Best Spotting Scope For Hunting | ||
Celestron 52250 | Vortex Diamondback | Vortex Razor HD |
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Do you want to have the upper hand in the hunting game? If so, then get yourself a spotting scope. Spotting scopes are amazing tools that give you an advantage over your prey. But with all of the different models on the market today, how do you know which one is best for your needs? This article will help answer that question and more!
Spotting scopes are not just for hunters. They can be used by anyone who enjoys the outdoors and wants to get a better view of what is going on around them. Bird watchers, nature enthusiasts, and even people who like to do some occasional target shooting can benefit from using a spotting scope.
That being said, if you are interested in hunting game animals, then having a spotting scope as part of your gear is definitely something that you should consider. It will give you an advantage over those who choose not to use one, and it may just mean the difference between taking down your prey or coming home empty-handed.
Best Spotting Scopes for Hunting Reviewed
The Celestron 80 mm spotting scope is a great spotter for hunting. It has an impressive zoom of 20-60x which makes it very useful in all kinds of situations, from watching animals to golfing or even sailing. This model comes with an altazimuth mount that allows you to easily adjust the eyepiece using one hand only and allows smooth panning motions – perfect when tracking your target! It weighs less than three pounds so carrying it around won’t be hard on your back either.
The objective lens diameter is 80mm which gives this product more light gathering capabilities compared to smaller models but also means that there will be some vignetting at higher magnifications (see below). Also included are two tripod adapters and a soft case for easy carrying.
The Celestron 80 mm features an adjustable eyepiece that allows you to easily focus on your target, even when it’s at long distances or moving too fast like birds in flight. There is a built-in lens cover which will protect the objective lens from dust, dirt and moisture but also makes this scope quick to set up – no screwdriver required! The fully coated optics of this spotting scope provide bright images with great contrast (there’s less light loss due to reflection).
- Great zoom and light gathering capabilities.
- Easy to use with one hand even when mounted on a tripod.
- Fully coated optics for good image quality at all magnifications (even higher ones).
- The 80mm objective lens means more vignetting at high magnification levels.
The Athlon Talos 20-60x80mm Zoom model is a great spotting scope for hunting – it has high magnification levels and an impressive zoom which makes this spotter ideal when tracking fast moving animals or birds. The objective lens of 80 mm gathers lots of light so you’ll get bright images with good contrast even in low-light conditions (early mornings, late evenings). This product also comes with a built-in sunshade to further protect the optics from sunlight and moisture. In addition, there are two tripod adapters included as well as a soft padded case for easy carrying around during your outdoor adventures!
The eyepiece on this Athlon Talos model can be adjusted up to three different positions which is great for finding the perfect viewing angle, and it also has a fast focus system so you can bring your targets into sharp view quickly. The Talos 20-60x80mm spotting scope is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a top quality product with all the bells and whistles – definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a new hunting spotter!
- Very good light gathering capabilities due to the large objective lens of 80 mm
- Very high magnification levels for long distance viewing – up to 60x zoom (great for long range hunting)
- Built in sunshade included so you can use this product when it’s sunny outside as well!
- None
The Sig Sauer Oscar model is a great choice for anyone looking to get the best spotting scope for hunting at an affordable price. This particular spotter has been designed with hunters in mind – it comes with a quick focus eyepiece, fully coated optics and multicoated lenses which ensure bright images with high contrast even when you’re tracking moving targets or game on gloomy days! The magnification levels are pretty good (up to 12x zoom) so this product can be used for both short distance viewing as well as long range observation of wildlife. Moreover, there’s also a built-in sunshade included which makes this spotter ideal whether you’re using it during sunny conditions or not!
This particular Talos model from Athlon Optics is a great option for those looking for a spotting scope which will offer good value for money. The Talos is available in both angled and straight models, and it offers an impressive 20-60x magnification range with excellent clarity on all types of targets – making it perfect for use during hunting trips. The optics are fully multi-coated to provide maximum brightness and contrast, plus the spotter also comes with a built-in sunshade to help reduce glare when observing in bright conditions.
- A wide range of magnification levels.
