which spotting scope?

M

m98

New member
from ur guy's experience which spotting scope is the best from $400-below and must be atleast 60x in power? it's going to be for bench and hunting.
 
Jack, you should look through one of these Celestrons. I find myself using the 60 power most of the time even at 100 yards. A guy on another board says he can read the neighbor's electric meter at 85 yards with his Ultima 65
 
I have not seen any Celestron spotting scopes. I know they make some fine motor driven celestial telescopes, large diameter reflectors with azimuth mounts are all I have seen.

Tell me more.

Jack
 
I believe Celestron just started making Spotting Scope in the past year. There isn't much more that I can tell you that isn't in the above link. Everybody that I know that has bought one think they are great.

I have been using mine for 4-5 months and I am still impressed. The only negatives that I see is it is big and needs a good tripod. The first ones out were not waterproof but now they are.
 
I had my heart set on a spotting scope 2 years ago with the same budget. Ended up with a pair of Nikon 10x42mm ATB's If you think Im nuts go to your nearest sportings good store and compair the clairty and brightness to any spotting scope in your price range. Then hang both around your neck and go for about a 10 mile hike through a few hills. Just to give you an example I was out west right after I bought my Nikons and spotted a coyote around 850 yards away with the binoculars. I could see his eyes looking right at me but when i put my Leupold VX111 on him at 14x it was completely blury and i was getting heat waves in the picture. Sometimes bigger isnt better.
 
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The good spotting scopes start with the low end Kowas at about $400. I doubt you will find any good scope any cheaper. Don't forget that you really do need the 45 degree eyepiece, straight through scopes are the pits after a while.

The only cheap scope I thought had acceptable resolution and a 45 degree eyepiece was a Pentax reflector. I bought one 15 years ago for less than $200 and still like it. I have no idea if it is still in production or what the price might be now.

Jack
 
Quote:
The good spotting scopes start with the low end Kowas at about $400. I doubt you will find any good scope any cheaper. Don't forget that you really do need the 45 degree eyepiece, straight through scopes are the pits after a while.



Jack


I disagree with those statements! It sure is easy to spend some one else's money! The Kowa low ends leave a lot to be desired.

The only time a 45 degree is better is at the target range or looking at the stars. For field use the straight through is a lot easier to use.
 
Does anyone know if there is a window mount available for this scope? Really interested in purchasing it but I must be able to get a window mount in order to use it for coyote spotting here.

Thanks,
Mahamari

Edit: a little more searching and I found that opticsplanet.com has window mounts for this scope. Here is the link incase anyone else wants too know.
Celestron Window Mount
 
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All better spotting scopes have the standard 1/4-20 thread that all tripods and cameras use. As long as it has that mount there are probably 100 window mounts you could use. I like a C-clamp style with a universal ball.

Jack
 


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