If you’re considering buying a spotting scope but aren’t sure what to look for, you’re in the right place! Choosing the right spotting scope can be overwhelming with so many options on the market, but I’m here to break it down for you in simple, easy-to-understand terms. I’ve done the hard work for you by researching the best scopes available, picking my top 5 favorites based on features, value for money, and top-rated customer reviews on Amazon. You can scroll to the bottom to see my recommendations.
Spotting scopes are powerful tools for seeing wildlife and nature up close, and they’re particularly popular among birders, hunters, and naturalists. These scopes are more powerful than regular binoculars but less powerful than telescopes, making them the perfect middle ground for detailed, long-range observation. If you love watching birds, wildlife, or distant landscapes, a spotting scope is ideal. A telescope can be too much power, and binoculars might not give you the magnification you need to spot fine details. A good quality spotting scope fills this gap perfectly.
Maybe, you may have never even heard of a spotting scope, but once you get one, you won’t know how you lived without it! They open up a whole new world of detailed observation and are an essential tool for outdoor enthusiasts.
Why Choose a Spotting Scope?
What makes spotting scopes especially appealing is their versatility: they combine the long-range power of a telescope with the portability and ease of use of binoculars. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, a spotting scope is a great investment for anyone passionate about wildlife observation, birding, or nature photography. Whether you’re exploring the rugged wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains or observing birds in your backyard, a spotting scope can take your outdoor adventures to the next level. Previously, bird watchers and hunters primarily relied on binoculars, but now spotting scopes offer superior magnification and clarity for a much better viewing experience.
What Makes a Great Spotting Scope?
Choosing the right spotting scope involves understanding several key features that influence both performance and comfort. These features include lens quality, objective size, magnification, and other important factors like waterproofing, ease of use, and overall build quality. Let’s dive into each of these factors so you can make an informed choice.
1) Lens Quality: The Most Important Factor
When shopping for a spotting scope, the first thing you should consider is lens quality. No matter how big the lens is, the quality of the glass used will directly impact the clarity of your images. High-quality lenses will provide you with sharp, bright images, while lower-quality lenses can lead to blurry or distorted views.
Lens Coatings are essential for improving light transmission and reducing reflections. Here’s a breakdown of common coating types:
- Fully Coated– Basic coating that reduces reflection and improves light transmission.
- Multi-Coated– Better coating with multiple layers to enhance brightness and contrast.
- Fully Multi-Coated (FMC)– The best option, where every lens surface is coated multiple times for maximum brightness, contrast, and color accuracy.
Lots of merchants claim their products are FMC. But actually, they only coat the outer lenses. The inner lens have no coating or just a shoddy one. What’s more, prisms are even less likely to be coated. Only when all lenses, including prisms, are coated can it be truly called FMC. Why does this happen? Well, it’s all about cost. Coating the lenses can bump up the price by 30%, and regular shoppers usually have no clue whether the inner lenses are coated or not. Only folks in the optical business really know the deal.
For spotting scope or other long-distance viewing, if you want to see things way off in the distance, you need anti-reflective coatings. These coatings make sure enough light gets through the lenses. That way, even when it’s kind of dark, you can still spot your target nice and clear.
If you want to know how to figure out if the lenses are truly FMC, you can read my previous posts.
You may also see terms like HD, ED, FL, or APO glass coatings. These refer to high-performance lenses that reduce color fringing (chromatic aberration) and provide sharper, more vibrant images.
ED stands for “Extra-low Dispersion”. Many high-end spotting scopes feature fluorite-coated lenses, which provide excellent image clarity. However, ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass is considered even better for reducing color distortion and handling sudden temperature changes. ED glass is highly durable and is used in many professional-grade scopes and even by NASA for its superior optical performance. If you plan to use your scope in harsh conditions, ED glass is the superior choice.
In the beginning, ED lenses were made from fluorite. But here’s the thing, natural fluorite is super rare in nature, which makes fluorite lenses crazy expensive. Luckily, later on, synthetic ED lenses came into being. Still, it’s only the high-end telescopes that use these ED lenses.
APO is short for “Apochromatic”. You can think of APO as the result that ED lenses bring about. In fact, they pretty much mean the same. When a telescope uses this kind of technology, the colors of the view are really close to what you see with your naked eye. It gives you a view that’s as natural-looking in terms of color as possible.
These lenses are especially important if you plan to use your spotting scope for digiscoping (photography through the scope), as they help ensure the highest image quality. But dispersion cannot be completely eliminated because you cannot refract all light to the same focal point. APO technology only aims to minimize dispersion as much as possible.
