The advantages of the spotting scope over binoculars

For an avid birder, his outdoor equipment can make the difference between a hit and a miss; a breathtakingly beautiful sight or a missed golden moment that can never be recreated!

Small wonder then that spotting scopes are fast gaining popularity among regular outdoors enthusiasts.

The spotting scope is a compact telescope designed largely for terrestrial observing and is used in applications that involve magnifications beyond the range of a typical binocular.

Compact and powerful, these optical instruments ensure that you are spot on - always!

There are many instances when a pair of usual 7x to 10x binoculars can be inadequate either because of lack of magnification or clarity. This is where a spotting scope comes in handy.

Spotting scopes offer more magnification than binoculars and can help you locate targets at extreme distances that can be missed by observers with binoculars.

Generally sold with zoom type eyepieces in either 15-45x or 20-60x magnifications and used with a tripod for stability, these will allow you to identify or observe birds at distances beyond the reach of your binoculars.

Uses of spotting scopes
Spotting scopes are perfectly suited for activities like long distance bird watching and nature study, telephotography, hunting, scenic observing, long distance microscopy, beginning astronomy and surveillance.

Depending on the type and design of the spotting scope, the magnification can range from about 10X to 250X, using either fixed or zoom eyepieces.

Whether you use it to identify a trophy buck at long range, observe migrating crane in the winters or spot bullet groups at the range, a spotting scope will augment your pleasure in the outdoors.

Types of spotting scopes
In addition to magnification, spotting scopes can also vary depending upon their design.

There are two basic body designs – straight and angled.

With straight scopes, the barrel and the eyepiece are parallel, while in angled scopes the eyepiece is 45º from the barrel axis so as to bend the light path.

Each design has its own pros and cons and the choice of scope boils down to how you want to use it.

Here are the advantages of each design:
Angled Spotting Scope

• Easier to share with a group
• Higher eye point means you can use a shorter tripod
• Better for spotting soaring or nestled birds.

Straight Spotting Scope

• Easier to aim for beginners
• Easier for viewing birds on the ground or water or below a cliff
• Less strain on your neck for level viewing

Advantages of using spotting scopes
Though there are many advantages of spotting scopes over binoculars, one of the primary one is that a scope allows you to observe sensitive species such as cranes and eagles from friendly distances.

As more and more people take to the field, it is becoming increasingly important to watch in ways that are minimally disruptive and stressful to wildlife.

The magnification of spotting scopes allows you to do that and makes scopes ideal for any nature activity in wild!

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