I am looking for a good spotting scope and I came across this . Is this a good spotting scope? I have no idea what I am looking for in a spotting scope. HELP ME.

Features


60-mm objective
Integrated sliding sunshade
Magnification x: 15-45
Angular field of view: real/2.5; apparent/37.5
Field of view(at 1000 yds): 133 ft
Close focues diameter: 16.5 ft
Exit pupil: 4 mm
Relative brightness: 16
Eye relief: 12.5 mm
Size: L 12.7 in; W 3.3 in
Weight: 34.5 oz
Straight body with case
Zoom eyepiece
Full-sized SLIK tripod

It's about the same size and weight as my old Bushnell Spacemaster. Big enough to be useful and not too big to lug around. As far as optical performance goes, Nikon knows glass, so no problem there. Eye relief at 12.5 mm is a bit short if you wear glasses, so if you do, you won't see the full field of view. They might be cheating on that, with the full 12.5mm only available at 15X, and less as the power goes up. I can see .30 calibre holes in the white at 300 yards with my old scope, the Nikon should better that. Close focus of 16.5 feet is very good.

A famous photographer said that "A tripod is a necessary evil, and the greater the tripod, the greater the evil." Slik makes a lot of different tripods, but any tripod you can use standing up should weight close to 10 pounds.

Bye
Jack

This should be a good spotting scope.

Steer clear of any variable power scope up to the 30x power that only has a 50mm objective lens. The view tends to get sorta dark with that small of lens. the 15x45x60 is pretty standard for the better quality scopes and should serve you well.

In my humble opinion anything over 45 power is extra baggage to deal with, and besides trying to focus is a pain in the rearend to boot.

I have a TASCO spotting scope for the shooting range with a Vanguard Tripod. It works just fine for range work. It is the 18 x 36 power. I wish it were a 10 x 40 model, but no one I know makes such a spotting scope.

i bought a nikon spotter xl 16-47x60 abought 5/6 years ago,iv'e been real happy with it,no problems at all. i think i payd around 545.00 at that time. a friend of mine had just purchsed a leopold of about the same type can't remember the model i remember he forked over around 7/800$ for it. we sat them both up side by side, and even he agreed the nikon seemed brighter. don't get me wrong i have nothing against leopold,heck their made about 50 miles from where i live, i have three guns topped with them,i just felt for the money the nikon did the trick for me. jeepster.. 340wby.300win.270wsm.ruger44bisly44mag...