inexpensive spotting scope recommedations

[Spud17]

I have an early 90's Kowa TSN 80 or 801. In the right light conditions I could see .30 cal holes at 300 yards. Champion's Choice has a nice selection of lower priced scopes with good clarity. Get a long eye relief eyepiece.

 

[Pirate's Son]

Don't know where you're at in life. The, I'll start putting away... "My AC unit went down, it's June in Southern Arizona!" Or at the point... "Man, that's a neat (spendy) item. Here, put it on this debit card or (you take cash?)

I've been both, as most have. Doesn't matter, eBay!!!
(Or whatever is the better eBayish site.)

I'll start with binoculars then swing to spotting scopes. During one of my several childhoods I ran a charter for close to a couple of decades in SE Alaska. I have a 42' Sportfisher that my Skippers License and vessel specifications could carry 24 souls. I never exceeded 8 (4 fishing) on fishing trips. SE Alaska is incredibly beautiful and everyone wants to see.

I usually had 4 - 8 pairs of binoculars onboard. Varied as to broken, lost overboard, stolen back, gifted or left behind. My first binoculars purchase was on eBay back when it was mostly auction. By the ending of my chartering days it was every pair was a Bushnell 7x50. Anyone could grab any pair and get a close-up view of... Now the Captains glasses were on the list of 'You are walking home.' offenses.

My glasses were an older Bushnell that I picked up at fisherman's flea market. In their day they were top of the line. Most of my early ships binoculars were acquired in the yard, garage, estate and the "would you buy me a beer for these binoculars?" sales. I never spent more than $20 on them. As long as you could see great, focus is an option.

Reasoning behind dollar limit started with rods & reels. They had the same limit so when a client or the significant other dropped it over the side, it's no big deal. My chartering gig was mostly a tax dodge and to pay for my fuel, booze and food. I lived on her seven years.

I was partial to Bushnell, they had and I hope still have a lifetime warranty that means something. At the end of my season, when I had to concentrate on my adultish world, (hospital administration), if I had any needing work I'd get them sent off to Bushnell. If they couldn't fix them you would be offered direct swap or the next model up. There was shipping and maybe a small charge involved. It also worked well on the $2.50, cracked lens yard sale glasses.

So if you ended up with hundred plus dollar glasses, they were still $20 glasses. Recently repaired glasses could get the Captains assignment. I had to up my limit to $25-30 range on eBay when I quit shopping. Bushnell will even try to work with the current crop of (foreign country) binoculars that are sold on eBay under the Bushnell name. Those glasses are pretty hit, hit, hit & miss.

When my eyes got to the point of needing a spotting scope at the range, where did I go, yep, eBay. But being able to research on the Internet allowed me to look for a good deal. Once again eBay won. Another Bushnell, low mid range model. Worked well for what I needed. A nice covered and bench equipped range. But still soggy Southeast Alaska weather, club footed and handed klutz shooting buddies, missing the mosquito but dead on for the tripod. Then using it on my boat as we did sidehill trolling for deer.

The boat won the 'what is going to finally kill my spotting scope' contest. The result of the trip to factory is that I now have one of Bushnell's mid to high range scopes. And it works for me.

You get to know people in Alaska that have money. When you get clients for charters, guiding or transportation they'll bring their best toys with them. So I've looked through some pretty expensive optics over the years. Can you tell the difference between my middle'n Bushnell's and their top of the line Zeiss? If you can't you're too blind to be looking through them!

Look at what you can afford. I'm at the 'you take cash' point in life. Dropping a couple of grand for optics is possible, but not reasonable. I'd probably quickly lose my laid back outlook if my $$$$ scope did a swan dive off the shooting bench. Now if it was my $$ scope, meh.

The Internet has made the research into potential purchases so much more in our favor, it makes a consumers heart go pitter pat! Back in the dark ages of online shopping you could compare the local store prices to catalog prices to auction site prices. And you might have a review saying ship quickly, as described, POS etc.

Former brick and mortar stores, catalog sales, major retailers, custom shops, auction house's and major online only stores all have Internet sales. You get to compare prices, delivery time's and costs, item and store reviews, manufacturer and warranty information. It goes on and on. And when you're shortlisting see if it's carried in your area. Nothing beats putting the ole Mark I eyeball on optics. A knowledgeable salesman is a blessing. The blessing department has been shutdown for a number of years.

I did a career in the Navy with three tours assigned to Marine units. So I have some experience with lowest bidder and recycled (Army hand-me-downs) equipment.

I didn't mean to do a treatise on being a cheap SOB. Unfortunately I can get windy. It's worse when someone posts a question about a subject I have spent time and thought on. And when there seems to be a point that was missed. While there were a lot of very good recommendations and suggestions. There are some that aren't very useful if are limited in the funds department.

I just thought that I would blather and Drivel on about, "I've got $125 to spend, including shipping. What should I look at?"

 

[Pirate's Son]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, my friend that loaned me his Bushnell told me to keep it as he had not used it in years.

Best deal out there!

 

[mc1960]

Don't know where you're at in life. The, I'll start putting away... "My AC unit went down, it's June in Southern Arizona!" Or at the point... "Man, that's a neat (spendy) item. Here, put it on this debit card or (you take cash?)

I've been both, as most have. Doesn't matter, eBay!!!
(Or whatever is the better eBayish site.)

