Being able to capture the great view of the birds that you can see through your spotting scope is becoming more and more popular. The range of digiscoping products is ever growing, along with the hobby’s popularity.
While most people already have the capacity to capture photos via their smartphone, they will also need an optical instrument to get them closer to the wildlife.
We have some great choices of spotting scopes ideal for digiscoping. Here’s a sneak preview before we go into more detail.
Quick comparison: best spotting scopes for digiscoping
VANGUARD ENDEAVOR HD 82A SPOTTING SCOPE
The Endeavor performs especially well on both the long eye relief and the digiscoping criteria. In this price range, it is a great all-rounder.
Best overall scope for digiscoping
Gosky 20-60×80 spotting scope
A well-constructed, fully multi-coated instrument that represents a good entry point into birding through a spotting scope.
Best value scope for digiscoping
Swarovski Optik HD ATS 80 spotting scope
This Swarovski scope offers solid reliability and a clear, bright image whatever the conditions, and at whichever magnification you are working.
Best digiscoping scope if money is no object
How to choose a spotting scope for digiscoping
Read on to find out the criteria we have used when choosing our top picks for spotting scopes for digiscoping.
The primary considerations when looking for a spotting scope for digiscoping:
The objective lens
The larger the diameter of the objective lens, the better. This is because it gathers more light. If you are birding on the move, then a 65mm scope might be most practical. These do let in lots of light so you’ll get a bright image transferred to the camera.
Essentially though, wider objective lenses will give even better results for digiscoping. This is simply because they let in more light. Consequently, the shutter speed is faster and the resulting photo will be sharper and clearer.
The ocular lens
Many people prefer a fixed power eyepiece with a wide angle. These tend to have more eye relief, which is great for digiscoping. A wide field of view is also a key quality to capture a good image.
Now, though, there are some very good lenses with zoom capabilities available. So the zoom with a wide angle is also an option for extra flexibility at longer distances. At the 20x to 25x range, you’ll see very good results.
Many manufacturers offer a variety of eyepieces, whether fixed power or zoom. There are also special digiscoping adapters that can be used with the main body of your spotting scope, attaching at the eyepiece.
The quality of the optical components
With better optics, a superior quality image travels through the spotting scope and reaches the sensor of your camera.
You want really good optical glass that will reduce chromatic aberration but increase light transmission. A good fluorite or extra-low dispersion (ED) glass will minimize color distortion, like the purplish hue that can be visible when viewing pale or bright objects.
Reviews: the best spotting scopes for digiscoping
The spotting scopes that we have included in this list offer a variety of eyepieces to buy separately. Some people prefer a wide angle lens for their digiscoping, while others swear by a fixed magnification.
Whatever your preference, there is a spotting scope – and an eyepiece to go with that scope – for you.
Best overall spotting scope for digiscoping
Main Features of the Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A spotting scope
The Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A spotting scope offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Fully multi-coated, with extra low dispersion glass
- Nitrogen filled to make it fully fogproof and waterproof
- Magnesium body with rubber armor coating
- Built-in tripod mount
- Built-in sunshade
Specifications
Magnification 20 to 60x
Objective lens 82 mm
Field of view at 1000 yards (depends on zoom)20x: 330 ft; 60x: 156 ft
Close focus distance19.7 ft
Eye relief 19-20 mm
Weight 4 pounds
Pros
- Detachable eyepiece offers flexibility to change magnification
- Focus control is convenient to reach and operate
- Good color performance
- Vanguard offers digiscoping accessories
- Generous eye relief for eyeglasses wearers and digiscopers
Cons
- For optimum performance stick within intermediate range
- The rubber coating does not protect all of the body
Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A spotting scope Overview
With 19mm of eye relief this is another angled spotting scope that will serve glasses wearers well. Lengthy eye relief is also a prerequisite for digiscoping.
With the Vanguard accessories, you can attach your image-capture device, whether it is a phone or a DSLR camera. While we can single out the Vanguard Endeavor as performing well on both the long eye relief and the digiscoping criteria, though, it is a great all-rounder.
While this is not in the premium price range, it competes well with the more expensive optics out there. We’ve included it due to its quality to price ratio.
Plus it scores highly on the versatility front, with an Endeavor ED 15-45×65 also available if you prefer a smaller size and weight.
Standard zoom range, with the option to switch
In combination with the 82mm objective lens, the zoom range is 20x to 60x. While this range meets the requirements of most birders, there is still the option to switch the detachable eyepiece for another in the Vanguard range.
