Suggestion for a cheap spotting scope

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ATLDave

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I work in an office many, many stories above the ground, and have a view of a large urban area from my window. I think it would be fun to have a spotting scope in my office for viewing things like the constructions cranes, crowds in the parks, trains, etc. I also do a SMALL amount of outdoor rifle target shooting, and the scope would pull light double-duty as a shooting spotting scope.

In view (ha!) of these not-very-serious needs, I'm not inclined to drop much money on what will be a toy. So, I pose the question: What's the cheapest spotting scope that would be usable and not a complete waste of money? Anybody had a good experience with one of the bargain-basement brands of scopes?
 
define "cheap".....$100? $1,000?

for the money, Barska Scopes are usually pretty decent.
 
Yeah, I mean cheap. There's a lot of stuff I'd spend $1k before this. The Barska level is in the ballpark.
 
I picked up a 20-60x Simmons last year for about $50. While it's far from best, it worked great for spotting shots while I checked sights on a few of my rifles at 200yards. My only real complaint is the stand was very cheap and it would shake alot. But since I didn't have much money involved I snugged up the stand through my own modifications. You can always buy a better stand later too if you are not happy with it.
 
I would always look at the used market, I have 2 Leupold compacts from the 80's and picked up a B&L recently from that same era and all were under $150 and I've had them set up next to European glass that cost over 10x what I paid and could not see much improvement. IMO you need to really break open the wallet if you want brightness and clarity over 15x.
 
^ I have that same Simmons 20-60 for around 50 bucks...ive had it for probably 7/8 years and it's been alright for the purpose. I put it on an amazon stand thats much more sturdy. Good enough for the $ for shots not much more than 2/300 yards.
 
I have a Gander Mountain labeled spotting scope that works ok. I can see .22 holes on a target at 150 yards so that is what I was going for at the time. I don't remember what it cost but it was under $100. I'm sure its made in China :)

-Jeff
 
Funny that you asked this question.

I was thinking of doing the same but from my backyard and some casual moon and plant gazing.


The Big 5 (cheap sporting goods box store) has had this on and off recently.


Simmons Blazer 20-60x60mm Spotting Scope Kit for $70 (kit=comes with tripod stand)
 
The best cheap spotting scope I've heard of is the Konus 7120. It's a 20-60x80 unit and is very popular with the high power shooting crowd as it's able to spot .22 cal shots @ 200 yards. About $230 @ Amazon, maybe cheaper elsewhere. Unless you find a smoking deal on something higher end used I don't think you could do better. Other spotters may be cheaper, but with this one you're getting some quality optical performance. You'll have something far more useful for the money invested and if you later want to sell, you'll have something folks will want.

http://www.amazon.com/Konus-7120-20x-60x80mm-Spotting-Tripod/dp/B001DX7Q8W

The only real negative I've heard about it is the cheap tripod that come with it, something easily upgraded.
 
I work in an office many, many stories above the ground, and have a view of a large urban area from my window. I think it would be fun to have a spotting scope in my office for viewing things like the constructions cranes, crowds in the parks, trains, etc.
Click to expand...

Dude, don't b.s. us. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I mean cheap. There's a lot of stuff I'd spend $1k before this. The Barska level is in the ballpark.
Click to expand...

Barskas are junk.

For what you really want to do with it on work time - i.e., spotting hot chicks from up high - you'll need the best in high-resolution optics, and spotting scopes of that quality aren't cheap. ;) :D
 
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I have a barska: it sucks big time. Sorry ATLDave, spotting scopes that actually work are expensive.


I could barely see .22 holes at 50yds with the Barska it has such bad quality
 
Barskas are junk. I wasted my money on one of them. Use eBay to find an old used one. I have a few old Bausch & Lombs scopes that I've picked up for little money. Plenty of other brands available as well.
 
I have two cheap spotting scopes; one is a "Winchester" (Chinese) I bought at a gun show and the other is a Simmons that was gifted to me. Not sure why I still have them because they are both only useful as paperweights. When I bought the first one, I didn't know squat about scopes. Live and learn. At my rifle range I've had the opportunity to look through good spotters and the difference is huge. So I'll never buy another cheapie. The used idea is good if you know what you are looking at. Most gun show vendors know their stuff and want very high prices.
 
agtman said:
Dude, don't b.s. us. :rolleyes:
...
For what you really want to do with it on work time - i.e., spotting hot chicks from up high - :D
Click to expand...

LOL! I've had other offices that overlooked rooftop hotel swimming pools. Not here, though. This genuinely would be a way to answer "hey, what's that smoke about?" or "what's going on at that intersection that is fouling up traffic for blocks?" And watching a new NFL football stadium go up. Any extra visibility of, shall we say, "aesthetically-gifted self-propelled scenery" would be incidental and infrequent.
 
Two thoughts on spotting scopes:

- always get the angled view piece if you have the option. It is much easier for multiple people of different heights to use. And people will always want to use your scope. Also, you can turn the eye piece horizontally on the bench to look through without shifting position too much.

- Bird watchers generally know their optics better than anyone. I'd check out your local birdwatching group/listserv and see if any of them have a used one for sale for a couple hundred bucks.
 
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