Spotting scopes

Good spotting scopes guarantee maximum magnification, up to 75x, and are more precise than binoculars. With varied specifications, they meet the needs and requirements of a wide range of users, including nature enthusiasts, hunters, researchers, ornithologists and shooters.

Detective Store offers professional optics from the industry's leading manufacturers, such as Kowa and Focus Sport Optics, which are trusted by customers from around the world. Specialists are available to help you choose the best spotting scope, individually tailored to you.

Spotting scopes - types and applications

Spotting scopes, also known as field scopes and observational telescopes, are optical equipment with high and variable magnification that allows observation of distant objects. Different models differ in design and effectiveness, and consequently in application.

Observational telescopes are used for, among other things:

• admiring landscapes or architecture,
• tracking animal activity,
• observing bullet impacts,
• controlling forest fire danger,
• identifying a target and tracking its movement,
• observing the sky.

Scope for bird watching

Scopes for wildlife watchers are characterized by a minimum of 20x magnification, which is usually variable. This allows users to adjust the power to the changing situation. Combined with a tripod, these spotting scopes guarantee comfortable work - without fatigue caused by holding the tool - even for several hours. The use of a tripod is even indispensable when the spotting scope will be set to higher magnifications. Without its use, the slightest twitch of the hand will make the object we are following disappear from the field of view.

Shooting spotting scope

Sniper's spotting scopes accurately zoom in on a target. They make it possible to identify it without revealing the user's position. Professional spotting scopes for shooters may also have a targeting reticle.

Hunting spotting scope

Spotting scopes for hunters provide good visibility during the day, as well as during night and dawn hunting. They feature a wide field of view, making it easy to track fast animals. They are resistant to moisture and dew. Like sniper spotting scopes, they weigh less than other models.

Which spotting scope should you choose?

Wondering what kind of spotting scope to buy? Comparing their specifications is not easy. In order to meet the requirements of a diverse group of customers, Detective Store makes sure to regularly add new models to the assortment, and specialists from the store help you make the right purchase decision.

When buying a spotting scope, pay attention to parameters such as:

• magnification range - the higher the power, the more possible to observe at greater distances,
• power of magnification - the field of view depends on the optics used, the diameter of the lens and the magnification set,
• diameter of the lens - affects the level of brightness,
• field of view - the wider it is, the lower the magnification,
• image sharpness - determines the clarity of the objects seen,
• weight - aluminum observation scopes are lighter,
• durability (resistance to water, shock, falls and scratches) - it is influenced by, among other things, nitrogen filling, sealing, protection of lenses with multilayer coatings.

Additional advantages of spotting scopes are: sunshade, eyecup and focus adjustment, anti-reflective coating on the lens, rubber coating on the body or the ability to record and photograph.

Scopes with a fixed-focal or zoom eyepiece?

A fixed-focus lens (with fixed magnification) is usually associated with more satisfactory image quality and sharpness (including at the edges). The alternative is a zoom eyepiece (with variable magnification), which has greater versatility, but poorer visibility.

Observational telescope or binoculars?

Observational telescopes differ from binoculars in construction because they have only one eyepiece. They provide higher magnification, but are less handy, so they will not work well when tracking dynamically moving objects. Moreover, they require a tripod to stabilize the image, plus they often cost more than binoculars.

Manufacturers and prices of spotting scopes

Cheap spotting scopes cost not much. However, the image they offer is sometimes sharp only in the center and blurs at the edges, and the durability of the body is sometimes unreliable. High-quality spotting scopes are a guarantee of high magnification, wide field of view, high light transmission and durability. The first places in the ranking of spotting scopes belong to advanced optics from reputable manufacturers: Kowa, Swarovski Optik, Hensoldt and Leupold. Kowa's multi-purpose spotting scopes were officially used at the Tokyo Olympics (1964), among others. Since then, the Japanese manufacturer has continuously improved them, offering reliable, innovative optics of the highest quality to customers around the world. Focus spotting scopes are distinguished by their attractive value for money. Developed for usability in all weather conditions, they always impress with their effectiveness.

What kind of spotting scope for observation?

Which spotting scope turns out to be best for you depends on several factors, including the intended use, your experience or personal preferences and requirements. First of all, pay attention to magnification and focal length (the ratio of focal length to lens diameter, which determines the field of view).

What is the best telescope to buy for sky observation?

The best observational experience when admiring the sky will be provided with a lens with a large diameter (such as 50 mm). The more light it collects, the brighter and more detailed the image will be.

Who uses an observation telescope?

Observational telescopes are used by hobbyists, astronomy enthusiasts, scientists, researchers, soldiers, hunters, foresters, ornithologists and travelers, among others.