In many hunting situations a good pair of binoculars is enough but nothing can get most out of hunting like the power of a great spotting scope. It is therefore imperative that a buyer learns as much as possible before purchasing a spotting scope. This is because if an inefficient spotting scope is purchased the entire excursion will be a waste of time and a real disappointment to the involved parties. The following are some of the tips to guide you before buying a spotting scope on a tight budget.
Understand the Spotting Scope Anatomy
Spotting scopes are made of different models and it is important to find out what magnification and objective lens will be necessary. The range by which you can zoom the scope to magnify an image is the magnification power. The diameter in millimeters of the front lens is the objective lens size. The amount of light that is let is dependent on the lens size, meaning the larger the lens size the more the light.
Furthermore, there are two types of spotting scopes and they are angled spotting scopes and straight spotting scopes. When looking uphill the angled spotting scopes are easier on the neck compared to the straight scope because when using a straight spotting scope you will be required to crouch. When looking outside a vehicle or on the level terrain the straight scopes are much better to use since they are lighter and portable.
Figure out what the spotting Scope will be used for
The reason you intend to use a spotting scope is the first thing you should identify. For instance if your main objective is to hunt inside a forest with thich tree cover then a pair of binoculars would be ideal. This is because spotting scopes, are designed for long distances and a thick forest cover will limit that range. Farm fields within a forested area are the only exception.
Western hunting is the ideal activity to carry your hunting spotting scope with you. Usually, a hunter sets up a vantage point and uses a spotting scope to glance the surrounding areas looking for antelopes, pronghorns, deer, mules and even sheep. They will look uphill or downhill and will use a tripod stand to stabilize their view. The best scopes to use in such situations are those with high magnification since they will not wobbles as you breathe and you will be able to follow an animal’s movement.
Since there are a variety of instances that spotting scopes can be used it would be ideal if you understand what you intend to use your spotting scope for.
Get the Best Scope for Your Purpose
When it comes to spotting scopes the quality of the glass can make it or break it and therefore when picking the ideal spotting scope to ensure that you pick out the best quality spotting scope for your intended purpose.
If you intend to use a spotting scope for target shooting or scout deers for a few days the in the summer then a cheap spotting scope would be ideal. However, if you are looking to carry it with you to a remote hunting location to get a glance of the evasive trophy elk in tough terrain the more expensive spotting scope would be ideal. If you are on a tight budget it would be better to find a spotting scope with quality glasses but with a lower zooming capacity as compared to that with very high zooming capacities and low-quality glasses. Moreover look for a spotting scope that fully coated or multi-coated for better light transmission.
Get the ideal magnification power
Basically spotting scopes can be defined as medium range telescopes whose power of magnification is in between 60x and 15x and this is essential when picking out ideal spotting scopes. They have a single zoom eyepiece or interchangeable fixed length eyepieces to help in changing the magnification power.
It is ideal, to begin with the least powerful setting on the eyepiece level when zooming or the low power eyepiece or the when scanning an area with a spotting scope. Once the target is identified then you have the ability of adjusting to a larger level.
Get the most suitable zoom lenses
An easy adjustment of the zoom lenses has the ability to change the magnification power from as little as twenty times to as high as sixty times. This offers an even more surreal viewing experience for bird watcher by allowing a fast shift to high power magnification and convenient scanning at low power. However, just like the lenses of the camera, fixed lenses zooming adjustments also do not receive any sunlight as well. Moreover, an increase in magnification, a spotting scope will be affected due to high vibrations, narrow field of view and poor light transmission. Greater powers enlarge the haze effect and when viewing above the water surface or on flat surfaces a shimmering heat distortion is observed.
Two decades ago it was very difficult to spot an ideal lens due to the high costs. Currently, several affordably priced spotting scopes have incredible zoom lenses. Clear sharp pictures when zooming in are as important as when viewing at a lesser magnification.
Get The Best Glass Quality
Flourite coated glass that is high density and has extra low dispersion is what most top spotting scope lenses are made of. The change in image and brightness among different high-quality scopes manufactured by different companies depends on the type of glass and it is usually more pronounced in low-light viewing conditions like during the evening or at high power.
Get The Ideal Light-Gathering Capacity
The type of objective lens usually determines the light gathering capacity of the spotting scope. This is dependant on the model and it is usually between 100 millimeters to 50 millimeters. The larger the objective lens the better however they are a little heavy to carry around.