The best birding spotting scopes for eyeglasses wearers

When it comes to choosing a spotting scope that suits you and your birding, much of the choice is personal preference. But the most important consideration for people who wear glasses is eye relief.

It’s important for all bird watchers to have the most comfortable viewing possible through their optics. And for those birders who wear glasses when they are looking down a spotting scope, the necessary eye relief will make it a much more enjoyable and productive time.

Quick comparison: best spotting scopes for eyeglasses wearers

Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A spotting scope

An angled spotting scope with lengthy eye relief, plus versatility and a high quality-to-price ratio.

Best overall scope for glasses

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Celestron Ultima 80 spotting scope

An adaptable straight spotting scope at a budget-friendly price, with the option to change the eyepiece for another magnification.

Best value scope for glasses wearers

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Zeiss Dialyt 18-45×65 Field Spotter Spotting Scope

A top-class piece of kit with a great performance to size/weight ratio.

Best scope for glasses if money is no object

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Vortex Optics Razor HD 11-33×50 spotting scope

A compact, high-quality gem for comfortable use when you want to travel light.

Best compact scope for glasses

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Meopta MeoPro 20-60×80 HD spotting scope

This MeoPro compares favorably with the really high-end brands in terms of brightness and quality, but with a slightly lower price tag.

Best scope for glasses in low light

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Main criteria for spotting scopes for use when wearing glasses

The minimum measurement required is 14mm. This is okay for thinner glasses but depends on the shape of your face too. For thicker glasses that sit a bit further away from the face, it’s best to opt for a minimum of 16mm.

To narrow down the field of contenders for best spotting scope for glasses wearers, we evaluated these scopes according to criteria including:

• How much eye relief they offer
• The size and weight – portability
• How durable the spotting scope is
• The overall quality of the image

When you wear glasses to view through a spotting scope, as long as the scope offers the necessary eye relief, you’ll enjoy a wide field of view and the full bright image without any discomfort.

Many spotting scopes have longer eye relief, and so are suitable for use with eyeglasses. To save you combing through all the specifications to find out which spotting scopes feature adequate for glasses wearers, we have narrowed down the choices.

Best spotting scope for glasses wearers: reviews

Next, let’s consider variables across a selection of scopes, paying attention to the different eyepieces, style of body and controls, and to how the scopes perform at different combinations of focal length.

Best overall scope for glasses wearers

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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 glasses wearers

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Celestron Ultima 80 spotting scope overview

This offering from Celestron has a variable power, from 20x to 60x magnification. The objective lens is 80mm. Eye relief, for this or for the Ultima 65, is 18mm – great for glasses wearers. Field of view is 105 feet at 1000 yards.

The focus adjusts via a small knob rather than a ring. This is located on the top of the scope, more or less in the center (seems like it’s a little over towards the right hand side), so can be accessed with either hand.

It turns smoothly, as does the zoom, which is on the eyepiece. The benefit of being able to turn the focus knob with a finger is that you are less likely to accidentally move the whole scope. It makes for a more stable image.

Interchangeable eyepieces offer magnification flexibility

The great thing about the eyepiece is that it can be changed for another by Celestron. They have a great range of options, including their extenders, if you want to add an extra boost to the existing magnification.

Even higher magnification would be likely to impact the brightness further though. Already at 60x the picture is somewhat darker, which is more noticeable when digiscoping.

Focus on image quality

At this price point, there are other compromises to the image quality. When panning, there is some distortion, probably best described as a fish-eye effect. For more stationary zooming, it’s not such an issue.

The body is rubber armored. But another nice touch is that the scope comes with its own leave-on case. This can be unzipped around the objective lens, and again at the eyepiece end. It’s another level of protection.

There’s a plastic cup to stash the detached eyepiece. A neatly designed lid fits on snugly and prevents the eyepiece from rattling around inside.

Available as an angled or a straight scope

Though we’ve looked here at the straight scope, the Ultima is available as an angled version. On the angled Ultima 80 there is a small but helpful addition of an alignment tool.

This is basically a narrow tube on the upper left hand side of the scope. If you are used to looking through a straight scope, or a riflescope, then this is to help line up the angled scope.

In this way you are looking directly at the target, along the barrel, as you would with a straight scope. It saves trying to factor in the 45 degree slope of the angled eyepiece. We like this little but thoughtful feature.

Whether you opt for the straight configuration or give the angled scope a try, the Celestron Ultima provides a great entry-level or higher option for bird watchers who wear glasses while spotting.

Best spotting scope for glasses wearers if money is no object

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Zeiss Dialyt 18-45×65 Field Spotter spotting scope Overview

You’ll notice that the objective size for the Zeiss is of a lesser diameter than for some of our other picks for straight scopes. Really with an optic of this quality, you are losing nothing in terms of the image quality.

It compares extremely well with the spotting scopes of a larger size, despite their additional light-gathering width of glass.

Technically the Dialyt is not a compact spotting scope, but it measures around 15.5 inches in length. The weight is 42 ounces – much less than full size spotting scopes.

The benefit of the smaller dimensions of this straight spotting scope are clear when it comes to traveling to and from your bird watching destination. Its compact solid shape makes it easy to pack and very light.

Impressive sharpness at all magnifications

Eye relief is 19mm, so plenty of room for eyeglasses wearers, along with the rubber eyecup.

Where the Zeiss makes up for the lack of objective lens width is in its components and full multi coatings. These eradicate fringing and chromatic aberration, all the way up the zoom range. The image remains sharp even at the highest magnification.

Sleek, well-sealed scope

It really is tiny compared to a normal sized spotting scope, but still manages a 45x zoom. The zoom is at the rear of the scope, near the ocular lens, while the focus ring is right at the front, just next to the objective lens.

