Dawn to dusk: the best spotting scopes for birding in low light

To get the optimum experience when bird watching in low light conditions, it’s worthwhile investing in a spotting scope whose features allow it to offer bright images.

This usually means a wide objective lens, high-quality optical components to boost light transmission through the scope, and an effectively sized exit pupil. These choices offer all of these.

Quick comparison: best spotting scopes for birding in low light conditions

Vortex Viper HD 20-60×85 spotting scope

One of the best options for a spotting scope – durable and ergonomically pleasing with edge-to-edge sharpness all the way to top power.

Best overall scope for low light

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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 value scope for low light

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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 for low light if money is no object

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Celestron C5 spotting scope

One of the best options with long eye relief for glasses wearers. A good view of the entire range, making a sound pick for use with eyeware.

Best scope for low light – wild card!

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How we picked the best spotting scope for birding in low light conditions

In general, you’ll be able to effectively use a spotting scope up to sunset and until about half an hour beyond. Around this time, depending on weather conditions, natural light will be at a premium.

So the most important features to consider when looking for a spotting scope that performs well in low light are those that boost the light entering and moving through the body of the scope.

These key features include:

A large objective lens

Spotting scopes can have objective lenses from 40mm to in excess of 100mm. The larger an objective lens is, the more it will help to bring in as much light as possible. This in turn will deliver brighter, sharper images.

When we say to look for ‘large’, we’re talking upwards of 80mm. Many bird watchers settle for an objective lens size of between 80-85mm.

Bear in mind the portability

Those who are using a scope without having to carry it far, or from a vehicle, have less need to consider bulk and weight. In this case, they might opt for a lens size of 95-100mm.

The size of the objective lens determines another measurement that is important to bear in mind – the size of the exit pupil.

Exit pupil

The exit pupil is the cylindrical beam of light that comes out of the eyepiece. When you look at the eyepiece from a short distance away, you’ll see a bright circle of light.

This small circle is the beam of light coming out through the eyepiece – in effect, the magnified image as it exits the scope and enters your eye. A wider exit pupil gives a brighter image because it has a greater capacity to deliver light to your eye.

For the spotting scope to most effectively transmit the maximum amount of light that it can gather through the lens at the other end, the exit pupil must be equal to or greater than the diameter of your pupil at any given moment.

What happens if exit pupil is too small?

If the exit pupil is smaller than the eye’s pupil, the image appears darker. If the exit pupil is too much, then the excess light has a detrimental effect. In ordinary light, a human pupil normally measures about 2-3mm.

At low light, too, the exit pupil of the spotting scope needs to match the dilation of your eye. At dawn or dusk, for example, this means matching the eye’s dark-adapted pupil. Usually this is between five and seven millimeters for very poor light.

The size of the spotting scope’s exit pupil will change according to the diameter of the objective lens and the magnification. To calculate exit pupil, divide the diameter of the objective by the power/magnification.

As a general rule for spotting scopes, the exit pupil should be 1.33mm or larger. With a variable zoom spotting scope, the exit pupil will differ according to the magnification.

How magnification affects exit pupil

A common combination of magnification and zoom range is 20-60×80. For this size scope, at the lower range the exit pupil is 4mm. But when magnification increases, the exit pupil shrinks to 1.3mm. In low light, at high magnification, an image seems dimmer.

Even if the spotter has a 100mm lens, like the Celestron Ultima 100, and is used in combination with the 22-66x zoom eyepiece, the respective exit pupils work out at 4.5mm and 1.5mm. The exit pupil remains very small at the highest magnification.

This is why it is important to get the rest of the spotting scope’s features right for use in low light, namely what the internal optical components are made of and how the air-to-glass surfaces are coated.

Glass components – lenses and prisms

The components are crucial because they transmit the light as it passes from the objective lens, through the body of the spotting scope, and then reaches your eye via the ocular lens.

The type of glass that these components are made of has a direct influence on the quality of the image you see. For top performance in low light, you will be looking specifically for features such as:

• Fully multi-coated lenses
• Dielectric prism coatings
• ED or extra-low dispersion glass or high definition glass

In these choices, we have given preference to those spotting scopes that use fluorite glass, because it minimizes chromatic aberration, also known as color fringing.

Reviews: Best birding spotting scopes for low light conditions

Here we round up the spotting scopes most suitable to be used in low light conditions, assessing the features they offer to gather and maximize the light being transmitted through the body of the scope.

These are the most crucial aspects that a spotting scope requires to benefit from a clear, bright views from dawn to dusk.

Best overall scope for low light

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Vortex Viper HD 20-60×85 spotting scope Overview

The Vortex Viper HD is available as a straight scope, at a slightly lower price point, but here we consider the angled version. Either is a solid choice for glasses wearers to use in challenging light conditions as well as throughout the daytime.