The 82mm will take you right from one end of the day to the other with a really bright picture. Adjustment to the magnification is made via the ring on the eyepiece. Its best performance is at intermediate range.
Adaptable for use with or without glasses
Both coarse and fine focus is available using the dual control knob. This is situated on the top of the scope and can be operated with one or two fingers. The eyecup twists up smoothly for use without eyeglasses.
Vanguard uses magnesium alloy for the body, which lends both lightness and longevity. It weighs 63.8 ounces. Weatherwise, it’s sealed against rain and fogging.
The phase-coated prisms are made of BAK-4 glass. The lens system benefits from Hoya extra-low dispersion (ED) glass.
Both these upgrades boost the transmission through the scope, minimizing loss of light and chromatic aberration. Color performance is excellent, both contrast and accurate rendition.
Easy attachment, with special support for digiscoping
On the base of the scope the universal quarter/twenty threading makes it easy to attach to a sturdy tripod head. Once you have mounted the scope on the tripod, it’s simple to change the angle of the scope via the neck lock.
By unlocking the lever on the side of the scope, the collar loosens. Then the whole scope rotates smoothly along its axis.
On the digiscoping front, Vanguard is a top manufacturer. Products from their PA range of adapters for scopes are compatible with both the straight and the angled models.
The PA-202 digiscoping adaptor works with the spotting scopes sized at 65mm and 82mm in the Endeavor HD series, plus the 60mm and 80mm scopes in the Endeavor XF range.
Best value spotting scope for digiscoping
Main Features of the Gosky 20-60×80 spotting scope
The Gosky 20-60×80 spotting scope offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Variable zoom with 20x to 60x magnification range
- Fully multi-coated green film eyepiece lens; BAK4 optics
- Waterproof, fogproof and shockproof
- Dynamic focus system makes it easy to zoom in quickly
- Retractable sunshade
Specifications
Magnification 20 to 60x
Objective lens 80 mm
Field of view at 1000 yards (depends on zoom)115.2 ft to 57.6 ft
Close focus distance17 ft
Eye relief 17-13.5 mm
Weight 2.7 pounds
Pros
- Sound entry-level choice
- Popular zoom range
- Great light-gathering capabilities at high power
- Dual-focus for fine tuning
- Eyepiece can be rotated
Cons
- Image may lose clarity at highest magnification
- Totally detachable lens caps could be accidentally lost
Gosky 20-60×80 spotting scope Overview
This offering from Gosky could be a good entry point into the world of birdig using spotting scopes. For a budget-oriented scope, it’s well constructed and includes fully multi coated optics with ED glass and high-quality BAK-4 prisms.
With a magnification going from 20x to 60x you have the most common zoom range. This is paired with the 80mm objective lens, which is also a popular diameter for a full size spotting scope.
At maximum zoom, the image quality degrades somewhat and gets fuzzy. But if you’re primarily using the scope at the lower magnification, then it’s highly satisfactory. Despite the ED glass, you can detect chromatic aberration.
Nifty dual focus feature
For focusing, there is a small dual dial for both coarse and fine tuning. You can view nearby targets pretty well, with a close focus distance of just 17 feet.
Eye relief is up to 17 mm. This eye relief makes it suitable for use when you are wearing spectacles or sunglasses. Also it’s a sound option for digiscoping.
Includes digiscoping adapters
One of these adapters in the package is for a smartphone, and the other is for a normal camera – good if you are keen to try digiscoping. Having these mounts included saves a bit of money, plus it avoids any hassle of trying to shop for them separately.
Size-wise, the length is just under 20 inches. The outside is coated in rubber armor which does well on the non-slip factor, even in damp conditions.
Both lens caps detach completely, so it’s best to have a specific place to stow these safely as they could get easily misplaced. The sunshade extends over the objective lens. There’s a rather flimsy carry case, along with a couple of adapters.
Change angles via the rotatable collar
While the scope is mounted on a tripod, the collar loosens. In this way, the scope can be rotated side to side along its axis to change the viewing angle. As an extra bonus, it’s possible to get a package where Gosky includes a tripod.
With all the included extras, Gosky is offering a solid entry-level choice. Unless you are set on using this angled scope at max power for a lot of your viewing time, then overall the value offered by this scope is high.