The body of the Dialyt is noticeably different to the usual design of straight spotting scopes. It’s sleeker, fully waterproof, nitrogen purged and sealed. It appears almost like some kind of retro flashlight. In any case, it’s very durable, with a rugged non-slip body.

This is of course a pricey piece of kit. In our opinion, it is worth it, with a great performance to size/weight ratio. Hence the inclusion here.

Best lightweight compact spotting scope for glasses wearers

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Vortex Optics Razor HD 11-33×50 spotting scope Overview

This scope is our top pick for compact spotting scopes. Available either in an angled or a straight format, this scope is very light. Conveniently, it also offers long eye relief.

The eye relief specification that Vortex gives puts the measurement between 16mm and 19mm. The 16-19mm depends on whether the eyecup on the eyepiece is fully extended. The extendable eyecup moves the eye further from the ocular lens. It means that the scope can be adapted for people who do not wear glasses.

This scope has an eyepiece that is permanently attached, meaning that you cannot swap this zoom for another one. That is the downside. (Minor point: the eyepiece cap is flimsy to fix on and could be improved to stay in place better.)

The upside is that the zoom range that you do have matches the expectation that we would have for this high-end optic from Vortex. The zoom’s range runs from 11x up to 33x, using the magnification adjustment ring. Otherwise, the image is crystal clear across its whole width.

Ability to fine-tune focus with dual control

The dual focus knob allows you to fine-tune the focus. First adjust the focus quickly at a macro level after initially finding the bird, then use the micro dial to get the crispest possible image. It’s also easier on the eye to see the sharpest possible view.

The objective lens is 50mm wide. The glass used has every benefit that we would include on the wish list – APO lens, ED glass, dielectric phase coatings… All this adds up to excellent clarity.

The scope’s performance in low light is due to these anti-reflective components and coatings. You’ll like the brightness and resolution of color.

Because the spotting scope has a narrowed objective lens, you can pack it into a small space. The angled scope is a gem for comfortable use.

It is easy to mount low and stable on a tripod. But even better, this scope is possible to hand hold. What a great option to be able to leave the tripod behind and travel really, really light.

Field of view runs from 96 feet to 191 feet at 1000 yards, depending on where the scope is set on the magnification range.

The Razor excels in open countryside

The Vortex Razor performs especially well in open terrain. But the near focus range is also great at six and a half feet if you’re anticipating close encounters.

The Vortex Razor delivers on durability, with rubber armoring and easy grippability. As expected, the scope is fully waterproof and fogproof, being Argon purged and O-ring sealed.

ArmorTek coated lenses, but no sunshade

The feature of the sunshade that Vortex includes on the larger scope is not on this model. It saves weight but it leaves the objective lens a little exposed. To compensate for this, the lenses are coated with ArmorTek protection which guards against scratches.

Elsewhere, we also have suggestions for smaller spotting scopes that are most portable, tailored to people with glasses, so check out these articles too.

Best scope for glasses in low light

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Meopta MeoPro 20-60×80 HD spotting scope Overview

With 18.5mm eye relief, the scope is very forgiving for bird watchers wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses. This Meopta scope compares very favorably with the really high-end brands in terms of quality, but with a slightly lower price tag.

The 80mm objective lens is of an amazing quality. The entire scope incorporates topnotch optical components and full multi coatings. Consequently, its light-gathering capabilities make it our top pick for glasses wearers to use in low light.

The HD fluoride glass is extra-low dispersion. This contributes significantly to the amount of light that reaches the eye. It maintains a bright image at the crucial low-light times of the day – dawn and dusk. Color and contrast are also impressive.

Versatile and sleek design

The magnesium body means it is comparatively light for the size of its objective lens. Not only does it weigh less but it also has a pleasingly sleek appearance.

The eyepiece is built-in and features a zoom range running from 20x to 60x. The eyecup can be twisted up for use without eyeglasses.

This scope is only available in the angled body design. However it is possible to release the scope’s fixed position and rotate the whole scope. This adds versatility to be able to change the angle of viewing when the spotting scope is on the tripod.

Simple access to focus ring

The helical focus ring is positioned at the central point of the body for easy access. At this location the focus is notably simple to use, even when wearing gloves. It is easy to grip securely, thanks to the rubber armoring.

The built-in sunshade extends to protect the objective lens and reduce glare in strong sunlight. It is fully waterproof and sealed against internal fogging.

Main criteria to choose a top spotting scope for use with eyeglasses

For birders who wear glasses when viewing through a spotting scope, the necessary eye relief will help enormously. You’ll see a better image with the full field of view.

With this length of eye relief, you will still be able to see the whole width of the field of view without struggling to press your eye or glasses right up against the ocular lens.

Further information in this article clarifies the important points to remember when choosing a spotting scope to use with spectacles and sunglasses: All about eye relief: choosing binoculars and spotting scopes for glasses wearers

Which top spotting scope will you choose to use with eyeglasses?

In this article, we have assessed the spotting scopes according to their suitability for use by people who are using eyeglasses. We also paid particular attention to the features that make these scopes more attractive, such as overall portability, durability and image quality.

While some spotting scopes are not all that generous on eye relief, there are still plenty of scopes to choose from. We have listed some recommended choices that offer eye relief of at least 14mm, usually more.

Scopes that are good for digiscoping also offer long eye relief. We have some recommendations here: What makes a good spotting scope for digiscoping? (3 top picks)

For the best of the best spotting scopes for birding, take a look at this list: Which is the best spotting scope for bird watching?

Hopefully whichever spotting scope you choose to use in conjunction with your eyeglasses, you will have many happy, productive and comfortable hours of bird watching!