I'll start with binoculars then swing to spotting scopes. During one of my several childhoods I ran a charter for close to a couple of decades in SE Alaska. I have a 42' Sportfisher that my Skippers License and vessel specifications could carry 24 souls. I never exceeded 8 (4 fishing) on fishing trips. SE Alaska is incredibly beautiful and everyone wants to see.

I usually had 4 - 8 pairs of binoculars onboard. Varied as to broken, lost overboard, stolen back, gifted or left behind. My first binoculars purchase was on eBay back when it was mostly auction. By the ending of my chartering days it was every pair was a Bushnell 7x50. Anyone could grab any pair and get a close-up view of... Now the Captains glasses were on the list of 'You are walking home.' offenses.

My glasses were an older Bushnell that I picked up at fisherman's flea market. In their day they were top of the line. Most of my early ships binoculars were acquired in the yard, garage, estate and the "would you buy me a beer for these binoculars?" sales. I never spent more than $20 on them. As long as you could see great, focus is an option.

Reasoning behind dollar limit started with rods & reels. They had the same limit so when a client or the significant other dropped it over the side, it's no big deal. My chartering gig was mostly a tax dodge and to pay for my fuel, booze and food. I lived on her seven years.

I was partial to Bushnell, they had and I hope still have a lifetime warranty that means something. At the end of my season, when I had to concentrate on my adultish world, (hospital administration), if I had any needing work I'd get them sent off to Bushnell. If they couldn't fix them you would be offered direct swap or the next model up. There was shipping and maybe a small charge involved. It also worked well on the $2.50, cracked lens yard sale glasses.

So if you ended up with hundred plus dollar glasses, they were still $20 glasses. Recently repaired glasses could get the Captains assignment. I had to up my limit to $25-30 range on eBay when I quit shopping. Bushnell will even try to work with the current crop of (foreign country) binoculars that are sold on eBay under the Bushnell name. Those glasses are pretty hit, hit, hit & miss.

When my eyes got to the point of needing a spotting scope at the range, where did I go, yep, eBay. But being able to research on the Internet allowed me to look for a good deal. Once again eBay won. Another Bushnell, low mid range model. Worked well for what I needed. A nice covered and bench equipped range. But still soggy Southeast Alaska weather, club footed and handed klutz shooting buddies, missing the mosquito but dead on for the tripod. Then using it on my boat as we did sidehill trolling for deer.

The boat won the 'what is going to finally kill my spotting scope' contest. The result of the trip to factory is that I now have one of Bushnell's mid to high range scopes. And it works for me.

You get to know people in Alaska that have money. When you get clients for charters, guiding or transportation they'll bring their best toys with them. So I've looked through some pretty expensive optics over the years. Can you tell the difference between my middle'n Bushnell's and their top of the line Zeiss? If you can't you're too blind to be looking through them!

Look at what you can afford. I'm at the 'you take cash' point in life. Dropping a couple of grand for optics is possible, but not reasonable. I'd probably quickly lose my laid back outlook if my $$$$ scope did a swan dive off the shooting bench. Now if it was my $$ scope, meh.

The Internet has made the research into potential purchases so much more in our favor, it makes a consumers heart go pitter pat! Back in the dark ages of online shopping you could compare the local store prices to catalog prices to auction site prices. And you might have a review saying ship quickly, as described, POS etc.

Former brick and mortar stores, catalog sales, major retailers, custom shops, auction house's and major online only stores all have Internet sales. You get to compare prices, delivery time's and costs, item and store reviews, manufacturer and warranty information. It goes on and on. And when you're shortlisting see if it's carried in your area. Nothing beats putting the ole Mark I eyeball on optics. A knowledgeable salesman is a blessing. The blessing department has been shutdown for a number of years.

I did a career in the Navy with three tours assigned to Marine units. So I have some experience with lowest bidder and recycled (Army hand-me-downs) equipment.

I didn't mean to do a treatise on being a cheap SOB. Unfortunately I can get windy. It's worse when someone posts a question about a subject I have spent time and thought on. And when there seems to be a point that was missed. While there were a lot of very good recommendations and suggestions. There are some that aren't very useful if are limited in the funds department.

I just thought that I would blather and Drivel on about, "I've got $125 to spend, including shipping. What should I look at?"

Thanks for you post, I was the youngest of 5, Daddy worked on the railroad after coming home from WWII, Momma stayed home to raise the kids, we were raised on a small farm, had a garden, raised our own meat, and fixed everything that was broken, always made do with what we had until we could do better.

 

[Pirate's Son]

Thanks for you post, I was the youngest of 5, Daddy worked on the railroad after coming home from WWII, Momma stayed home to raise the kids, we were raised on a small farm, had a garden, raised our own meat, and fixed everything that was broken, always made do with what we had until we could do better.

Small world! I was number 4 out of 5 boys. Dad worked for the Southern Pacific railroad after coming home from Korean war. Spent a lot of growing up years living in Section Housing in the high Cascade's. Hunting and fishing and huge gardens fed us. Lucky there was a bunch of us. Our birthday dinner's we're home made hamburgers. Aside from an occasional cow's tongue that was about the only store bought beef or meat we got.
Dad had his own view of Fish & Game law's. His working understanding was, "It's only against the law if you get caught!" It's why my brothers and I called him The Pirate. And it's why I am the,

Pirate's Son