- Excellent brightness and contrast for the price!
- Focusing can be a little tricky in low light conditions
The Vortex Diamondback is another great option for anyone looking for a spotting scope which will offer good value for money. This particular model offers an impressive 20-60x magnification range, making it perfect for use during hunting trips where you need to be able to observe targets at both short and long distances. The optics are fully multi-coated to provide maximum brightness and contrast, plus the spotter also comes with a built-in sunshade to help reduce glare when observing in bright conditions.
One thing that really sets the Diamondback apart from other spotting scopes in its price range is the inclusion of premium features such as adjustable eyepieces and a V-MAX ballistic reticle which can be incredibly useful when taking shots at long range. All in all, the Vortex Diamondback is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a quality spotting scope on a budget.
- 20-60x magnification range
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Built-in sunshade
- Adjustable eyepieces
- V-MAX ballistic reticle
- None that we could find!
If you’re looking for a spotting scope that offers the very best in terms of image quality, then the Vortex Viper HD is well worth considering. This top-of-the-range spotter features premium extra-low dispersion glass lenses which deliver stunning views with incredible detail and contrast, even in low light conditions. The 85mm objective lens also ensures that you’ll be able to see targets at long distances, making it perfect for use on big game hunts.
Other notable features include an ocular focus system which allows you to easily fine-tune the view, plus a built-in sunshade and anti-reflective coatings on all external surfaces to help reduce glare. The Viper HD is also tripod adaptable and comes with a soft carry case, making it easy and comfortable to take on big game hunts.
- Stunning image quality with great detail and contrast
- Built in sunshade and anti reflective coatings
- Tripod adaptable
- Bulky compared to some other spotters on the market
If you’re looking for a spotting scope that is both compact and lightweight, then the Maven S. The S. offers an impressive 12-27x magnification range, making it perfect for both short and long distance viewing. It also features premium ED glass lenses which provide stunning image quality with excellent contrast and color rendition, even in low light conditions.
The 56mm objective lens ensures that you’ll be able to see targets at long distances, while the magnesium alloy body keeps weight down to just 21oz – making it one of the most portable spotters on the market. Other notable features include a built-in sunshade, twist-up eyecups for use with or without glasses, and an ocular focus system for easy and precise focusing.
- Compact and lightweight
- Premium ED glass lenses
- 56mm objective lens
- None found
If you’re looking for a spotting scope that is designed to handle all kinds of environments, then the Vortex Razor HD is an excellent choice. The first thing you’ll notice about this Vortex best spotting scope review – it’s built like a tank! Not only does it feature magnesium alloy construction with rubber armor and weather resistant seals, but it also comes standard with flip-up lens caps which are great for protecting against scratches in your pack or case. In terms of performance, the 27-60x85mm zoom range makes the Razor HD perfect for long distance viewing as well as medium distances such as hunting from blinds etc., while premium porro prisms ensure maximum light transmission at any magnification setting between 27x and 60x so you’ll always be able to see clearly in low-light conditions.
The Razor HD has two eyepieces – a 24mm and a 15mm, which are both fully multi-coated for increased light transmission and edge sharpness with an over 360 degree panoramic view so you can keep track of your surroundings at all times without any blind spots or blackouts (unlike some other spotting scopes that only have one eyepiece).The built-in sunshade is also removable which means that the scope’s weight isn’t affected by it when it comes time to pack up after use.
- Fully multi-coated optics
- 27x to 60x magnification range
- 360 degree panoramic view
- Durable magnesium alloy construction with weather resistant seals
- Slightly heavier than some other spotting scopes
If you’re looking for a binocular that will give you excellent performance in all light conditions, then the Sig Sauer Oscar is an excellent choice. While it does have some premium features and costs more than most other models on this list – its optics are truly amazing! The first thing we noticed about these binoculars was just how powerful they were at both long distance viewing (for hunting whitetail deer from stand locations etc.) as well as seeing things up close such as watching coyotes before going into predator calling mode or picking out bucks during shed antler season.
