Affordable Spotting Scope Recommendations?

#1
volinbham

volinbham

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#1
Looking to up my viewing power at the beach condo. We're on the 14th floor and while I have some 8x50 binocs they don't do much for getting detail on boats.

I'm looking for some type of tripod mount option - either a spotting scope or larger binoculars.

Don't want to blow the budget - ideally 200 range but would consider moving up if there was a large quality difference.

And yes, I might look at the beach some
 
#2
#2
Good optics and affordable usually are not used in the same sentence.
 
#4
#4
volinbham said:
Looking to up my viewing power at the beach condo. We're on the 14th floor and while I have some 8x50 binocs they don't do much for getting detail on boats.

I'm looking for some type of tripod mount option - either a spotting scope or larger binoculars.

Don't want to blow the budget - ideally 200 range but would consider moving up if there was a large quality difference.

And yes, I might look at the beach some
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Lol.


Reminds me of National Lampoons vacation when Clark is caught in the pool with Christie Brinkley. He tells his son she's a swimup waitress and he screamed because she startled him and asks "you belive me right Russ"?

Russ says "sure but you think mom will buy it".
 
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#5
#5
hog88 said:
Good optics and affordable usually are not used in the same sentence.
Click to expand...

I know but it's not for precision work.

I have a good pair of Nikons and a great pair of Nikons in binocs and honestly I can't tell much difference though one cost 2x as much.
 
#6
#6
Orange_Vol1321 said:
Lol.


Reminds me of National Lampoons vacation when Clark is caught in the pool with Christie Brinkley. He tells his son she's a swimup waitress and he screamed because she startled him and asks "you belive me right Russ"?

Russ says "sure but you think mom will buy it".
Click to expand...

I can neither confirm nor deny the implied message in this post.
 
#9
#9
volinbham said:
I'm considering something like that - need a tripod either way.

Not sure of the tradeoffs of hipower binocs vs scope
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I believe I read they would mount to just about any tripod.

Maybe you need more of a telescope that at the same time can take good pictures of those, er, boats. :)


Can't say much, I do the same with the camcorder. My wife actually films them for me. Lol
 
#10
#10
Orange_Vol1321 said:
I believe I read they would mount to just about any tripod.

Maybe you need more of a telescope that at the same time can take good pictures of those, er, boats. :)


Can't say much, I do the same with the camcorder. My wife actually films them for me. Lol
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The spotting scope is kinda a telescope as I understand it. I originally was looking at telescopes and it was suggesting SSs were telescopes for land.
 
#12
#12
hndog609 said:
At that price point I'd start with either the Redfield Rampage

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...033C5EJE&linkCode=as2&linkId=N3K74FQ74Y3EXLWD


or Celestron Ultima

https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52...490827120&sr=1-1&keywords=celestron+ultima+80

I've heard some good things about Konus for the money but I've no experience with the brand at all.
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All 3 of these have come up in my research.

Likely I'm going low 100s to dabble - if after some time that doesn't suffice or I see certain issues I'll upgrade if merited.
 
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