In my experience using spotting scopes across diverse terrains and for countless wildlife observations, I’ve found them to be indispensable tools for nature enthusiasts, sports fans, and even stargazers. Often referred to as field scopes or digiscopes, they bridge the gap between a monocular and a telescope, offering impressive magnifications while remaining compact and portable.
The standout advantage of a spotting scope over a monocular is its magnification power. Monoculars typically max out around 10x magnification, and even at that level, they can become quite bulky. Spotting scopes, on the other hand, deliver much higher magnification without compromising on portability. Many also feature zoom capabilities, allowing you to adjust magnification as needed—a feature I’ve found incredibly useful when observing distant wildlife.
Another benefit of spotting scopes is their versatility for photography through digiscoping, where you connect a camera to the scope. Whether I’m observing with the naked eye or capturing images, I’ve learned that the higher magnification makes a sturdy tripod essential for a steady, clear view. Investing in a good tripod designed for spotting scopes is well worth it.
Spotting scopes come in a wide range of prices to suit all budgets, from affordable entry-level models to premium optics like the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85. If you’re looking for top-tier quality, I highly recommend considering the Leica APO-Televid 82—an optical marvel that’s hard to beat for serious enthusiasts.
Whether you’re new to spotting scopes or upgrading, this guide includes options for every budget and use case.
Best spotting scopes: our top picks
It’s no surprise that camera and optical manufacturer Nikon produces scopes with the ability to attach a camera and enjoy the art of digiscoping. Unlike with some other scopes, the eyepiece is sold separately.
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Any photographer will recognize the name Zeiss as being the bee’s knees for optical quality, so selecting a Zeiss scope for wildlife and nature photography has got to be a sensible decision.
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This is a great mid-priced model for wildlife watchers. It comes kitted up with its own travel tripod, and a mount for using the scope from your car.
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The best spotting scopes in 2025
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Best all-round spotting scope
✅ You want a reputable brand: Nikon’s expertise in optics means the Fieldscope ED50 offers reliable performance from a trusted manufacturer known for high-quality lenses and scope systems.
✅ You want a digiscoping option: Nikon's scope allows for camera attachment, making it easy to capture photos directly through the scope and expanding its versatility for both observation and photography.
❌ You want a larger objective lens: While the 50mm lens is sufficient in good lighting, a larger lens might provide better performance in low-light situations, making it ideal for users frequently in dawn, dusk, or shaded areas.
❌You want enhanced waterproofing: Although the ED50 is waterproof up to a meter for five minutes, users who need extended water exposure might require a model with more substantial waterproof capabilities.
It’s no surprise that camera and optical manufacturer Nikon produces scopes with the ability to attach a camera and enjoy the art of digiscoping. Indeed, Nikon has its own digiscoping system.
There’s a lot of choice in this field, but the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 offers a 50mm objective lens (to which a 55mm filter can be attached if desired) and is both relatively compact and lightweight with it.
It also ticks the boxes for the regular must-haves, such as a fog-banishing nitrogen-filled construction and built-in waterproofing (it can even be submerged up to a meter for five minutes) for all those times when the weather doesn't play ball, along with a multilayered lens coating to ensure superb light transmission and, ultimately, high-resolution images.
Read our full Nikon Fieldscope ED50 review for more details
Best spotting scope for image quality
✅ You want powerful magnification: The zoom range of up to 60x allows you to view distant subjects with great detail, expanding your scope’s range and making it highly versatile.
✅ You want high optical quality: Zeiss is known for its exceptional optics, making the Conquest Gavia 85 a top choice for wildlife and nature photographers seeking clarity and precision in their images.
❌ You want a more affordable option: Zeiss scopes, including the Conquest Gavia 85, are premium products with a price tag to match, which might not be suitable for budget-conscious photographers.
❌ You want a more compact scope: The large 85mm lens and durable build make this scope relatively bulky, which might be a drawback if portability is a high priority for your outdoor activities.
Any photographer will recognize the name Zeiss as being the bee’s knees for optical quality, so selecting a Zeiss scope for wildlife and nature photography has got to be a sensible decision.
Of course, Zeiss doesn’t come cheap, but the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 is versatile due to a rapid focus mechanism and a close near-focus setting, so even observing smaller objects or wildlife is claimed to be easier than ever.
