Low cost spotting scope

powdergun

powdergun

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
245   0   0
I know you get what you pay for but I would like to find a decent spotting scope for under $200. The only thing I want it for is to sit on the bench and watch targets a 100 yards and to spot the silohuettes at 500 yards. It won't be taken hunting or in the rain.

Any and all advice greatly accepted
 
Most $200+/- spotters I have owned or looked through were challenging to clearly see .22 cal holes at 100m. I've gone through 3 cheapo's and finally bought a Bushnell Spacemaster 15-45x60 and and happy with it. It's a little over $300 but I can see .30cal holes at 200m easily. The power magnification doesn't do you any good if the scope has zero eye releif and critical focusing limitations. Clarity is far more important then power.
 
True, true.

The $$ for optics is mostly paying for quality of lenses and other optical elements. High magnification means squat if the image isn't clear due to subquality lenses.

There is just no way around it - clear picture requires quality lenses and those cost money to make. No amount of fiddling with the focus will correct for poor lenses.

The bitterness of being stuck with a poor optic that doesn't allow you to see what you need will outlast the happiness of finding a good bargain.

150$ is a good price compared to 250$, but it's 150$ down the tubes (instead of 100$ saved) when you find out it doesn't do what you need.
 
I like the Ultima 80 there, a 20-60x 80 nice and bright, but how are the optics on this? The price is nice at $233.
A Nikon RAII 15-45x 60 is $499...so I'm wondering how are the optics on the Celestron?
 
Celestron makes some really good stuff. They also make some crap - but for the most part he refuses to list it on his webpage :)

I've bought from him - and what i can tell you is if you call him and ask him, you will get EXACTLY the quality he says you will.

He also offers a 30 day no-questions-asked money back guarantee on all his scopes. you get it, you don't like it, you send it back.

If you tell him you're a gunnut, and you want to be 'extra sure', he'll usually extend that. He's always given me 60 days, provided it's returned in new condition (ie don't beat it up).

Celestron also has a very good warrenty.

I've found that for the money celestrons will give you more bang for the buck than most. But its' not all he sells - i'd really recommend you call and talk to him. He deals with a lot of bird watchers - people who want to tell a speckled finch from a regular finch at 300 yards in all kinds of light. The man knows optics like nobody's business, and he stands by his stuff. He's not a shooter, but he's gun friendly.
 
Keep an eye out on the used market. You can save some money there and probably get better glass as well.
 
powdergun, considering what you want it for ,you won't need anything high power,consider getting a nice rigid tripod to mount it on.you'll find a good tripod is something you'll want to encorperate into your purchase and will make the difference in user-ability.the ranges i go to in my area only extend to 2hundred metres,i use a nc star which is a very inexpensive 20-60 power scope with a 60mm objective lens ,the tripod i use is worth more than the scope.the point being is that this setup works very well for spotting 30cal holes at 200metres.when it comes to binos though i really recomend buying the nicest pair you can afford.like you ,i dont use a spotting scope for hunting,i prefer a good quality pair of bino's with me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom