Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
Need Help Understanding my Spotting Scope |
Post Reply |
Author | |
macky
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/20/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 122 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
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.? |
|
The World is a Toy Store ...
And I aims to Play |
|
Chris Farris
TEAM SWFA - Admin swfa.com Joined: October/01/2003 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 8024 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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.
Here are some really good spotters that perform like you would expect them to.
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.
|
|
macky
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/20/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 122 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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 |
|
macky
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/20/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 122 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
Here's the bushnell
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 |
|
Chris Farris
TEAM SWFA - Admin swfa.com Joined: October/01/2003 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 8024 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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. |
|
anweis
Optics Master Joined: January/29/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1148 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
macky, in cheapish scopes and eyepieces, the higher the magnification, the worse the image and the shorter the eye relief.
|
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |