Ever want to get a better look at the next mountain over without having to hike all the way there? Whether you’re a hunter, bird watcher, or star-gazer, these scopes will provide you with what you need to get the best view- all for under $500. This article will be about our choices of the best spotting scope under 500 dollars.
The following four scopes have been tested and hold true to a great value that will allow you to save some cash for your adventures while having the right tools for the job. By the end of the article, you’ll find the best value spotting scope.
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ALPEN Spotting Scope
If you’re on a budget, the Alpen 20-60×80 zoom spotting scope is a good choice for a spotting scope under $500. Like a couple of the options here, it’s waterproof and fog proof. The objective lens is 80mm which is great for image quality. The installment of the BAK4 multi-coated optics makes sure you get a bright clear image. Plus, the zoom magnification provides a field of view of 20x with a viewing up to 60x.
Honestly, you don’t have to worry about glare with this spotting scope. The retractable sunshade reduces glare. Due to the 45-degree eyepiece, you can adjust the scope to any position you like. All you have to do is loosen the adjustment collar (it’s located on the center of the body) and it’s done.
I like the fact they included a micro-adjustable tabletop tripod and carrying case. Honestly, the tripod isn’t that great but it’s okay for the price. Plus, the spotting scope is backed by a lifetime warranty. If you want more details, you’ll need to contact them directly. And if you didn’t know, the Alpen 20-60×80 zoom spotting scope was awarded the Great Buy award by Outdoor Life magazine. If you want more details and information on this spotting scope, read the full review.
- Waterproof
- Macro/Micro Focus Wheel
- Telescopic Sun Shade
- Tripod Adaptable
Celestron C5
The Celestron’s C5 spotting scope is an amazing spotting scope. Quick fact, the Celestron’s C5 has been used by NASA for many years, on many space shuttle missions. One thing I can say about the C5 is it’s reliable. If you’re a serious nature lover but on a budget, you can’t go wrong with a Celestron C5 spotting scope. It’s honestly a great spotting scope for under $500.
The spotting scope weighs approximately 6lbs. It’s not a lightweight spotting scope. Even though it’s not the lightest option here, it’s still pretty portable. Another thing to keep in mind with Celestron, in general, they offer loads of accessories to expand the capabilities of their products. With Celestron’s C5 there are loads of accessories to expand the capabilities of this spotting scope.
The aperture of the C5’s 5″ allows it to outperform more expensive, higher-end spotting scopes. It has 4.5x more light gathering ability than a normal 60mm spotting scope. And, 2.5x times more light gathering ability than an 80mm scope. In other words, not only is the C5 less than $500 but it’s a superb quality spotting scope.
- 5" SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN SPOTTING SCOPE: This scope's optical excellence is the reason it was chosen by NASA to travel into...
- BRIGHT, SHARP VIEWS OF DISTANT TARGETS: With 1250mm of focal length and an f/10 focal ratio, the C5 can help you spot small...
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: Weighing just 6 pounds and measuring 11 inches in length, this scope is much easier to store and...
- USE IT AS A TELEPHOTO LENS: The C5 is designed with photography in mind; it's fully camera adaptable. To take professional...
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: 6x30 erect image finderscope and water-resistant soft-sided carrying case.
Leupold SX-1 Ventana 2 with 20-60x
Honestly, I’m surprised the SX-1 Ventana 2 was under $500. This scoping scope is amazing. It delivers a true-to-life color image depth you’re not going to find anywhere else. It has outstanding image clarity and brightness. Plus, they offer a straight or angled eyepiece which is standard for the price.
The company Leupold pioneered waterproofing technology. This spotting scope is no exception in that statement. The SX-1 Ventana 2 is 100% waterproof, fog-proof, and finally, shockproof. You also don’t have to worry about dirtying the lens due to the guard-ion lens coating. It protects the lens by passively shedding off dirty, water and mud. It also has anti-fingerprint protection.
Also, the Twilight Light Management System embedded in the scope adds an extra 10 minutes of glassing light. It’s also pretty lightweight in comparison to the other recommendation in this review article. And last but not least, it has its own built-in tripod adapter port. It’s a good buy for any hobbyist.
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60×80
The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60×80 spotting scope delivers exceptional field performance for under $500. This scoping scope is the cheapest recommendation. If you’re an avid enthusiast, you’d be pretty content with this spotting scope. It has a fully multi-coated optic lens and premium bak-4 prism. Even with the price, it doesn’t sacrifice the image quality. It provides vivid clarity and contrasts even in low-light situations.
With the dual-focus controls, you make fast tuning adjustments on the fly. And just so you know, the Lenses are protected by RainGuard HD to provide the cleanest image possible. No matter the weather condition, the spotting scope will offer amazingly clear images.
- 20-60 x 80mm
- End Prime low dispersion glass
- 2-Speed dual focus control
- Waterproof & Rain Guard HD water repellent coatings
- Bak-4 prisms
Alpen Model 788 with 20-60x Magnification
Pros
There are many pros to this model’s design and inner-workings. The 80mm objective lens allows for plenty of light collection to still use even while the light is fading and the prime spotting hours have passed.
The model 788 comes with a newly designed inner eye piece that really adds a lot of clarity in comparison to earlier models.
And of course, a huge pro of this scope is that it is waterproof and fog proof, meaning that you can use it in all kinds of conditions without having to worry about damage to your equipment.
Cons
While the Aplen model 788 is a great overall scope, it still comes with some cons, mainly about the accessories it comes with.
