Spotting Scopes

Spotting scopes probably pre-date binoculars in terms of history and optical technology. A spotting scope is essentially a small portable telescope that has additional components that allow erect presentation of the image instead of inverted one commonly found in the telescope. This erect approach makes observation of terrestrial objects easier. The uses of spotting scopes are as wide as that of binoculars. There are bird watching spotting scopes, hunting spotting scopes, military and tactical spotting scopes, surveillance spotting scopes and image capturing digiscopes (spotting scopes that are capable of capturing images, both still and video).

Webyshops.com and our expert optics site www.RifleScopes.Webyshops.com offer one of the largest selections of spotting scopes from some of the best optical manufacturers in the world. We carry Bushnell Spotting Scopes, Burris Spotting Scopes, Leupold Spotting scopes, Nikon spotting scopes, Celestron spotting scopes, Vortex Spotting scopes, Zeiss Spotting Scopes.

Whether you are looking for pocket size monoculars, compact spotting scope, waterproof hunting spotting scope or something more suited for bird watching spotting, elk glassing, surveillance or simply need a marksmanship spotting scope, we have products for you. Our experts can recommend the right spotting scope for your type of usage.

A typical spotting scope consists of a small refracting objective lens, an image erecting optical device that uses special image eracting relay lenses or prisms and an eyepiece that is often designed to be removable or interchangeable with other eyepieces for different magnifications or image recording devices in case of digiscopes. Alternative optical designs rely on Schmidt or Maksutov optical assemblies for their performance. Most spotting scopes are designed to be used with a tripod and many are covered with rugged rubberized coating or are even waterproofed for best performance in the field. More compact spotting scopes can be used with window mount for operating out of a vehicle, which makes them very adaptable to various types of usage.

Spotting scopes may be either fixed or variable power. Rarely will you find magnification less than 20x and greater than 60x, because of the issues that may arise with the field of view, susceptibility to image distortion, shaking, even when mounted on a tripod. There are several brands and models of spotting scopes that have magnifications as high as 100x, but these are rare and are usually made by some very established brand names in the industry, such as Leica, Kowa and Swarovski.

Spotting scopes may also have eyepieces that allow “straight through” observation (eyepiece is located on the same axis as the optical focus of the spotting scope), or “angled” (eyepiece is positioned at a angle of 45 degrees to the optical axis of the spotting scope itself). The choice is often a matter of preference or convenience.

Contact one of our spotting scope experts and we would be glad to help you choose the spotting scope that will work best for you. Visit our blog, too, and see the latest reviews, participate in one of our forums, ask questions and see what other enthusiasts are saying. Welcome to Webyshops.com – your spotting scope headquarters!