Spotting scopes for the sportsman can range in price from $200 to $5,000. So what is the difference between a cheap spotting scope and an expensive one? The cost of a spotting scope is in the lens design and lens quality. Other features such as being waterproof, fog proof and shockproof also play into the price. You may be wondering what makes a good big game spotting scope compared to any other spotting scope. These type of scopes are not used for scoping out the bikini clad women on a beach . You want a spotting scope to see big game at long distances, such as deer, elk antelope etc. Magnification is the first thing you want to consider in choosing your spotting scope. Do not get a scope with a magnification lower than 15x because that is what your binoculars will provide. You typically do not want to go over 60x magnification on the high end because the field of view becomes very narrow and the image brightness deteriorates. The objective lens is the next thing you want to consider. The larger the objective lens, the more light gathering capacity the scope will have and the brighter the target will appear. The only drawback is the bigger the objective lens, the heavier the scope and the higher the price will be for the scope. You will want to look for a spotting scope that has high quality glass and lens coatings. Look for scopes with ED (extra-low dispersion) FL (Fluorite) HD (High Density) and/or APO (apochromatic) glass. These elements will provide you with an image of higher clarity, detail, and sharpness which in turn will reduce eyestrain.
When using a spotting scopes, you typically are out in the elements and not under the dry cover of a shelter. You need to get a scope that is both waterproof and fog proof. Look for scopes that are nitrogen or dry gas filled. It is also nearly impossible to not bump your scope either getting it out of your vehicle, carrying it over a slippery slope or the like. Look for shockproof scopes that come with rubber armoring to protect the unexpected bumps and collisions. You will be given the choice, with most spotting scopes, to choose a straight or angled design. Straight scopes have the eyepiece aligned with the barrel whereas angled spotting scopes will have the eyepiece offset 45 or 90 degrees from the barrel. If you will be doing most of your scouting from the truck and have the spotting scope mounted on the window, you will want a straight scope design. Think about how you will most often be using your spotting scope and what kind of situations or habitats you will be spotting in. This will help you decide which design and what type of scope will best suits your needs and be most functional for your big game scouting activities.



We have many Spotting Scopes to choose from. Please refine your search with our Spotting Scopes search engine, specifically to find the right Spotting Scopes that fits your needs.

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Burris Landmark Compact 20x50 Spotting Scope with Adjustable Tripod
Burris Landmark Compact 20x50 Spotting Scope with Adjustable Tripod

Barska 25 75x75 Spotting Scope CO10998 w Tripod  Case
Barska 25 75x75 Spotting Scope CO10998 w Tripod Case

NEW BUSHNELL SENTRY SPOTTING SCOPE
NEW BUSHNELL SENTRY SPOTTING SCOPE

German Army Hensoldt Wetzler 2x Optical scope
German Army Hensoldt Wetzler 2x Optical scope

UAG 15 40x50mm SPOTTING SCOPE+TRIPOD+CASE+LEN KIT BLACK
UAG 15 40x50mm SPOTTING SCOPE+TRIPOD+CASE+LEN KIT BLACK

Kruger Optical 7 25x50 Spotting Scope with HandGrip
Kruger Optical 7 25x50 Spotting Scope with HandGrip

BSA Monocular folding Scope TT10 30X30 Leather and Brass Folds out to 135
BSA Monocular folding Scope TT10 30X30 Leather and Brass Folds out to 135

NcSTAR 30 90x90 Spotting Scope in Black NB309090G
NcSTAR 30 90x90 Spotting Scope in Black NB309090G

BARSKA 25 125x88 WP Benchmark Spotting Scope AD11182
BARSKA 25 125x88 WP Benchmark Spotting Scope AD11182

leupold golden ring spotting scope 25x50mm used
leupold golden ring spotting scope 25x50mm used

nikon sky and earth spotting scope eyepiece 15 45x adjustable 7675 7351 7452
nikon sky and earth spotting scope eyepiece 15 45x adjustable 7675 7351 7452

NEW CELESTRON 52229 20 60x 60mm UpClose Spotting Scope
NEW CELESTRON 52229 20 60x 60mm UpClose Spotting Scope

Burris Landmark Compact 20x50 mm Spotting Scope for Auto Window
Burris Landmark Compact 20x50 mm Spotting Scope for Auto Window

Bushnell 78 1818 15 45x60mm Spacemaster Spotting Scope 781818 w BackPack
Bushnell 78 1818 15 45x60mm Spacemaster Spotting Scope 781818 w BackPack

Classic Bushnell 52mm Ultra Large Aperture Mini Spotting Scope
Classic Bushnell 52mm Ultra Large Aperture Mini Spotting Scope

Spotting Scope BSA 15 45X50
Spotting Scope BSA 15 45X50

Yukon Firefall15 45x60SE Spotting Scope Kit YK11026K
Yukon Firefall15 45x60SE Spotting Scope Kit YK11026K

Celestron VistaPix IS70 52212 Imaging Spotter Spotting Scope Digital Camera NIB
Celestron VistaPix IS70 52212 Imaging Spotter Spotting Scope Digital Camera NIB

SPOTTING SCOPE WEAVER
SPOTTING SCOPE WEAVER

89 UAG 15 40x50 SPOTTING SCOPE+TRIPOD+SUNSHADE+CASE
89 UAG 15 40x50 SPOTTING SCOPE+TRIPOD+SUNSHADE+CASE

Herters Spotting Scope
Herters Spotting Scope

Vintage Bausch  Lomb Balscope Ten 10 Power Spotting Scope with Vinyl Case NR
Vintage Bausch Lomb Balscope Ten 10 Power Spotting Scope with Vinyl Case NR

PERRINI 15 50X60 SPOTTING SCOPE WITH TRIPOD 1229
PERRINI 15 50X60 SPOTTING SCOPE WITH TRIPOD 1229

Burris Landmark Compact 20x50mm Spotting Scope  Tripod
Burris Landmark Compact 20x50mm Spotting Scope Tripod

Simmons Prosport Spotting Scope 20 60x60
Simmons Prosport Spotting Scope 20 60x60

Celestron 90 Maksutov Spotting Scope Telescope
Celestron 90 Maksutov Spotting Scope Telescope

Swarovski monocular telescope scope 30 x 75
Swarovski monocular telescope scope 30 x 75

Tasco New WC Spotting Scope 45EP 20 60X60 WC20606045
Tasco New WC Spotting Scope 45EP 20 60X60 WC20606045

Leupold gold ring spotting scope
Leupold gold ring spotting scope

Leupold Gold Ring spotting scope 20 x 50 very good condition matt finish
Leupold Gold Ring spotting scope 20 x 50 very good condition matt finish

OpSwiss 20 60 X60 Spotting Scope
OpSwiss 20 60 X60 Spotting Scope

Burris Fullfield II 3 9x40 rifle scope ballistic plex black matte
Burris Fullfield II 3 9x40 rifle scope ballistic plex black matte

REDFIELD REGAL SPOTTING SCOPE 20x fixed lens  a 15 32x zoom 50mm w Silver CASE
REDFIELD REGAL SPOTTING SCOPE 20x fixed lens a 15 32x zoom 50mm w Silver CASE



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