Spotting scope vocabulary and review information for those of you just learning about bird watching.

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Buying a Bird Watching Scope

A bit of vocabulary and review information for those of you just learning about spotting scopes. A bird watching spotting scope, hunting spotting scope, or astronomy spotting scope, is usually mounted on a tripod and will give you between 20 and 60 times magnification. Some have a single eyepiece with control knobs and others have several eyepieces set at specific magnifications. Light is gathered through a single objective lens, typically between 50mm and 80mm.

The next distinguishing characteristic of the Nikon spotting scope is the relationship between the viewing lens and the objective lens. Straight spotting scopes refers to scopes with viewing lens on the same plane as the light-gathering lens. Angled spotting scopes have a viewing lens raised up at about a 45-degree angle. All things equal, the only difference would be the comfort of the user, and it is entirely a personal preference.

Some guidelines for the birdwatcher

Bird Watching Spotting Scopes - Birding scopes intended for bird watching stick within the 20x and 30x range. If you are a photographer, be sure to verify that your potential Leupold spotting scope can be adapted to your 35mm SLR camera lens. Waterproof Spotting Scopes - While nobody would recommend trying to find fish with your Bushnell spotting scope, sometimes the great outdoors does not cooperate when it comes to weather. That's why you may want to consider a waterproof spotting scope. Expect a pretty handsome premium to come along with this kind of scope. No-fault warranty - Manufacturers of these bird watching spotting scopes are fond of issuing No-Fault Warranties. Happily, for the consumer, this means that a slight mistake rendering it fully or partially damaged will be met by the manufacturers with a complete repair or replacement, no questions asked.? At least that's what it says on the books.