When using these best long range spotting scopes for archery hunting, one of the biggest problems with many other brands is that their image stabilization (IS) technology just doesn’t cut it and often results in a lot of image blur, especially when magnification is increased. However, with the Sig Sauer Oscar’s IS system – this was not at all an issue! We could easily view objects 1000+ yards away without any trouble and found that even if we were shaky or had to quickly move our binoculars around, the image stabilization feature kept everything looking sharp.
- Excellent image stabilization (IS) allows for long distance viewing
- Image quality is sharp and clear with no blur even at high magnifications.
- High power at this price point – 15x per side!
- None
If you’re looking for a high-end spotting scope that offers superior performance in all light conditions, the Leica APO-Televid 82 is an excellent choice. This model features a built-in apochromatic lens system which helps to correct color aberrations – making images appear incredibly sharp and clear, regardless of the lighting condition. Additionally, the Televid82 also has an impressive magnification range (20x to 60x) which makes it perfect for both short and long distance viewing.
We found that this best spotting scope for elk hunting was particularly great at picking out details such as individual hairs on animals’ coats, veins on leaves, or other small objects from long distances away. The image quality was so good that we were even able to see the texture of animals’ fur and spots on leaves from over a mile away.
- Superior image quality in all light conditions
- 20x to 60x magnification range
- Built-in apochromatic lens system for accurate color reproduction
- Expensive compared to other spotting scopes on the market
Minox is a famous German brand that has been making quality spotting scopes for more than 70 years. The company product line includes both ranging and hunting riflescope, binoculars, compasses and night vision devices. Most of their products are used exclusively by the military and law enforcement, but Minox also offers civilian products such as the MD 50 W spotting scope.
This particular model is a great option for those who are looking for an affordable spotting scope that still offers good performance. The MD 50 W has a magnification range of 15x to 45x and a built-in zoom eyepiece which makes it perfect for both short and long distance viewing. Additionally, the scope’s lens are treated with multiple layers of anti-reflective coating which helps to improve image brightness and clarity in all light conditions.
- Affordable.
- High quality glass optics
- Durable rubber armor
- The lens caps are not the best quality
How to Choose A Spotting Scope for Hunting
The eye relief that is offered with a scope can be important for those who need to wear glasses while using it. This will vary depending on the type of eyeglasses used, but if you currently have astigmatism or any other vision condition then keeping this in mind and choosing one which has enough distance between your eye and the lens for optimal viewing conditions could prove helpful.
If you don’t normally wear glasses when out hunting though, then there’s no reason why having an optic like this wouldn’t work just as well without them so long as they are comfortable to use based on how much room there is around where your pupils would be positioned within the ocular device (eyepiece). It’s not something most people think about until they are trying to use a scope and realize that they can’t see anything clearly because their eyes are too close or too far away from the lens.
Zoom in on an area and focus on it is another important aspect of a good spotting scope for hunting. This will let you see what is happening at long distances up close without having to move around or walk closer which could potentially scare away the animal that you are trying to track.
This also comes in handy when taking pictures as you’ll be able to frame your shot better before taking it. Having a fast focus mechanism can be helpful too so that you don’t have to spend minutes trying to get the image just right; with a little practice, this should only take seconds.
A 20x-30x magnification power should do the trick for most people, but if you want something more then there are models out there which can offer up to 50x or even more if you need it.
When looking at the field of view that is offered with a spotting scope you’ll want to keep in mind how much area it can cover. This will depend on its size, but if you plan to use your optic for taking pictures then this may be something worth keeping an eye out for as well because lenses which have smaller FOVs are going to require more work when trying to frame shots so make sure you know what kind of camera or smartphone that you wish to mount onto it before purchasing one.
The average person should find 60-70 degrees sufficient enough though; anything higher than 100 and things start getting pretty hard to see without moving around too much from where they started sitting down. The last thing anyone wants while hunting is movement since animals can pick up on that very easily.
How well a spotting scope handles different weather conditions is another important factor to take into account before making a purchase. This can be especially true if you live in an area which sees a lot of rain or snow, because there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to use an optic that keeps fogging up on you every five minutes.
