very affordable

Cons:

• Nylon body
• Poor eye relief
• Very large

Why it’s recommended: The BARSKA Colorado Waterproof Spotting Scope is a solid target shooting scope at a very low price.

11. Roxant Spotting Scope

The Roxant Blackbird HD Spotting Scope is a budget scope that’s a step up from the Emarth model. It has a multi-coated lens that resists dirt and oil and has a retractable sunshade to prevent glare. The eyepiece is also retractable, so people with glasses can get close enough for adequate eye relief.

That said, we wouldn’t use this scope for photography or target shooting. It’s just not sharp enough. But the included tripod is small enough to be easily used in a tree stand.

Pros:

• Multi-coated lens
• Includes a small tripod
• Retractable sunshade
• Retractable eyepiece
• Very affordable

Cons:

• Not clear enough for photography or target shooting

Why it’s recommended: The Roxant Blackbird HD Spotting Scope is ideal for tree stand use and is very reasonably priced.

What to Look For When Buying a Spotting Scope

For first-time buyers, spotting scopes can be an intimidating prospect. This is particularly true if you’re considering high quality, high priced item. Let’s look at some of the most common questions people are asking about these specialized optics.

Benefits of a Spotting Scope

Spotting scopes are basically a high powered, single eye version of everyday binoculars. So why wouldn’t you just use binoculars to begin with? There are three main reasons.

• Magnification: The most powerful handheld binoculars are in the 18x to 24x range. That’s pretty powerful, but it doesn’t touch the 80x or higher magnification you can get from a spotting scope. Some tripod-mounted binoculars are more powerful than this, but they’re extremely heavy, which makes them inconvenient to take out in the field.
• Stability: This is related to magnification. Basically, the further in you zoom, the harder it is to keep your lens pointed at the same target. Furthermore, it can be hard to reacquire your target if you lower your glass for a second. Most spotting scopes are made to be tripod mounted, so you can keep them on target more easily.
• Camera use: Most binoculars aren’t designed to be used with a camera. A lot of spotting scopes are. If you’re trying to shoot animals with a camera instead of a gun, it’s best to leave them undisturbed. A spotting scope makes this easy by allowing you to take high-quality pictures from hundreds of yards away.

What Game Animals do You Use a Spotting Scope For

If you’re hunting, the main benefit of a spotting scope is for finding out where animals are hiding. Depending on conditions, this can be useful for different types of games.

In an open area, you can use a spotting scope to find virtually any kind of animal. Rabbits and coyotes can all be easily located from half a mile away with a powerful enough scope. This is particularly useful for coyote since it’s essential to spot them before they suspect that you’re in the area. You can spot deer from a mile away with a powerful scope since they’re large enough to be visible at this distance.

In the woods, scopes can be hit or miss. Because trees and foliage will only allow you to see a short distance, most woodland hunters stick with a pair of binoculars. However, a spotting scope can be useful if you’re in a high tree stand that has visibility to a wide swath of forest.

You can use your scope to check nearby clearings or to look across a hollow to see if there are deer or elk moving on the other side. You’ll have to get down out of the stand and stalk them to get close enough for a shot, but it beats sitting in your stand, twiddling your thumbs and praying that a deer walks by.

Are Spotting Scopes Essential For Serious Hunters?

There are very few hunting tools that are truly essential for a serious hunter. A weapon, reasonable camouflage, and calls can all be considered essential equipment. A skinning knife is also essential if you’re going to field dress your game.

A spotting scope is a luxury. That said, it can be very useful, particularly if you’re hunting a large area with clear sightlines. It can help you locate game quickly, without wasting a lot of time waiting or stalking. It makes hunting easier, but it doesn’t replace common sense, accuracy, or basic fieldcraft.

There’s another area where spotting scopes are arguably more useful: target shooting. If you’re shooting a paper target at 100 yards or more, it can be hard to tell whether or not you’ve even put a hole in the target. A spotting scope gives you better visibility, helping you fine tune your skills before you get out in the field.

What is the Most Powerful Spotting Scope?

The most powerful spotting scopes are in the neighborhood of 70x magnification. Most max out at 60x. This isn’t a hard limit, but it’s based on the physical reality of how optics work.

Over long distances, tiny particles in the air and even humidity can blur the image. To get a clearer picture, you need a bigger lens that captures more light. Bigger lenses and tubes mean more weight, which becomes impractical once you get much larger than a 60x scope.

Sure, you could make a 200x spotting scope that’s the size of a rifle scope, but the image would be a useless, blurry mess. This is why the most powerful astronomical telescopes are so big that they take up entire buildings, and why even the biggest telescope in the world takes blurry pictures when it’s looking at something as far away as another galaxy.

What is the Best Spotting Scope For Hunting?

The best spotting scope for hunting is going to depend on your own personal needs. That said, you’ll want one that’s as lightweight and portable as possible. Ideally, you’ll want one that can be mounted on a small tripod, or you’ll be foregoing some of the advantages of using a spotting scope instead of your rifle scope.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there’s a truly dizzying variety of spotting scopes available on today’s market. Depending on what you’re willing to spend, you can get a small piece that’s useful for target shooting and scoping out nearby game, or a larger piece for finding game across a much wider area.

Ultimately, the best spotting scope is going to be one that’s easy to carry, and light enough that it doesn’t weigh down your game bag like a sack of bricks. If you’re using your scope for photography, you’ll probably be less concerned about weight, and more concerned about the crispness of the image.

You’ll also need to think about what magnification level is actually useful. The further in you zoom, the narrower your field of view will become. 60x magnification sounds sexy, but sometimes 30x is better for surveying a wider area more quickly. It all depends on how big your game is and how far away it is.

We hope our reviews helped you find the ideal spotting scope for your needs. Even if you decided to choose a different set of optics, we hope our buyers’ guide helped you to make a better decision. Have fun out there in the field!

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