The tripod is sturdy and has the ability to be micro-adjusted, but if you’re used to a top-of-the-line tripod or bipod, it won’t be able to hold its own in comparison.
Another drawback is that the zipper on the carrying case can sometimes get jammed up or break, but this is often a minor issue since most people use a different bag anyways.
Verdict
The Alpen model 788 is an amazing scope to use for whatever outdoor purpose is required of it. With a newly optimized inner eye-piece, large objective, and relatively lightweight it can be a very good scope for under $500.
- Waterproof
- Macro/Micro Focus Wheel
- Telescopic Sun Shade
- Tripod Adaptable
Celestron C5 with 50x Magnification
The Celestron C5 is actually a dual-purpose scope for astronomical and wildlife watching. You’ll be happy to know this scope comes with a water-resistant case (not waterproof) and a great lifetime warranty.
Pros
There are several advantages of this scope in comparison to others. The main one is that it’s intended to be a dual-purpose scope that is good for astronomical viewing and wildlife watching.
Because it is made for a dual purpose, there is a good selection of eyepieces to buy after-market to help you specialize in the type of viewing you want to do.
In the included eyepiece, there are crosshairs to make it even easier to find what you want to see.
If you’re a photographer, you’re in luck. The C5 is fully designed with cameras with the right adaptor. You’ll just need to find the right T- Adapter and T-Ring for your camera. It’s a perfect simple setup.
Cons
As with anything, the Celestron C5 comes with some cons as well. Chromatic aberration in the included eyepiece is one, but although it does happen it’s actually pretty minimal once you learn exactly how you need to approach the scope.
There is also no soft rubber on the eyepiece on the eyepiece, but again once you get used to it, it’s not a problem at all.
Verdict
The Celestron C5 is an excellent scope for viewing in both day and nighttime conditions due to its intended use as a dual-purpose scope and an excellent value.
The Celestron is so powerful it can be used as an astronomical telescope at times. So, if you’re looking for price, versatility, and design, the C5 might be what you’re looking for. You can’t go wrong with this one.
- 5" SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN SPOTTING SCOPE: This scope's optical excellence is the reason it was chosen by NASA to travel into...
- BRIGHT, SHARP VIEWS OF DISTANT TARGETS: With 1250mm of focal length and an f/10 focal ratio, the C5 can help you spot small...
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: Weighing just 6 pounds and measuring 11 inches in length, this scope is much easier to store and...
- USE IT AS A TELEPHOTO LENS: The C5 is designed with photography in mind; it's fully camera adaptable. To take professional...
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: 6x30 erect image finderscope and water-resistant soft-sided carrying case.
Leupold SX-1 Ventana 2 with 20-60x Magnification
Leupold is always a trusted brand in optics, and the SX-1 Ventana 2 is no exception. This spotting scope has an extremely smooth focusing system (one of the best on this list). The eye relief is pretty comfortable for extended sessions.
Even though this scope is lightweight, it’s sturdy and durable. It’s shielded with polycarbonate with rubber armor coating to reframe outdoor damage. This SX-1 Ventana 2 is pretty tough.
This scope comes equipped with a hard side-carry case, tripod, additional soft case, neoprene strap, and lens covers.
Pros
You can always expect a lot out of Leupold optics. This model is waterproof, fog-proof, shockproof so you’ll never need to worry about damaging your gear under extreme conditions.
The 80mm objective size will allow for glassing even under relatively low-light conditions.
Leupold always outdoes themselves with accessories. This scope comes with a ton of them for everything from field use to storage in the off-season.
Cons
The main con is that this scope can seem somewhat shaky while glassing longer distances. This is to be expected when you push the limits of any scope.
Verdict
The Leupold SX-1 Ventana 2 is a great scope primarily for hunting and wildlife watching, and with the included gear you’ll be ready to hit the trail as soon as you open the box.
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD with 20-60x Magnification
Bushnell is known for its quality products and very rarely disappoints. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60×80 has waterproof& Rain Guard HD coating to repel water. This keeps the spotting scope from being damaged and lasts longer.
It’s also equipped with a Bak-4 prism. Plus, it has a magnification from 20 to 60X with an objective lens of 80 millimeters. Sadly, the spotting scope doesn’t come with any hardware. But, it does have a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Pros
The Bushnell SX-1 Ventana 2 is what you can expect of Bushnell. This model’s 80mm objective lens and coating make it great for low-light spotting.
The multi-coated optics reduce glare in high-light conditions so you won’t have to adjust as much to accommodate your position to the sun. And of course, it’s coated to make it waterproof and fog proof.
Fixed dual-focus controls allow you to make rapid adjustments and fine-tune them quickly to get the best view possible.
Cons
Most of the cons associated with this product are with the accessories because there really aren’t any. For a case and tripod, you’ll have to buy them separately, but that just means that Bushnell is putting more of your dollars straight toward the scope itself instead of other gear.
Verdict
The Bushnell SX-1 Ventana 2 is a great scope for hunting, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing at an excellent price.
- 20-60 x 80mm
- End Prime low dispersion glass
- 2-Speed dual focus control
- Waterproof & Rain Guard HD water repellent coatings
- Bak-4 prisms
Conclusion
The best scope to buy is often dependent on the user’s needs rather than the scope itself. There is no such thing as a one size fits all scope, but that means that once you decide what you need a scope for you can get one that is made specifically for that purpose.
The scopes listed here will cover the best spotting scope under 500 dollars that you can buy for just about any purpose, including birdwatching, stargazing, wildlife watching, and hunting.