Choosing A Spotting Scope
There are several considerations when evaluating a spotting scope.
The first is the size of the front element.
Often ranging between 60mm and 80mm, the front element’s size impacts the scope’s light-gathering capability. The larger the front element, the more light it brings into the scope, resulting in a brighter image, especially under low-light conditions.
The eyepiece determines the level of magnification.
Most spotting scopes feature a user-replaceable eyepiece.
You can choose fixed-powered eyepieces from 20x to 60x or a zoom eyepiece such as a 20-60x. Although the zoom eyepiece gives the obvious advantage of adjusting the magnification at the turn of a ring, a fixed eyepiece features a wider angle of view.
A wide field of view is beneficial when searching for a subject through the eyepiece.
Too narrow a depth of field can make finding a subject incredibly difficult and frustrating.
At these image magnifications, image shake is a key problem; use a sturdy tripod, a high ISO setting and a balance rail to help control blurry pictures.
Typically, an in-camera image-stabilization system doesn’t work for digiscoping.
Digiscoping has been gaining popularity for years as a viable method for getting extreme telephoto compositions of small wildlife.
Birders, in particular, have taken the process to a science and have been able to capture amazing images.
If your budget doesn’t allow for the extreme telephotos some wildlife photography requires, consider a spotting scope as an alternative.
How to choose a Spotting Scope