Of course, you only have to look at the name of the product to see one great advantage – namely a whopping 85mm-diameter objective lens, useful for low-light observation. Couple this with a zoom-magnification range of up to 60x and a fog-proof, nitrogen-filled construction, and you’ve really got something.
Read our full Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 review for more details
Best spotting scope for beginners
✅ You want a mid-priced option: The Bushnell 20-60x65 Prime offers quality features at a mid-range price, making it a great choice for wildlife enthusiasts seeking good performance without the high price tag.
✅ You want reliable weatherproofing: The IPX7 waterproof rating and O-ring sealed optics provide solid protection, keeping the scope dry and usable in various weather conditions.
❌ You want higher-end durability features: Although this model offers good weatherproofing, those who need more rugged, shockproof construction for extreme outdoor use might look for a higher-end option.
❌ You want improved low-light performance: While the 65mm aperture works well in daylight, a larger objective lens might be preferred if you plan on using the scope frequently at dawn, dusk, or in low-light environments.
This is a great mid-priced model for wildlife watchers. It comes kitted up with its own travel tripod, and a mount for using the scope from your car. The 20-60x range gives it versatility for use with different animal and bird species, with a decent 65mm aperture that is more than satisfactory for daylight viewing.
This spotting scope offers IPX7-level waterproof construction with O-ring sealed optics, ensuring everything stays reassuringly dry in all weather conditions.
Read our full Bushnell 20-60x65 Prime review for more details
Best spotting scope for astronomy
✅ You want powerful magnification: The 22-66x zoom eyepiece offers a versatile range, allowing for clear and detailed observation of wildlife or celestial objects from a distance.
✅ You want a large aperture for low-light use: The 100mm diameter lens on the Celestron Ultima 100 provides over 50% brighter images than smaller models, making it ideal for low-light viewing during dusk or dawn and even stargazing.
❌ You want easy portability: While durable, the size and weight make it less ideal for users who prioritize portability and ease of packing for frequent travel or extended hikes.
❌ You want a lighter scope for active use: At 2kg, this scope is one of the bulkiest in its class, which could be cumbersome for activities requiring mobility, like action photography or hiking.
Weighing 2kg and sporting a 100mm diameter, this is one of the biggest and bulkiest scopes on our list, so it wouldn't be great for, say, action photography. But for more stationary pursuits like stargazing and watching wildlife from a distance, it's a great option.
The largest aperture scope in the Ultima line, the 100mm Ultima offers more than 50 percent brighter images than the 80mm version, so it's a better option for low-light shooting.
The 100mm refractor features a 45° viewing angle and offers excellent multi-coated optics packed into a portable and durable refractor design and comes standard with an angled, 22-66x zoom eyepiece. A soft carrying case is also included.
Read our full Celestron Ultima 100 review.
Best spotting scope for hiking & travel
✅ You want dual-purpose versatility: With a low 9x magnification, this scope can double as a monocular, giving you both a spotting scope and monocular in one compact device.
✅ You want digiscoping capability: The camera-adaptable design allows for digiscoping, making it a great choice for capturing nature photography through the scope.
❌ You want a handheld-friendly viewfinder: The angled viewfinder can be less ideal for handheld use, as it’s more comfortable for stationary viewing than quick handheld spotting.
❌ You want higher magnification for distant observation: While the 9-27x zoom is great for close to mid-range viewing, it may lack the reach of larger scopes if you're primarily observing distant wildlife or landscapes.
Like the Hummingbird it takes its name from, the Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56 ED spotting scope is small and mobile, with a very manageable weight of 590g. That means it’s also ideally suited to taking on your travels. It will fit into a roomy jacket pocket, a rucksack, or a shoulder bag, and can be stashed in carry-on luggage.
At its lowest 9x magnification level, it can even substitute for a monocular, giving you, in effect, two products in one, though the angled viewfinder may not be ideal for handheld spotting.
This device is waterproof and nitrogen filled to prevent fogging, and is a tripod, monopod, and window-mount adaptable, giving it an extra degree of versatility. In summary, if you’re looking for a more portable alternative to a full-sized spotting scope, this ‘bird is hard to beat. What’s more, it’s also camera-adaptable for those into digiscoping.
Best budget spotting scope
✅ You want an affordable option: The Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50 offers solid features at a budget-friendly price, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a quality spotting scope without a high cost.