2) Objective Size: Bigger is Better… but Not Always
The objective size refers to the diameter of the lens at the front of the spotting scope, typically measured in millimeters (mm). The larger the objective lens, the more light the scope can gather, leading to brighter, clearer images. Larger lenses are especially beneficial in low-light conditions such as dawn or dusk.
For birding and wildlife observation, an objective size between 60mm and 100mm is ideal. Larger lenses (like an 80mm or 100mm) provide more light and offer better image quality, but they also add weight and bulk. If you plan to be on the move a lot, you might prefer a smaller 60mm or 65mm scope, which is more portable and lightweight.
While smaller scopes (60mm) are still perfectly functional, a larger objective size (80mm or more) will give you the best image quality, especially in low light.
3) Magnification Power: Balancing Zoom and Field of View
The magnification power of a spotting scope is often written as a range, such as 20-60x. The first number is the lowest magnification, and the second number is the highest. For birding and general nature observation, a magnification range of 20x to 60x is ideal.
- Lower magnifications (15x-45x)provide a wider field of view, making it easier to find and track moving targets. Lower magnification is also steadier and more comfortable to use.
- Higher magnifications (40x-75x)allow for greater detail at a distance, but they come with a narrower field of view and may be less stable without a tripod.
For most users, 20-60x magnification is perfect. It gives you the flexibility to zoom in for detailed views while still providing enough of a field of view to track moving animals or birds.
4) Straight vs. Angled Body Design: Which is Better?
One of the decisions you’ll need to make when selecting a spotting scope is whether to choose a straight body or an angled body design. The choice depends largely on personal preference and how you plan to use the scope.
Angled body scopes are great for birding and nature observation because they’re more comfortable for looking up at objects, like birds in trees or wildlife on a hillside. The angled design also makes it easier to share the scope with others of different heights and is more comfortable for long periods of viewing.
Straight body scopes are ideal for looking at targets that are level with or below you, like a valley or a distant landscape. They are often faster for tracking moving targets, making them a good option for beginner users. Moreover, if you need to lie on the ground to observe a target, like a sniper does, these scopes are also well-suited for such scenarios.
If comfort and ease of use are your priorities, angled scopes are typically the better choice for birding.
5) Field of View (FOV): The Bigger the Better
The field of view (FOV) refers to how much you can see through the scope. A larger FOV allows you to spot your target more easily, especially at lower magnifications. As magnification increases, the field of view tends to shrink.
For example, a field of view of 131 feet at 1000 yards means you can see 131 feet of terrain through the scope at that distance. When you zoom in, that field of view narrows.
6) Eye Relief: Comfort for Glasses Wearers
If you wear glasses, you’ll want to consider the eye relief of your spotting scope. Eye relief is the distance from the lens to your eye that allows you to see the full image without vignetting (dark edges). For glasses wearers, an eye relief of at least 14mm is recommended for comfort.
7) Other Features to Look For
There are several additional features that can improve your spotting scope experience:
- Dual Focus– Allows you to fine-tune the focus for greater clarity.
- Smartphone or Camera Mounting Adapters– Great for digiscoping (taking pictures through your scope).
- Lens Hood/Sunshade– Helps reduce glare and improve image quality in bright conditions.
- Waterproof and Fog-Proof Design– Ensures your scope remains functional in all weather conditions.
- Prisms– BaK4 prisms are considered superior for sharp, bright images.
My Top Pick: The SECOZOOM Waterproof Spotting Scope
After considering all of the above features, my top pick for a great all-around spotting scope is the SECOZOOM Waterproof Spotting Scope. This model combines excellent optical quality, durability, and a compact design, making it perfect for birding, wildlife observation, and photography. It offers fully multi-coated lenses, 80mm objective size, and is waterproof and fog-proof—perfect for all kinds of weather conditions.
TFS268K3 20-60X80 Spotting Scope
TF2668B 22-66X80 Spotting Scope
TFS268 20-60X80 Spotting Scope
TFS268K2 20-60×80 Spotting Scope
TFS278 25-75X80 Spotting Scope
Conclusion
Choosing the right spotting scope boils down to a few key features: lens quality, objective size, magnification, and user comfort. Once you understand these factors, you’ll be able to choose the perfect scope for your needs. Whether you’re a birdwatcher, wildlife photographer, or simply an outdoor enthusiast, a high-quality spotting scope can bring the natural world into clearer focus, helping you experience the outdoors like never before.
Check out my recommended scopes at the bottom of this guide and start your new adventure today! Happy viewing!