The Viper HD has eye relief between 17.8mm and 19.6mm. The pleasingly soft and comfortable eyecup is adjustable according to whether or not you are wearing glasses at the time.

Crisp, bright images

Image-wise, you are looking at edge-to-edge sharpness thanks to the ED glass. The large anti-reflective objective lens of the 20-60×85 scope comes into its own at dusk and dawn. You can crank it up to the 60x power and still benefit from crisp, bright views.

The smooth-turning helical focus ring is large and grippable. The focus ring sits flush to the body and is placed towards the midpoint of the scope. Its aluminum body measures 17.5 inches and weighs 76.6 ounces.

This is worth keeping in mind for carrying purposes. Also, the tripod will need to be able to bear this weight. The spotting scope has a plate to attach to the tripod.

You can release a lockable collar on the scope and rotate it on its axis for adaptable viewing. This feature tends to be more helpful for this angled version than the straight scope. It makes it more versatile, comfortable and easily adaptable for users of different heights.

Guarded against weather and accidental bumps

Vortex does a great job of making their optical products feel durable and ergonomically pleasing. This is due not only to their solid structure but the waterproof armor that they add for use in all weathers. This feels secure and non-slip already, but there is also a neoprene stay-on cover for added protection.

The unit is argon-purged and O-ring sealed to keep it fogproof internally. Lenses feature exterior coatings to protect them from scratches.

The objective lens has a cap that is fully detachable and an extendable sunshade.
Vortex’s Viper HD spotting scope is also available in the 15-45×65 size, both straight and angled.

Best value spotting scope for birding 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.

Best spotting scope for low light if money is no object

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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.

Best birding spotting scope in low light – wild card!

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Celestron C5 spotting scope Overview

This is a more unusual proposition, in comparison to the more familiar birding spotting scope. You can tell just by looking at the picture of it!

Some people might see the use of this scope for birding as overkill. However, if you are immune to the opinions of others, give it a look.

As a company, Celestron specializes in great optics for use at night for astronomical viewing, but they also make spotting scope for terrestrial viewing.

So it seems logical, if slightly leftfield, to feature one of their scopes in our top picks for a birding scope for use in dim light.

Enormous objective lens diameter

The C5 has a 127mm objective lens. Yes, you read that right! Widthwise, the C5 beats many of the other spotting scopes.

Eye relief is also unusually large, at 22mm. This is a real treat for eyeglasses wearers, and very forgiving for all users.

Its close focus distance is just 20 feet so it’s a great option for those who’d like to put it to use in their backyard at dawn or dusk. The scope is obviously very wide, but quite short, at 11 inches.

The focus dial is very precise. It is easy to grip and turn, located on the back of the scope, requiring a lot of turns to find the right point.

Invest in a rock-solid tripod

It weighs 97 ounces. In practical terms, you’ll need a tripod that is sufficiently sturdy to cope with the weight and shape of this scope in order to benefit from steady views.

The C5 will also need extra care as it doesn’t have the rubber coating that many spotting scopes offer as standard.

Some people might find its stocky shape more portable. Others, not so much.

As so often with optical devices, it depends on your personal preference and how much you persevere getting used to it in the field.

Final thoughts on choosing the best spotting scope for use in low light

We suggest selecting the best spotting scope to use in low light according to these criteria. Top priorities to bear in mind:

Large objective lens

The larger an objective lens, the better. It will help to bring in more light and therefore deliver brighter, sharper images. Upwards of 80mm-85mm is best, depending on how portable you need the scope to be.

Exit pupil

At low light, the exit pupil of the spotting scope needs to match the dilation of your dark-adapted pupil. For spotting scopes, the exit pupil should be 1.33mm or larger.

With a variable zoom spotting scope, the exit pupil will differ according to the magnification.

There are detailed explanations of how to consider exit pupil in the context of optical instruments here: What does exit pupil mean in binoculars?

Eye relief

People wearing glasses need to have enough eye relief to accommodate the longer distance between their eye and the spotting scope. For more in-depth information, please visit All about eye relief: choosing binoculars and spotting scopes for glasses wearers

Glass components – lenses and prisms

For optimum performance in low light, it’s best to look for internal optical components and air-to-glass surfaces with features such as:

• Fully multi-coated lenses
• Dielectric prism coatings
• ED or extra-low dispersion glass or high definition glass

The quality of these components has a direct influence on the quality of the image you see. So if you anticipate making the most of your spotting scope at either end of the day (when birds can be more active), consider these features.

To find out why they are so important, with full clarification:

What is ED (extra low dispersion) glass in bird watching binoculars?

Why are prism and lens coatings important to birding binoculars?

The best spotting scopes for use in low light are those with features that boost the light entering and moving through the body of the scope. All our picks here are suitable for use by people wearing eyeglasses because they have enough eye relief.

For further choices of top spotting scopes, including the winners of our best overall scopes for birders, feel free to move on to find out Which is the best spotting scope for bird watching?