I need a spotting scope.

L

Lurch37

New member
I am in the market for a spotting scope and was wondering if any of you had some suggestions?

I wear prescription glasses so eye relief is a concern of mine, as in I would like to be able to leave my glasses on while looking thru the lens. What about straight versus angled eyepieces? Something that came as a system would be nice, as in a tripod, case, etc,. I would like to spend around 300 to 500 dollars....or less of course. I do not want junk, but I can't spend 1200 dollars on it either.

Thanks
 
I picked up a Kowa from Jim Owens several yrs ago and his prices were pretty
competitve. Periodically, he would have used Kowas, acquired as part of a
trade-in transaction as folks moved up to higher quality glass. Was just over
at this site to see what was available and came across this. you may want to
check out his reputation first...to see if it's worth relying on his assessment of
this more frugle, yet decent performing scope line.

(careful his home page....major OORAH audio so turn down your speaker first)
 
Look at this recent thread, and specifically Charile's, and my latter responses in it, and check back:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216908

For that budget, you absolutely cannot beat the Celestron C130 Mak that I just got. Several *times* better clarity/resolution than ANY $2,000 conventional (refracting) spotter. Only downside is that it's on the big side (not good for the field). Great for the range though. 1,000 yard shooters use scopes like these to see their bullet holes, I have heard.

Also, a close second place to a Mak reflector would be a big binocular such as this Oberwerk, which is the same price as the C130 Mak ($379):

http://www.bigbinoculars.com/22100.htm

100mm objective lens and 2 eyes looking instead of one greatly enhances the picture you see. And it's got an optional replacement eyepiece for viewing with glasses. Only downside of this one (other than a smaller objective, relative to the C130 Mak), is that it has a straight eyepiece, rather than a 45 degree angled one like the C130.
 
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