Can a telescope be used as a spotting scope?

[Gord]

Other than a spotting scope having a larger objective lens/viewing area (I think) and less power, is there any difference between the two that would preclude a telescope from being used as a spotting scope?

I ask because several places are going to have Vivitar 50x-100x "telescopes" on sale for ten bucks or so tomorrow. I figured it'd be a frugal alternative to a $100 Tasco spotting scope from Big 5, and appropriate for a guy who shoots Mosins.

I realize the optics will be somewhere between "glass jar smeared with Vaseline" and "melted plastic", but as long as I can see the target it's all good - and if not, I'm only out a ten-spot.

Thoughts?

 

[Husker1911]

Perhaps, but you must have a "terrestial" telescope. I believe stargazing telescopes invert the image, so that left is right and up is down. Would make for very confusing scope adjusting!

 

[Third_Rail]

When I was into stargazing a while back, I read up on quite a bit about these...

Basically, to sum it up... if you'll just be looking at the sky, a telescope is fine. If you're ever looking lower than the treeline/horizon, get a spotting scope.

A spotting scope is good for looking at anything you can see, though they're generally more expensive.

 

[Gord]

With any luck, I'll be able to demo one at the store (Walgreens) tomorrow. If the image isn't inverted, am I in the clear?

 

[Ed Ames]

Different telescope designs do different things to the image. Some flip the image left to right and upside down, others just flip L-R or U-D. A "terrestrial" telescope is one where these flips have been corrected by the use of a special prism (just like binoculars, which also have prisms to "erect" the image). Telescopes sold for stargazing typically do not use those prisms (because they reduce the brightness of the image... not a problem in daylight obviously) and so the image is flipped around and that can be confusing.

You can buy "correcting diagonals" for some designs of astronomical telescopes. I use a telescope (a 127mm mak-cas) with an erecting diagonal for a spotting scope (when I don't just use a pair of binoculars). Standard erecting diagonals don't work for "Newtonian" reflector telescopes... but Newtonian reflectors tend to be big and bulky anyway.

Most of the really cheap refractor telescopes I've seen (those are the ones with just lenses, no mirrors) have the correcting optics built in anyway.

 

[klover]

good binoculars make a better

alternative. Please don't waste ammo thinking you can keep orientation if using a non corrected astronomical telescope.

A small celestron maksutov can near focus to say 10 feet and work as a sort of "micro scope" at that range. Saves a lot of walking to verify you are repeatedly making one ragged hole

Astronomy can be really cool all by itself.

 

[zoom6zoom]

With any luck, I'll be able to demo one at the store (Walgreens) tomorrow. If the image isn't inverted, am I in the clear?

Might work as a short range spotting scope, but don't ever buy a department store scope and expect it to work worth a damn for astronomy.

 

[Gord]

Checked it out - the image is flipped and so dim I could barely make anything out. Oh well, back to waiting for a sale on spotting scopes.

 

[kd7nqb]

I am assuming you have an old pair of binoculars around, why not find a cool little stand for them. I know they exist if not I am sure you can jury rig something.

 

[Gord]

I do, but I'd prefer something with a bit more magnification. I'll just have to postpone another Mosin purchase and get a spotter.

 

[Husker1911]

Get what you can afford now, and start putting some $$ aside for a quality spotting scope. They are wonderful additions to the shooting sports, and to hunting and viewing in general.

BTW, quality optics are more important than sheer magnification.

 

[Gord]

I've always known that, but you'll have to forgive this 19-year-old for being a bit leery of spending "as much or more" on the optics as I do on the gun, money being what it is at this point in life

 

[rangerruck]

also , because of a telescopes inability to freely adjust on they fly , it's power settings, if you put a big mag lens on the eyepiece, and move it just a teeny, tiny bit, you will be looking about 100 yds, in another direction.

 

[T J]

The "spotting scope" I use now is an auto level as commonly used in construction to shoot grades. The one I have has a busted auto level device in it, so it is no good for the intended use. But it does have good optics. This is I am guessing 20 to 30 something power, and will focus from a very few feet to infinity. I bought one in a pawn shop for as I recall for $225, and eventually loaned it out to a Construction Superintendent where it was subequently stolen. I took this "busted" one in trade to use as a spotting scope. One of the neatest things I have seen looking through this "scope" was watching a guy shooting a high powered rifle with me almost behind him and seeing the shock waves coming off the bullet in flight on the way to the target. Guess might have been the conditions that day, have not seen that but once so far. Any way, if you run across an auto level cheapo, might be an option as well.

 

[Gord]

Good tip - thanks!

 

[joneb]

Telescopes like the maksutov-cassegrain and schmidt-cass. will work but because of there high focal ratios getting below 35x is tuff . A fast f/5or6 refractor would work better, all of these scopes will need a correct image diagonal, and 2 or 3 eyepieces to change power, or a variable power eyepiece.
Telescopes generally are not water proof, you would be better off saving for a decent spotting scope.