Topic: The Best Spotting Scopes of 2022 (Read 72 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
Full-sized spotting scopes can cost well over $2,000. At a fraction of that price, this Vortex delivers an adequate image in a durable, versatile package.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
This spotter makes an excellent choice for a hunter who wants a versatile spotting scope without paying a month’s wages. The Diamondback HD has decent high-definition glass in the objective lens, but experienced hunters may be disappointed with the clarity and brightness of the image. Its angled body, with rotating tripod ring, allows for infinite adjustment, and the Arca-Swiss co*patible tripod system mates up with any number of mounting options.
The Diamondback HD spotter makes an accessible, extremely usable optic for any number of well-lighted conditions. Its optical shortco*ings are evident in low light conditions, but that’s to be expected at this bargain price. However, with Vortex’s best-in-class warranty, you’ll never have to worry if it fails to perform.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
Big, grippy, and durable, the Santiam is a no-nonsense full-sized spotter that feels a little heavy for a walk-about optic but will give years of service as a base-camp, shooting-range, or pickup scope.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Leupold’s flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification. The 27 to 55x is the sweet spot for co*bining magnification with a reasonably bright image. At almost 4.3 pounds this spotter feels like a tank, which means it’s a better base-camp scope than a walk-about optic.
This durable one-piece design keeps dust out of the innards but also prevents users from trading out the variable-power eyepiece for a different zoom range or a fixed-power alternative. The rubber is extremely grippy, and the mid-barrel focus allows users to make fine adjustments even while wearing gloves. And if anything happens to it, Leupold’s lifetime transferable warranty will keep you covered.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This 65mm spotter packs easily and brings excellent optics and durability to the field.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
This short (11.4-inches long) and co*pact 65mm spotter performs like an 80mm optic. The CS.1A updates Maven’s original straight-barrel co*pact spotter. Like its predecessor, this spotter has excellent glass, and both the magnification and focus rings move with silky precision. The angled eyepiece and mid-barrel rotation ring allow for an infinite number of glassing positions, and the orange collar adds nice contrast to the dark graphite armor.
The 15-45x magnification range is optimal for this size spotter. At 15x, the unit delivers a very bright and wide image, and at 45x, the image darkens but doesn’t degrade. I’d like to see a better tripod mount and a retractable sunshade, but the rest of the features seem nearly perfect, and the size and performance make it an essential piece of gear for just about any type of hunt.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
Direct-to-consumer brand delivers bright ED glass and quality Japanese build at a relatively accessible price.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The first spotter from this direct-to-consumer is a versatile powerhouse. The focus, magnification ring, and retractable sunshade all move with silky precision. And the 27-55-power zoom range covers most hunting scenarios, while the 80mm objective lens—made with extra-low dispersion glass—lets in plenty of light. Precision rifle shooters will appreciate the fixed 22-power lens that contains a milling PRS reticle, which allows users to make precise calls when spotting for a long-distance shooter.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
A great all-around spotter, the SIG OSCAR8 has enough optical horsepower for most hunting situations and exterior styling that fits right at home on a rifle range.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
A handsome, versatile, and rugged spotting scope, the OSCAR8 has a sensibly restrained magnification range that zooms from 27 to 55x. At low magnifications, the SIG has a bright image and wide field of view. At 40 to 55x, the scope has enough power to enable users to count points on a distant buck without making the image maddeningly dark. I hunted with this scope during Montana’s elk season, and it took in stride all the temperature changes, bumps and drops, and dust the hunts dealt it. Should the spotter ever fail, it’s fully backed by SIG’s excellent five-year warranty.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS2 is the perfect co*panion for precision rifle shooting. The integrated reticle allows spotters to co*municate to their shooting partner specific holds and call shots with precision and clarity.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Purpose-built as an aid to precision rifle shooters, the integrated reticle in the LMSS2 allows spotters to effectively call shots for their teammates on rifle. The straight-style tactical spotter is built like a tank, with double-tough armor and attachment points for Picatinny rails, so you can add accessories like thermals or lights to the optic. Alternatively, the rails allow you to mount the LMSS2 on either rails or a traditional tripod. The ED glass works pretty well, but the real appeal here is the Horus reticle inside and tactical bling on the exterior.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
While there’s no shortage of angled-body spotting scopes, it’s rare to find a premium straight-body-design like the MeoStar S2, and its ability to trade out eyepieces makes it extremely versatile.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
A product-line extension following Meopta’s successful angled MeoStar S2, this 82mm spotter has the optical horsepower for just about any hunting situation, and the straight-barrel design makes it easy to slide into a backpack sleeve. The unit defaults to a 20-70x eyepiece, which you have to purchase separately from the body, but the wide-angle 30-60x eyepiece may have even more utility. That’s because any object you can see at 60x will only darken at 70x, so the additional magnification might not be worth the degradation in image. And the wide-angle eyepiece provides a constant 66-degree field of view throughout the entire magnification range.
The straight-barrel design will appeal to viewers who want to make quick target acquisition, instead of the hunting-and-pecking sometimes required with angled eyepieces. In all, the Meopta co*pares favorably to premium spotters from Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss at a lower price.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
In a category with multiple $1,500-and-higher submissions, the Vanguard VEO HD costs less than $400, but will deliver years of service.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Built on a co*posite-carbon chassis, the Vanguard VEO HD runs lighter than its peers, which makes this 80mm spotter a good choice for backcountry hunting. The angled eyepiece and rotating tripod mount increase its versatility, and the controls are relatively tight and precise, especially for the at around $400.
Demerits include the slippery, non-textured armor and the underwhelming glass, which makes images above about 45-power pretty dark and grainy with some distorted edge detail. Still, if you use this scope in daylight and don’t max out its magnification, it’s a worthy co*panion for most hunting situations or first-time buyers.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This wee spotter fills the gap between a binocular and a full-sized scope and is remarkably portable.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Given that many full-sized spotters can weigh upwards of four pounds and require a tripod in order to stabilize, this little hand-sized spotter packs easily and can reach out to objects beyond binocular range. The 9-27x magnification range is useful, and while the image starts to degrade at magnifications above about 20x, it’s a great daytime optic for birders, go-light hunters, and travelers.
The controls, both the eyepiece magnification control and the mid-barrel focus, turn with precision, and the Nature-Trek has a reasonable price. Other good touches include a neoprene soft case to protect the unit and an infinitely adjustable eyecup. Demerits include underwhelming glass and a tripod mount that can’t handle too much torque. Still, the best spotter is the one you have with you, and it’s easy to always have the Hawke Nature-Trek in your pocket.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This full-sized spotting scope handles most field and firing-range tasks well under $500.
Pros