Tips for Using Spotting Scopes Like a Pro

Tips for Using Spotting Scopes Like a Pro

December 08, 2015

When to Use a Spotting Scope

Spotting scopes are basically telescopes optimized for mobility and daytime viewing. They offer more powerful magnification than binoculars, and so come in handy in many situations:

  1. Hunting
  2. Birding
  3. Surveillance
  4. Viewing landscape, wildlife, ships, and other distant objects
  5. Digiscoping (taking long distance pictures with a variety of cameras)
  6. Even some astronomy!

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Straight vs. Angled Scopes

Use angled scopes when you're sharing it with a group of people. That way, you won't have to raise or lower the scope to match the height of the person using it at the time. Having an angled scope also means that you can position your tripod to be a bit less extended, which spells more stability.

View angled spotting scopes

Use a straight scope when you're looking down from high up, from a mountain for example, or if you're in a confined space, like when you're watching wildlife from your car.

View straight spotting scopes.

Spotting Scope Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your spotting scope:

1. Location location location.

Take the time to choose a spot with the right view.

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2. Use support.

With such powerful magnification, even a tiny shake will blur your view.

When looking for the right tripod to pair with your scope, consider that:

Do you find yourself using a spotting scope from your car? Consider window mounts.

Tripod-1

3. Be aware of the atmosphere.

On humid days, or in heat waves, or days with a lot of glare, it may be difficult to see detail at even 30x, whereas on other calmer days, 60x might provide a brilliant view. Adjust your technique to suit the atmosphere.

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4. Rest your eyes regularly.

Spotting Scope 4

Do you have any good spotting scope tips? Share them in the comments!


Sources:

How to Understand Spotting Scope Features, Optics Planet

Demystifying Spotting Scopes, Eagle Optics