What’s the Best Spotting Scope in 2020? Our Top 10 Revealed
Whether you are a seasoned outdoorsman looking to capture the perfect shots of wildlife without disturbing nature or a hunter dead serious about improving his accuracy, getting the best spotting scope for your exact needs is a must.
Some of the best spotting scopes currently on the market rely on decades of industry know-how, perfecting their capacity and durability.
Our team of outdoor enthusiasts have compiled a list of the top ten spotting scopes so that you can fully enjoy the time you spend outdoors.
Contents
Best Spotting Scope: Comparison Table
How We Reviewed
We reviewed these top ten items based on the following parameters: their features, their pros and cons, their price, their respective specs in lens, magnification, and coating, where to buy them, and their product warranty.
What We Reviewed
- Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85mm Angled Spotting Scope
- Swarovski Spotting Scope
- Leupold Mark 4 12-40X60Mm Spotting Scope
- Upland Optics Perception HD 20-60x60mm Spotting Scope
- Meopta Optics TGA 75 Telescopic Body Spotting Scope
- Zeiss Victory Harpia 95mm
- Celestron 52304 Regal M2 65ED Spotting Scope
- Redfield Rampage 20-60x60mm Straight Eyepiece Spotting Scope
- Vortex Optics Diamondback 20-60x80mm Straight Spotting Scopes
- Vortex Optics Viper HD 15-45x65mm Straight Spotting Scopes
1. Vortex Razor HD 27-60×85mm Angled Spotting Scope
This spotting scope comes out of the box raring to rip with its high-density dispersion glass that will be sure to impress you with its high resolution feedback from up to 400 yards away.
This is all thanks to its 60x magnification and 85mm-wide lens. It was made with quality in mind inside and out.
The coating is Armored Tek and the exterior lens is anti-dirt and oil. It’s O-ring sealed and argon-purged, meaning it’s totally weatherproof, waterproof, and dustproof. Interested in digiscoping? This will be your new best friend for observing wildlife without disturbing it.
Pros
Cons
- Eyepiece is tight and uncomfortable
- Lens, magnification, and coating
This product comes with an unlimited lifetime warranty.
2. Swarovski Spotting Scope
This spotting scope solves the eyestrain issue with a clever both-eyes-open eyepiece that allows you to see a clearer image.
It focuses on optical quality and ergonomic design. Users will love the quick and easy eyepiece changing abilities and its photo equipment. It features a light yet durable aluminum housing that’s tough and will withstand water and weather, and its SWAROTOP and SWARODUR coatings give it extra quality.
Pros
- No eyestrain issues
- Great optical quality
- Ergonomic design
- Light yet rugged design
Cons
- You must purchase the eyepiece separately or as a bundle with this scope
- Expensive name brand
This product comes with a ten-year warranty.
3. Leupold Mark 4 12-40x60mm Spotting Scope
This spotting scope features a multi-coated lens that offers extreme brightness where you need it the most and a 12-40x magnification that will cover all the distance you need.
Some users report that targets up to 1,200 meters away are clear and crisp thanks to the innovation behind Leupold’s amazing optical powers! This model works well for those purchasing a scope for photography and observing nature from a non-obtrusive distance.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Great for digiscoping
- 12-40x magnification
- Great long-distance vision
Cons
- Longevity issues
- Durability issues
This product comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
4. Upland Optics Perception HD 20-60x60mm Spotting Scope
This spotting scope features great clarity thanks to its extra-low dispersion glass. It has a 20-60x power variable zoom and comes along with a 60mm objective lense.
It’s waterproof, fog proof, and extremely durable as well as being fairly affordable. At this price, you also get a carry case, lens cloth, and lens protectors. If that’s not enough, this scope is backed by an incredible lifetime warranty!
Pros
- Excellent clarity
Cons
- Focus gets shaky at 60x
This product comes with a lifetime warranty.
5. Meopta Optics TGA 75 Telescopic Body Spotting Scope
This spotting scope is ideal for those who are on the road often as it features a collapsible and compact design. The 20-60x zooming eyepiece and 30x fixed eyepiece are all that you will need and more.
This scope features a rubber outer body that is not only durable and resistant but is easily wedged in a tree or similar support (so you don’t have to worry about purchasing or taking a tripod with you). To top it all off, this scope is water resistant and protected by armor that fits like a tight glove.
Pros
- Collapsible body
- Two separate eyepieces
- Rubber outer body
- Water resistant
Cons
- Slightly lacking in low-light and resolution testing
- Some may not like the retro feel
This product comes with a lifetime transferable warranty.
6. Zeiss Victory Harpia 95mm
Many revere this as the spotting scope around. It stands just behind the Swarovski model we reviewed above. It tested just about the same in low-light and resolution tests, but the only setback here is the lack of an eyepiece.
