Pros: Detailed, bright image for a smaller scope, which stays sharp right to the edge of the field of view. Dual focus knobs make for quick and accurate focusing at any magnification. Robust aluminium body is lightweight yet feels as if it's made to last. Compact contemporary design. Unusual 17-50x wide-angle zoom range works very well in most situations.Cons: Slight image … [Read more...] about Kite SP65 17-50x Spotting Scope Review
Spotting Scope Reviews
Hawke Endurance ED 20-60×85 Spotting Scope Review
Pros: Crisp, high-resolution image, impressively bright and sharp across the field of view. Fast, accurate focussing thanks to dual focusing knobs. Tough magnesium-alloy body. Included stay on case functional and effective. Excellent optical quality at a very compelling price point.Cons: Not many, at the price -- as with most zoom eyepieces you get a slight "tunnel vision" … [Read more...] about Hawke Endurance ED 20-60×85 Spotting Scope Review
Hawke Endurance 50 12-36x Spotting Scope Review
Pros: Tiny but robust travel scope with great ergonomics that delivers plenty of optical bang for the buck. Super-portable the Endurance delivers a bright, clear, razor sharp image across a wide field of view at 12x, and remains sharp and detailed (though a little darker, as you'd expect with a 50mm objective) right up to a the max zoom of a very useful 36x.Cons: While … [Read more...] about Hawke Endurance 50 12-36x Spotting Scope Review
Vanguard Endeavor HD 65A Spotting Scope Review
Pros: As with its 82mm sibling we reviewed here, this is a smart, modern-looking scope. Very solid and extremely compact. Image is very bright and sharp from 15x to around 30x. Wide central sweet spot, with some softening towards the field edges. Dual focus controls make fine-focus quick and easy.Cons: This scope uses the same eyepiece as the 82A model, and suffers … [Read more...] about Vanguard Endeavor HD 65A Spotting Scope Review
Olivon T650 Spotting Scope Review
Pros: Crisp, high resolution views with good colour and contrast throughout most of the 16-48x zoom range. Excellent wide angle eyepiece delivers expansive viewing experience without "tunnel vision" common with budget scopes. Standard 1.25" astronomy eyepiece mount means compatible with a vast range of third party eyepieces.Cons: Non-ED version reviewed does suffers … [Read more...] about Olivon T650 Spotting Scope Review
Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A Spotting Scope Review
Pros: Sleek, modern-looking scope that feels solid and well made. Quite compact for an 82mm scope. Very bright, sharp image at 20x magnification that is very good up to about 40x, showing plenty of detail with good colour and contrast. Wide central sweet spot with marginal softening out towards the edge. Dual focus controls make fine-focus easy.Cons: Image degrades … [Read more...] about Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A Spotting Scope Review
Nikon Fieldscope ED50 Review
Pros: tiny size, lightweight, outstanding performance and image quality. Amazingly packable -- ideal travel scope or second scope for birding and wildlife watching situations where you need to keep down the bulk.Cons: pearlescent green perhaps not the most flattering of colours for a scope (go for black), low light performance not as good as full size scopes (but does … [Read more...] about Nikon Fieldscope ED50 Review
Meopta Meostar S2 82 HD Spotting Scope
Meopta Meostar S2 Spotting Scope: Short Review Pros: Great looking scope. Robust magnesium alloy, rubber armoured body feels light and very tough. Wide field of view is exceptionally bright, sharp and detailed right to the edge of the field. Superb performance throughout the zoom range. Excellent ergonomics. Centre-ring focus dial quick, easy and accurate. Compact and easy to … [Read more...] about Meopta Meostar S2 82 HD Spotting Scope