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Need Help Understanding my Spotting Scope

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Category: Other Optics
Forum Name: Spotting Scopes
Forum Description: Big Eye Optics
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3791
Printed Date: March/19/2024 at 00:20
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Topic: Need Help Understanding my Spotting Scope
Posted By: macky
Subject: Need Help Understanding my Spotting Scope
Date Posted: May/18/2006 at 15:56

I just bought a Bushnell Trophy 20-60X65mm Spotting Scope.

 

When I go to the higher powers the size of the image at the eyepiece (I guess the iris) gets very small and I need to be right up tight against the eyepiece.  I wear glasses and this forces me to press the lens of my glasses against the rubber ring around the eyepiece.  OR, I can take my glasses off and that gives me a tad more eye relief once I refocus it ....

 

Question is .... is this the nature of the beast or did I choose poorly?

 

Are there other spotting scopes that give you more eye relief AND retain a larger image (iris) at higher power.?



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The World is a Toy Store ...
And I aims to Play



Replies:
Posted By: Chris Farris
Date Posted: May/18/2006 at 16:36

It's both the nature of the beast and a poor choice.

 

Bigger is not always better when considering spotting scope magnifications. Extreme magnification requires extreme objective lenses to produce a usable exit pupil. The inability to hold them steady, narrow field of view, small exit pupil (poor light & critical eye relief), and heat wave distortion are all results of extreme magnification combined with inadequate objective lens size.

Stick to the 15-45 power range combined with the largest objective you can stand to pack.

 

Here are some really good spotters that perform like you would expect them to.

http://www.riflescopes.com/departments/42/spotting_scopes/kowa_spotters.htm - Kowa
http://www.riflescopes.com/departments/662/spotting_scopes/nikon_spotting_scopes/nikon_spotter_xl_ii_spotting_scopes.htm - Nikon XLII
http://www.riflescopes.com/departments/788/spotting_scopes/bushnell_spotting_scopes/bushnell_elite_spotting_scopes.htm - Bushnell Elite

 

Probably one of the best and easiest spotters to use is the Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60.  It has the largest ocular and the best eye relief of any spotter I know......but they are pricey.

 

http://www.riflescopes.com/departments/347/spotting_scopes/leupold_spotters/leupold_gold_ring_spotters.htm - Leupold Gold Ring



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Posted By: macky
Date Posted: May/18/2006 at 16:46

I picked that one more for price than anything .... for most of what I will need it for 25-30 power would be fine.  The main use is going to be at the range (100 yard) to help my tired old eyes see bullet holes when I use a rifle with a lower power scope 

 

Which of the scopes that you listed (if any) come close to the price of the Bushnell? 



-------------
The World is a Toy Store ...
And I aims to Play


Posted By: macky
Date Posted: May/19/2006 at 06:19

I looked at some of the alternatives .... most were more than I want to spend for a spotting scope that will only be used at the 100 yard range during daylight hours.

 

I did find this one though .... specs wise it seems a little better

 

http://www.riflescopes.com/products/300119/burris_20-60x80_l andmark_spotter.htm - http://www.riflescopes.com/products/300119/burris_20-60x80_l andmark_spotter.htm

 

Here's the bushnell

 

http://www.riflescopes.com/products/782065/bushnell_20-60x65_trophy_spotting_scope.htm - http://www.riflescopes.com/products/782065/bushnell_20-60x65 _trophy_spotting_scope.htm

 

Key comparisons are

 

Bushnell .... eye relief   14mm is the only one listed, bet thats at 20X,  exit pupil 3.25 - 1.1

 

Burris ... eye relief  20.32mm - 15.24 mm, exit pupil 4 - 1.3

 

Both offer the same magnification range, a hard case and a tripod

 

What's everyones opinion of the Burris (compared to the bushnell)?  Are there any other choices that will better fit my needs and still come in at say $300 or less?  I'd probably go to $350 if it bought me a SIGNIFICANT improvement.

 

 

 



-------------
The World is a Toy Store ...
And I aims to Play


Posted By: Chris Farris
Date Posted: May/19/2006 at 12:41

That Burris is perfect for what you are doing.  The monster objective is the key and since you are primarily using it at the range it won't be a problem.



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Posted By: anweis
Date Posted: May/20/2006 at 17:17
macky, in cheapish scopes and eyepieces, the higher the magnification, the worse the image and the shorter the eye relief.



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