Some scopes come with built-in covers for the lenses so that they don’t get scratched when not in use, and others have been treated with oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings to help keep moisture away. There are also models which allow you to remove the eyepiece so that it can be easily cleaned without having to worry about any liquids seeping inside; just make sure that everything is completely dry before putting it back together again.
The size of the objective lens is also important to keep in mind when looking for a good spotting scope. The larger it is, the more light that will be able to pass through and reach your eyes which can come in handy during dawn or dusk hours where there isn’t much sunlight available but you still want to spot things far away from you without having too strain yourself trying to see them.
If using it at night then make sure that whichever model you decide on comes with an infrared illuminator so that animals don’t pick up on your location right away; this makes hunting especially difficult since they are expecting someone else’s scent rather than yours coming their way while they sleep.
There are a few different types of coatings that certain spotting scopes may be treated with. The most basic ones feature hard coat, which is very durable and should hold up well over time without chipping or cracking; it’s also typically found on the exterior lenses. Soft coating, on the other hand, can scratch easily so you’ll want to avoid scratching or dropping your optic as much as possible if this kind of coating has been used in order for it to remain effective throughout its lifetime. Other models have multi-coated lenses instead where several layers have been added onto the primary lens at once; these tend to offer better image clarity but are more expensive than standard models and don’t always come included with every package deal depending on what you’re looking for.
Benefits of using Spotting Scopes for Hunting
The main benefit that you will get from using this type of scope is the ability to see things more clearly. You can easily zoom in on an area and make out details that would otherwise be hidden by a lack of adequate lighting or other environmental factors such as fog, haze, rain, snow and so forth.
A good spotting scope for hunting should feature fully multi-coated lenses which will not only help to increase light transmission but also provide better contrast between dark areas and brightly lit ones. The higher quality optics produce less distortion too; images are sharper than they would normally appear if viewed through something with lesser optical properties like binoculars for example.
Another benefit that using a spotting scope for hunting offers is the ability to be able to see things at long distances.
This can come in handy when you are trying to spot game animals, but it will also let you keep an eye on other people who may not have your best interests in mind such as poachers or thieves looking to steal from campsites where they don’t belong.
If someone starts moving around near your camp and they aren’t supposed to be there, then being able to make them out clearly with a high-quality optic means that you can decide what action needs taking before anything happens which could put yourself or others nearby in danger of harm based on what their intentions are. You’ll want one that has enough magnification power too; 20x to 30x is ideal for this type of scenario.
Having a good spotting scope for hunting can also help you to take better pictures of the animals that you kill. This isn’t really something that is necessary if your only goal is to put food on the table, but it can be nice to have some good trophy shots as well.
Better image quality means that you’ll be able to capture finer details in your photos which will make them more impressive and may even result in getting published in magazines or online photo galleries if you’re lucky.
A spotting scope with at least 60x magnification is what you’ll need for this type of photography; anything less and you may not be able to get close enough to the animal for an optimal shot.
Tips for using Spotting Scopes for Hunting
- Spotting scopes are not just a convenient tool for viewing, they can also allow you to make precise shots.
- To properly use the scope your rifle needs be equipped with an appropriate mount that allows mounting it in line with the barrel of the gun (if shooting from a fixed position).
- You need to zero out both your firearm and spotting scope at 50 yards using factory ammunition or match loads before going on any hunt. After zeroing, check if properly aligned by looking through your scope at distant landmarks such as trees and rocks until you see them clearly without having to adjust anything. If everything is good then go have some fun!
- Before the hunt, make sure your rifle and scope are properly sighted in at least to a range of 100 yards. If hunting from an elevated position or over large distances then you might want to take this number up further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Spotting scopes for hunting are a great tool to have when you need to get an up close and personal view of your target without having to move. A spotting scope will allow you to see things with greater detail, as well as make it easier for hunters who may be in less than perfect health or physical condition. There are many different types of spotting scopes available on the market today; however, not all models work equally for everyone’s needs. To help ensure that you’re choosing the best spotter scope possible we’ve compiled reviews and comparisons from some of the most trusted brands out there so that you can choose wisely! We also included helpful tips on how to use these devices correctly and frequently asked questions about using them too!