Would you like a closer look at those beautiful birds soaring above your cottage? You could pull out those dusty binoculars in the basement, or you could get an up-close look with a spotting scope.

These compact telescopes allow you to see images at a distance with unbelievable clarity. With so much selection, choosing the right one for you can be difficult. In this article, we'll help you spot the best scope for you.

optics scopes
A scope for spotting is well suited for such activities as long distance birdwatching and nature study, telephotography and scenic observing. Although binoculars are a good option if you are not going to be a great distance from the subject, the clarity you get with spotting scopes is so good that you'll be able to see fine markings that you would not be able to see through a pair of binoculars.

Ideally, the objective lens should be at least 60 mm in diameter to provide a bright image. When choosing a scope for spotting, quality optics should be your prime consideration. Beyond that, portability is important. For example, if you plan on doing a lot of hiking, then you should choose a spot scope that is as light as possible.

To change magnification according to your needs, scopes have interchangeable fixed-length eyepieces or a single zoom eyepiece. With a vision scope, the observer can start with a low power magnification and then switch to a higher power as required.

spotting scope
Zoom lenses change magnification power from 20 x to as high as 60 x with a single, simple adjustment. However, as with binoculars, scopes do not perform well in dim light. The image also becomes shakier as you increase magnification. Nowadays, many mid-priced scopes have excellent zoom lenses giving sharpness and clear images.

There are now a number of waterproof models available to choose from as well. If you are interested in telescope science, which is a method of obtaining photos using a digital camera through a spotting scope, then select one that allows for the attachment of a 35mm camera body.

A tripod for spotting scopes is one of the best accessories that you can buy. Scope mounts stabilize your image and allow you to wait for your subject without putting the scope down. This is a great feature for bird watchers and hunters.

Since most scope users will need to be mobile, choose a tripod that is lightweight, is easy to adjust and has a flip-lock design. You should also make sure that it is sturdy and will not tip in high winds or on rough terrain.

amateur astronomy
The most expensive spotting scopes are not always the best. High priced models may not have the best optics. Choose the scope with the features and performance you and your budget will be comfortable with – but don't go cheap either.

Don't make any impulse purchases and know exactly what you need before you even go into the store.

I finally got around to writing a review on my newest telescope which is a refractor and an APO to boot. It is a Burgess Optics 91mm APO. It has a focal ratio of f6.6 which comes to a focal length of 600mm. It is 52 cm (20.5 in) long with the dew shield retracted, 57cm (22.5 in) extended and 3 Kg (6.6 lb) without rings and dovetail and 4 Kg (8.8 lb) with rings and dovetail. I picked it up so I could carry it around with me on airplanes as I travel so much on business. I picked up a Stelarvue case (CN6) which carries the scope, a 2 inch William Optics diagonal, 2 2 inch eypieces, 2 1.25 inch eyepieces, the multi-reticle finder, the rings and dovetail. And the case passes for carry-on. I put a WO eztouch head and manfrotto tripod into checked luggage and I am set.

But enough of that, here is the video I did for a review, a written review follows, enjoy.

Now here is my written review of the BO 91mm APO:

As I travel all the time, and all my equipment is in storage, I was looking for a scope which was:

1- airline portable

2- grab and go size but still with decent light grab

3- be good for astrophotography when I actually did have all my gear together again

I looked at quite a few models. A stellarvue SV90 triplet was one, William Optics Megrez 90, as well as a few others. But then I happened upon news of a 90mm triplet coming out from Burgess. I checked on availability and I found one could be delivered in a couple of weeks so I took it.

It arrived nicely packed, double boxed with lots of packing foam and popcorn. In the box where, the optical tube with a 91mm APO triplet objective, dual speed lockable focuser, lockable retractable dewcap, a Burgess MRF, a nice set of rings and a vixen style dovetail plate.

Everything was in good order so I plopped it onto my William Optics Ezytouch mount and did a little daylight viewing out over the ocean.

The views where excellent clear with vibrant colors but absolutely no false color at all.

Night viewing was equally pleasurable. I have had the chance to throw a lot of different eyepieces at this little gem and viewed many different targets. And the views are great. Wide field viewing of star fields and large targets are very pleasing. Using my WO 40mm SWAN, the field of view is jaw dropping. Open clusters are a real treat with this scope as well. Lunar and planetary detail are very nice too, especially considering the limited aperture and focal length of the system.  And although the 40mm SWAN does have image drop-off on the outer edges of the field the performance was even better in the BO 91 than I have seen in other scopes when using it so that says something.

Using a 4mm Lanthanum Jupiter offers lovely colors and good detail. Exploring the lunar terminator is a treat as well with various eyepieces. And as to false color, it isn't there and I have looked for it. I have notices a little touch of green on the limb of the moon a couple of times, but not always and it was transient at that. And it was only with one eyepiece, a baader.

As I stated earlier most of my gear is in storage so no real astrophotography has been possible but I did get a few shots, plus some nature pics with a canon 400D.

The moon:

Deneb:

Albeiro (forgive the squiggles alt az mount) but just for the color performance:

Baby storks on a village church near Salamanca, Spain. Note the lack of false color.

and

And here are some pics of the scope itself:

Focuser:

Objective:

Mechanically and cosmetically I have nothing but praise for this scope except for one small complaint. The focuser is not rotatable, which I would have liked. There is also a little play in the coarse focus. There is a slight delay when changing focus direction, but to be fair it did not affect focusing in the field at all. When you hit focus you hit focus well. Also this play was not evident in the fine focus. As well, the focus handled any weight I threw at it, even without locking it down.

The lock on the dew shield was a nice touch too. The shield does not droop, sag or slide while in use.

All in all I am very happy with my purchase and am really looking forward to doing some astrophoto work soon.