This is a decent and useful scope, optics are unimpressive - Alpen 20x50 Waterproof Mini Spotting Scope w/ Sunshade, Tripod, Carrying Case

This spotting scope is useful for many tasks that a binocular would be used for because of it's relatively low magnification, but it has suffienct magnification to be used at a 100 yard (max) range.. One can hold it in hand and make out things. I actually use it to monitor cows in a pasture. I can identify each one by their features, but I can't read tags when they are far out. It is sufficient to just see 22 caliber bullet holes in cheap NRA-style target paper or in printer paper, but barely, at 100 yards. It is extremely compact and is as easy to hold as a binoculars. The focus on it is stiff but does work. Overall, it seems to be decently well made. So far, the waterproof claim is true. I've used it in the rain, and while it is next to useless with actual rain on the lenses, it didn't fog or seem to suffer any ill effects once it dried.

The bad things about this scope: the brightness (or % light transmission) just doesn't impress. While it does what I want it to do, it is somewhat difficult to see things because everything through it is somewhat dim.

And the tripod is a joke. It DOES actually work if you are delicate with it. It holds it well enough at the range, but it could be much better. The threads on the scope work with better tripods, so it isn't the end of the world. The nice thing about the tripod is that it does fit in the provided case with the scope.

In the end, if this scope was a bit brighter and came with a strudy yet as compact tripod, I would pay a whole lot more for it, but it would be much better yet be as handy and versatile.