Best spotting scope for digiscoping if money is no object
Main Features of the Swarovski Optik HD ATS 80 spotting scope
The Swarovski Optik HD ATS 80 spotting scope offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Very high quality optical coating and apochromatic HD Fluoride glass
- Lightweight aluminum body and rubber coating
- Waterproof and fogproof
- Integrated collar to attach to tripod
Specifications
Magnification 20 to 60x
Objective lens 80 mm
Field of view at 1000 yards (depends on zoom)108 to 60 ft
Close focus distance16.4 ft
Eye relief 17 mm
Weight 3.6 pounds
Pros
- Great ergonomics, including large focus wheel
- Easy to set up and operate
- Helpful sighting aid
- Highly compatible for digiscoping
- Good option for digiscoping in low light
Cons
- With no expense spared, it’s difficult to find fault with this product! But a little more eye relief could be good…
Swarovski Optik HD ATS 80 spotting scope Overview
This scope’s eye relief is listed at 17mm and in practice we found the 20-60x eyepiece extra forgiving for glasses wearers. Its large ocular lens is also good for digiscoping at low light.
If there’s no limit on your budget, this Swarovski spotting scope is well worth considering. Even if it’s not within your price range, it can help to understand how the best of the best optics excel in some areas.
What you’re getting is solid reliability and a clear, bright image whatever the conditions, and at whichever magnification you are working.
And when looking for a spotting scope to excel at low light, a good measurement to take notice of is the exit pupil. This spotting scope has an exit pupil diameter of 3.3 to 1.1mm. Field of view is from 60 to 108 feet at 1000 yards.
Perfectly smooth moving parts
Altering the magnification via the eyepiece is a pleasure with this smooth easy-turning ring. The focus collar is also easy to manoeuver and fits flat against the body of the scope for a sleek profile.
Another nice feature is the peep sight on the right side of the scope. That helps you to line up the angled scope quickly and effectively, with a straight view directly towards the target.
With the 80mm objective lens you are getting a short focus distance of 16.4 feet. The field of view is from 60 feet to 108 feet at 1000 yards.
There’s a lens cap for both lenses and a retractable sunshade to protect the objective lens from glare or dust and dirt. The shockproof and dustproof spotting scope can be rotated on its axis when mounted on a tripod.
Different formats to suit your birding
The Swarovski ATS is a modular optical system, so it is available to buy in various formats. You can get the straight or angled body only, either 65mm or 80mm, or with an eyepiece included. The eyepieces on offer are the standard 20-60x or the wide angle zoom at 25-50x.
Within this modular system, there is also an ATX body that offers even more eye relief, at 20mm. Since this really is an even bigger step up, pricewise, we are sticking with the ATS.
For a major splurge on the very best of the best, if that’s what you fancy, take a look at the ATX modular scope. In that range there is a wider choice of objective sizes: 65mm, 85mm, 95mm or 115mm.
Final thoughts on choosing the best spotting scope for digiscoping
When narrowing down the best spotting scope for digiscoping, the most important specifications to assess are:
The objective lens
The best spotting scope to use for digiscoping will have a large objective lens to let in more light. This creates a brighter, sharper image in the camera at the other end of the scope.
The ocular lens
On a good digiscoping spotting scope, the eyepiece will have adequate eye relief to accommodate the extra length to the camera lens. It will also have as wide a field of view as possible. A wide angle ocular lens will help to capture a good quality image.
The quality of the optical components
High quality optical glass and prisms will deliver a superior image through the spotting scope to the sensor of your camera. A good fluorite or extra-low dispersion (ED) glass will reduce chromatic aberration but increase light transmission.
Spotting scopes with a high level of light transmission feature in our round-up of optics suitable for birding when natural light is lacking. This is typically the exact times when we want to go and see the birds!
Check these out here: Dawn to dusk: the best spotting scopes for birding in low light
The choices of spotting scopes that we suggest here as good for digiscoping meet these above requirements. They are available as angled scopes, which some people find easier for digiscoping.
As digiscoping requires long eye relief, as do glasses wearers, you may find some additional options within this list: The best birding spotting scopes for eyeglasses wearers
For a wider choices of top spotting scopes, feel free to refer to our article on Which is the best spotting scope for bird watching?
Depending on your budget, we hope that you are able to find a spotting scope that will serve you well.
Good luck, and don’t forget to look out for a sturdy tripod to keep your images free of shakiness or blurriness!
Contents
- 1 Quick comparison: best spotting scopes for digiscoping
- 2 How to choose a spotting scope for digiscoping
- 3 Reviews: the best spotting scopes for digiscoping
- 4 Best overall spotting scope for digiscoping
- 5 Best value spotting scope for digiscoping
- 6 Best spotting scope for digiscoping if money is no object
- 7 Final thoughts on choosing the best spotting scope for digiscoping