The best spotting scope 60+ times for the money

dterpstra · Guest

I have a bay view and want to read the names of boats etc from 2-3 miles away from inside my house. I figure a Mak. or Cass. with 90+ mm would be the best, especially with replacable eyepieces. However I find it very difficult to determine which have a high quality lens, ie. one 60x could look dark and grainy and another could look bright and clear. Do you have any recommendations or tips. I you have already summarized I don't need waterproof or nitrogen filled etc.

Regards,

Danny

opticsplanet.com · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:32 am Post subject:

Hi Danny

Thank you for your interest in www.OpticsPlanet.com

Reading ship names at two or three miles distant will involve a couple of challenges.

The first, and one we can do little to control, is atmospheric seeing conditions. Haze, humidity, breezes across the water and unsettled air currents will determine how much magnification you can use at any one time. Even the best spotting scope is at the mercy of Mother Nature here. Having a spotting scope that can use more than 60x is great, but it is no guarantee that you can use it all the time. To be honest, there will be days where you will not be able to read ship names at three miles, even with the best spotting scope.

The second, your choice of scope, is something we can control. Given that a larger objective can handle more magnification, your idea of a Mak or a Cass is right on target. The Meade ETX-90 Spotting Scope, http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-etx90ss.html, or the Celestron C90 Mak Spotting Scope, http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-c90-mak-spotting-scope.html, are affordable, versatile and offer a lot of performance for your optic dollar. With enough magnification and the right viewing conditions, they will do the job.

Another option, though, more expensive, is to go to an ED spotting scope such as the Pentax PF-100ED Spotting Scope, http://www.opticsplanet.net/pentax-pf-100ed-spotting-scope-.html, The Pentax PF-100ED also uses astronomical eyepieces. The advantage of this scope is its improved resolution and image brightness over a Mak of the same size. It, too, uses astronomical eyepieces. When coupled with a Pentax Pentax XL-7 Eyepiece SMC, http://www.opticsplanet.net/pentax-xl7-eyepiece.html, you will have a view at 90x that will not be surpassed by any spotting scope, anywhere.

Enjoy the view.
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Joanie (Jne) K
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Obi W · Guest

Are you better off using Spotting scopes over Binoculars for long distance viewing like license plates and people on the other side of the bay? What are some good Binoculars that can zoom in on things and have good clarity?