This scope features a wide angle that’s about 72 degrees in overall vision range and the barrel features a tasteful and attractive design. The barrel in the center has a two-speed control that allows you to go between close and far focusing with ease.
Pros
- Substantial weight
- Mostly bright glass
- Large vision range
- Two-speed center barrel
Cons
- You must purchase the eyepiece separately
- High in price
This product comes with a no-fault limited lifetime warranty.
7. Celestron 52304 Regal M2 65ED Spotting Scope
This spotting scope features little distortion thanks to its extra-low dispersion glass.
The edges of this scope maintain impressive clarity even at high magnifications and the magnesium alloy body is durable and prevents corrosion or exposure to the elements. This is an ideal scope for digiscoping and comes equipped with a rotating tripod ring for added flexibility.
Pros
- Little distortion
- Extra low-dispersion glas
- Great clarity
- Ideal for digiscoping
Cons
- Heavy
- Eyepiece is not include
This product comes with a lifetime warranty.
8. Redfield Rampage 20-60x60mm Straight Eyepiece Spotting Scope
This best spotting scope features high-quality 20-60x magnification capabilities for a low-quality price you’ll love.
Even at its lowest setting, users have reported that this scope can allow you to see targets over 500 yards away clearly. It features an 80mm objective lens with multi-coated optics and BAK4 prism glass.
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly
- Waterproof
- Excellent visibilit
- 20-60x magnificatio
Cons
- Long distance clarity is lacking
- Better for wildlife viewing than for sport
This product comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
9. Vortex Optics Diamondback 20-60x80mm Straight Spotting Scopes
This spotting scope features a 60mm objective lens that will be all you need and more for spotting things from great distances in high definition.
This Diamondback scope features XR anti-reflective lenses that are coated to reduce glare. This model is also highly waterproof and weatherproof, it won’t even fog up on you! The exterior is made from durable ArmorTeck material with aluminum and brass.
Pro
- Excellent warranty
- Durable construction
- 60mm objective lens
- Weather and waterproof
Con
- Focusing becomes difficult at 60mm
- Clarity is lacking compared to other models
This product comes with a lifetime warranty.
10. Vortex Optics Viper HD 15-45x65mm Straight Spotting Scopes
This spotting scope features stellar performance scores in both low-light and resolution tests.
It’s one of the clearest full-size spotting scopes on our list and it features a functional yet minimalist design that will be sure to catch your eye. The eyepiece is ergonomically angled for added comfort.
The single-speed mid-barrel focus wheel pairs with the zooming eyepiece (featuring a positive eyecup). On the lower magnification side of things, the picture couldn’t be more crystal-clear.
Pros
- Lower magnification is clear
- Scored high in low-light and resolution tests
- Ergonomically designed
- Single-speed mid-barrel focus wheel
Cons
- Not ideal for bird-watching
- Focus becomes shaky at 45x and above
This product comes with a lifetime warranty.
Best Spotting Scope FAQs
Photo by The U.S. Army on Flickr
1. Why Should I Buy the Best Spotting Scope?
Spotting scopes seem like an expensive purchase for something that’s merely an attachment to your hunting gear or camera lens, so why should you invest in one? Spotting scopes have many helpful uses no matter the outdoor activity.
Many people compare the powerful magnification capabilities of spotting scopes to the clarity of portable telescopes.
Spotting scopes elevate your abilities from novice to expert, getting you the results you want. This is true whether you’re a naturalist looking for breathtaking scenes of nature without disturbing an animal in its natural habitat or if you’re a hunter who is looking to increase his accuracy.
2. Overall Price Range?
The price range depends on the customer’s needs, uses, and budget. Spotting scopes are more expensive items that are a longer-term investment. Make sure you don’t sell yourself short by just picking out the cheapest option available to you.
For our top ten list we only included high-quality items that offer the best value for the money and included a few excellent options for our budget-conscious readers.
We hope our list of the ten best spotting scopes has given you a few ideas for helpful equipment during your next outing.
We highly recommend the Redfield Rampage 20-60x60mm Straight Eyepiece Spotting Scope model as it is user-friendly, great for beginners, has excellent user reviews, and is highly affordable. Check it out on Amazon today!
Related Read: You’ll Be Amazed at What You Can See with the Best Night Vision Binoculars
Featured image: Craig A. Mullenbach on Flickr
This post was originally published on August 28th, 2019 and was last updated in July 2020.
My articles appear in Marketing Edge Magazine, on Gizmogrind, and with various Medium publications. But one thing hasn’t changed in all of my life: no matter where I was or what I was doing. I’ve always loved to be outdoors.
A man needs nothing more than a good flannel shirt, a well-worn pair of jeans, and comfortable hiking boots. I don’t go for all the fancy luxury stuff. Suits are uncomfortable and shaving sucks.
