looking for a decent spotting scope.....

H

Hicksville Kid

New member
I'm looking for a decent, low price spotting scope and I've come across the Tasco World Class (their words, not mine) 12-36x50 Compact Spotting Scope. For now I will not be beyond 100 yards and using rimfire .22.

<http://www.spotters4less.com/products/tasco-world-class-wc123650.htm>

Any thoughts? I've had Tasco binoculars in the past and they were serviceable.
 
For one thing, the description doesnt mention if that Tasco has fully-coated optics or if it is nitrogen gas filled. If it doesnt mention fully or multi-coated, it probably isnt.

I found that Alpen makes excellent spotting scopes that are very affordable. All of their optics are fully multi-coated and the body is nitrogen filled, dust proof and shock resistant. Excellent quality all around and all their scope have a lifetime warranty. I highly recommend them.

In fact, this scope just might be a better alternative to the Tasco you were looking at...it cost quite a bit less and shipping is free:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alpen-Waterproo...14&_trkparms=72:1417|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318
 
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I have a Bushnell 20-60x60. I think it's a great value-priced package at around $200. It's much more than you need for .22 at 100 yards, but it never hurt to be prepared for longer ranges.
 
$200-$300 is not out of range

I looked back at the Tasco site and the general description of their scopes say they are multi-coated. No mention of nitrogen. Some of the detailed descriptions say multi-coated, others do not. It is hard to say when they are not precise. I'd assume the worst.

I had never heard of Alpen before it was mentioned here. They look to be a very reasonable choice.

The Konus mentioned looks to be a fine instrument. Might just be a bit of overkill for my use. But it certainly is tempting.
 
Some of the detailed descriptions say multi-coated, others do not. It is hard to say when they are not precise. I'd assume the worst.
Click to expand...

My experience has been that if it doesn't specifically mention it, especially a selling point such as optical coatings, it probably doesn't have it.

The coating on optics actually aids in light gathering ability as well as the reflectivity and transmittivity of the lens itself. Quality lens are always fully mutli-coated, while less expensive lens are single coated.

Lens quality and coatings are very well explained here:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-166.html

As far as nitrogen goes, nitrogen aids in the scope's ability to go from different temperatures without fogging. Its a simple step in manufacturing process to fill a scope with nitrogen...so no descent scope should be without nitrogen. It it doesnt have nitrogen, who knows where else the manufacturer cut corners.
 
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