✅ You want waterproof durability: With O-ring sealed optics, this scope is designed to keep the internal components dry even if submerged, providing peace of mind in wet or unpredictable environments.
❌ You want a higher magnification range: The 18-36x zoom is limited compared to some other scopes, so this model may be less ideal if you need powerful magnification for long-distance observation.
❌ You want an angled eyepiece for stationary viewing: This scope comes with a straight eyepiece, which might be less comfortable for viewing objects at an angle or for long periods when mounted on a tripod.
This sleek-looking spotting scope solution comes with a straight eyepiece and won’t break the bank. Despite the budget price, the Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50 is also impressively waterproof, with proper O-ring sealed optics so the internal workings stay fully dry, even when the Bushnell is submerged in water.
In terms of optical performance, multi-coatings help ensure reflections are avoided and all ‘air to glass’ surfaces deliver bright, high-contrast images. The Porro prism system also features twist-up eyecups and a comfortable 16mm eye relief. Weighing 877g despite the moisture-sealed build, this is still a relatively manageable and portable spotting scope.
Best spotting scope for DSLR photography
✅ You want fast, precise focusing: The upgraded dual-focus mechanism enables quicker, more precise adjustments, bringing subjects into focus up to two times faster—a valuable feature for capturing fast-moving wildlife or changing scenes.
✅ You want a premium, versatile scope: The Celestron Regal M2 65ED is well-suited for various applications, from daytime birdwatching to nighttime stargazing, making it a solid choice for versatile outdoor use.
❌ You want a fully included camera setup: Although the scope includes a T-adapter, you’ll need to purchase a compatible T-mount for your specific camera body separately, which may add to the overall cost.
❌ You want a more compact design for extended travel: Although lighter than the previous model, this premium scope may still be bulky for users who prioritize compactness and portability over advanced features.
The Celestron Regal M2 65ED is a premium spotting scope that is nevertheless fair value in its price range, offering suitability for everything from bird watching in the day to watching the heavens at night. Celestron claims that this second-generation unit has reduced the overall weight of the spotting scope by more than 14 percent, while still providing a rugged magnesium alloy body.
Further advantages include the fact that it has an upgraded dual-focus mechanism, which enables users to bring their subject into focus two times faster. You can factor in premium features such as Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass found in the best camera lenses, and a camera can be attached to the Regal using an included T-adapter for use with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras (although you will still need to buy a compatible T-mount for your camera body).
Read our full Celestron Regal M2 65ED review.
How to choose spotting scopes
Straight or angled body?
When choosing a spotting scope, you’ll need to decide between a straight or angled body design. Straight scopes have the eyepiece and body aligned on the same optical plane, making it easy to look directly through the eyepiece at your subject. Angled-body spotting scopes, on the other hand, offer greater comfort, especially when you’re seated or lying down, as they reduce the need to strain your neck. Your choice will depend on how and where you plan to use the scope.
What magnification do I need?
The magnification of a spotting scope comes from the eyepiece, which, in some models, is interchangeable. This allows you to switch eyepieces and adjust the magnification to suit your needs. Many scopes come equipped with a zoom eyepiece, enabling you to zoom in on a subject for a closer look when something catches your eye. A broader magnification range makes the scope versatile for observing a wide variety of subjects.
However, while higher magnification can be advantageous, it also comes with challenges. As magnification increases, the image tends to become darker, and keeping the scope steady becomes more difficult. This often necessitates a sturdier, heavier tripod to maintain stability and image clarity. Balancing magnification with usability is key to getting the most out of your spotting scope.
What size objective lens do I need?
It is the main body of the scope that dictates the brightness of the image. A larger lens will provide a better, clearer image, especially in low light, though this will also make the spotting scope bigger, heavier, and more expensive.
For a portable, all-purpose scope look for a lens diameter of between 50-65mm. The brightest scopes have diameters of 100mm or more - and are great for use viewing distant galaxies, or for viewing distant wildlife with high magnification eyepieces.
How we test spotting scopes
We test spotting scopes within the field on moving subjects and landmarks for our buying guides and look for a scope that combines magnification, good construction, and image clarity, which can be used and withstand a day's bird watching or wildlife spotting. Budget is also an indicator and within this guide, you will find spotting scopes to suit everyone's budget.
Read more:
The best binoculars
10 best monoculars
Best night vision goggles and binoculars
The best lenses for bird photography
The best telescopes for astrophotography
