How to use your spotting scope

My Swarovski 15-60X80mm, is IMHO, great for "moon" viewing. Not good enough to view the "Rover" but maybe with a higher magnification eyepiece??????

The biggest issue issue is the brightness of the image, I have to use "filter" lenses over the objective lens to decrease the intensity of light transmission, which sharpens the image as well. An amber or "saphron" filter works best.

It was easy to view the old International Space Station with some detail but that depended a lot on atmospheric conditions, and how the light was reflecting from it. It's much easier since it's been redesigned and expanded.

My scope also has a 360 degree, radial focus ring just in front of the prism box. This makes focusing much easier, with less "wobble"

It's the Swarovski 80SD HD.

They very likely make a better scope these days, but this one has been as good as some of the best I've looked through recently and better than most.

Getting a good one first can save a lot of money and tribulation, working up to the point we find acceptable.
 
Last edited:
OkayShooter said:
I traded pops my bushnell spacemaster 2 15-45 for a Bushnell trophy 20-60 I gave him years ago. And I miss the spacemaster. Glass quality is soo different and the eye relief.

Over winter I'll make a telescopic arm.
Click to expand...
Cool, looking forward to seeing that. I'll send pictures once I get something built. Speaking of pops and Bushnell's, mine gave me a new old stock 4X Scopechief, which I put on my wife's 10/22 carbine. It's crystal clear. No focus, no zoom, no problem.
 
bearhunter said:
My Swarovski 15-60X80mm, is IMHO, great for "moon" viewing. Not good enough to view the "Rover" but maybe with a higher magnification eyepiece??????

The biggest issue issue is the brightness of the image, I have to use "filter" lenses over the objective lens to decrease the intensity of light transmission, which sharpens the image as well. An amber or "saphron" filter works best.
Click to expand...
My local guy sells Swarovski, and, yep, they are another level. $3500-$4500 though, which is outside my price range for this project.

I have an variable polarization filter that I use for bright objects, threads into the diagonal or the eyepiece. Comes in handy when Mars or Jupiter is in opposition, or when getting lost viewing terminators on the moon.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like for your situation & use you will get best use from OK's setup. I mostly shoot alone and find a good tripod and 45* angled scope best for me. I just 'snug up' the scope to the bench so I can just lean over a bit to see targets. The Scope is a Celestron Cavalry (no longer made) 25-75 x 70. Good for 22-.223 holes in paper at 175 yds. Used to retail ca $200 10-15 yrs ago. Good for the 'low-cost' range.

Range 9-10-23 CZ-VMTR.jpg
 
ThisIsMyBoomstick said:
Hello,

I'm in the midst of choosing a spotting scope for the range, but I'm curious how everyone chooses to use it. I dabble in amateur astronomy, I'd thought of getting a straight spotting scope with a 1 1/4" barrel so I can use my own eye pieces, but I'm told that a straight is too awkward at the range. Assuming the scope has enough focuser travel, I could always add a 45 if it does turn out to be awkward, but I figure I'd ask those who use one.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Your on the right track to purchase a scope with the angle eyepiece. It is more convientent and comfortable for star gazing, at the range or hunting in the field. Contrary to what I suggested, my spotting scope has a straight eyepiece, primarily used for scouting for game out of my truck, with a window mount. Try to purchase the best scope you can afford, with a very large objective lens.
 
angle works good on the truck window too, depending on the view, it allows viewing while facing more forward instead of twisted to the side
ymmv
almost like a guy needs both options, doable if the price is kept in check
My high mountain hunting is done so sold the Swaro and bought several other optics for 'games'
 
I use mine on the tripod, mounted on the floor next to the bench, with an angled spotter.

Then mount my phone on it with the mag cam adapter, and take video of all my range trips, for at home viewing, and deleting. Can easily holes on paper with the phone attached on it.

Have not had much time to use it while in the field, as the last few years have been tight quarters to game. But the advantage is I can take a photo, or short video, and then on playback add more zoom to see points if required.

Very surprised that very few people use phone adapters.
 
Like many an old school school birder, I have a straight spotting scope with a rifle-like shoulder mount which works pretty well for target shooting, a little shaky maybe but like shooting you learn to accommodate that. Also, I have on occasion mounted a straight scope on a regular tripod for shooting, and if you don't mind the trouble of standing up to have a look, and the legs are not tripping or otherwise crowding others, that of course works too. But the setup in post #2 is quite ingenious and if you want a close to ideal mount, that's the way to go for bench shooting, I think.

My dream is to get a video system where you put the camera down at the target end of the range and observe your points of impact through a monitor you keep with you. If I ever find such a thing that sells for less than the price of a used car, and that comes with a camera setup and that also looks convincingly bullet proof, I'd get one of those.
 
Last edited:
Big Bad said:
My dream is to get a video system where you put the camera down at the target end of the range and observe your points of impact through a monitor you keep with you. If I ever find such a thing that sells for less than the price of a used car that comes with a camera setup that looks convincingly bullet proof, I'd get one of those.
Click to expand...
Like the Longshot Ranger Plus ?
 
If you're into astronomy, going with a 1.25" compatible scope is the way to go. I love my Pentax PF80... But for substantially less $$, the Celestron Regal and Optima are quite nice also.

As far as usage, I still use a older Freeland stand.
bracket3.jpg
 
sillymike said:
If you're into astronomy, going with a 1.25" compatible scope is the way to go. I love my Pentax PF80... But for substantially less $$, the Celestron Regal and Optima are quite nice also.

As far as usage, I still use a older Freeland stand.
Click to expand...
PF80 is definitely at the top of the list, and that is a cool stand.
 
Big Bad said:
My dream is to get a video system where you put the camera down at the target end of the range and observe your points of impact through a monitor you keep with you. If I ever find such a thing that sells for less than the price of a used car that comes with a camera setup that looks convincingly bullet proof, I'd get one of those.
Click to expand...
I had thought where I stream from a digicam on the scope to a old phone on the shooting bench so I wouldn't have to look through the scope, I could just glance at the screen, like what wallz does. But your idea wouldn't have to rely on brute forcing the optics to reach out that far.
 
I use a small table top tripod with a ball adjustment - sitting forward and left on the bench, lean forward to look through it ... used both angled and straight scopes... angled is a bit longer to find the target.
 
There are apps that allow you to use a second phone and a wifi hotspot to do 'remote camera' viewing, recording, controls, etc. I haven't done this because I don't want it but . . . you may.
Lots of options here -
http s://www.bing.com/search?q=2+phones+for+remote+video+recording&pq=2+phones+for+remote+video&ghc=1&lq=0&ntref=1
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom