By Robin Owens 17 days ago, Binoculars
What are the best spotting scopes under 500 dollars?
This compact piece of equipment often transforms traveling in a very positive way, so if you’re a fan of hiking or observing the wilderness, definitely get the best spotting scope under 500.
To find the best option for particular needs, you need to do a lot of research, learning more about how these gadgets work and what helps to obtain better vision in particular circumstances. Not to mention browsing the endless online catalogs.
Below, you can look through a fine selection of devices under the $500 limit that have proven their quality. Whether you’re doing it for fun or equipping yourself for a serious occupation, a great option is already listed. If this is the first purchase of the sort, a guide explaining all the important features will be particularly helpful.
Magnification: 20x-60x | Objective diameter: 80 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 33.5/110 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 10.6/35 metres/ft | Eye relief: 18 mm | Weight: 4263 g
⊕ Reduces chromatic aberration
⊕ Sharpened image
⊕ Waterproof and fog-resistant
⊕ Designed for professionals
⊕ Angled design
⊖ Restricted FOV
⊖ No case supplied
Simply by assessing how professionally it looks, you can tell this is the best spotting scope under 500. It has the most requested 20-60x range within which you can see extra clearly thanks to the 80mm objective, the special coated ED glass and the dual focus system. These features ensure that the image is bright but also detailed.
With consideration of outdoor conditions, the scope has been protected against water and debris. The sun glares have also been eliminated with an additional layer of anti-reflex coating. Altogether, you get pin-sharp image reproduction that is true to color even in unfavorable conditions.
Magnification: 20х-60x | Objective diameter: 100 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 47/157 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 10/32.8 metres/ft | Eye relief: 20 mm | Weight: 3400 g
⊕ A protective case included
⊕ Adapter in the pack
⊕ Seamless design
⊕ Great magnification range
⊖ No stand provided
⊖ Heavier than regular
It’s the best spotting scope under $500 for birdwatching and hunting. Many use binoculars but this model can pull off a much bigger magnification while also showing a broader picture. The device allows you to use magnification between 20x to 60x so that you can track your prey or simply observe animals.
What you see is powerfully enhanced by special chemical treating of the optics. Some layers make sure sun glares don’t disturb you, others increase the light-gathering capabilities of the system. If you are interested in taking magnified pictures with your smartphone, it is also a worthy option to consider.
Magnification: 20x-60x | Objective diameter: 60 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 33.2/109 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 6/19.7 metres/ft | Eye relief: 16.5 mm | Weight: 1134 g
⊕ Eyepiece can be changed
⊕ Made in Japan
⊕ Weatherproof
⊕ Warranty for a decade
⊖ Scope body only
The best spotting scope for 500 dollars from this brand features some advanced technologies. With the rugged body and enhanced optics, this device is perfect for outdoor shooting or observing activities. It has a convenient 60-millimeter objective that captures enough light but does not create excessive bulk in your gear bag.
The entire system is chemically treated to produce the sharpest, brightest image. A special sliding sunshade serves a double purpose, preventing the glare that could be blinding you and not allowing the raindrops to cover the objective. You can safely use it in dusty areas or under heavy rain and no particles will ever get through.
Magnification: 20x-60x | Objective diameter: 82 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 33.5/110 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 6/20 metres/ft | Eye relief: 20 mm | Weight: 1890 g
⊕ Great outdoor photography tool
⊕ No color fringing
⊕ Supplemented with a case
⊕ Waterproof, doesn’t fog up
⊕ Expanded FOV
⊖ No tripod in the pack
⊖ Waterproofing issues
Looking for long range spotting scopes under 500 to equip your phone or camera with? Seek no further. This model is angled for your convenience, reduces glare with a special shade and has an impressive magnification range.
Apart from using it as a camera extension, you can always just indulge in simple observing. With the 82 mm ED glass main lens, it captures an astonishing amount of light to deliver sharp images. Fear not of knocking or even dropping it because the body is durable enough for such accidents.
Magnification: 16x-48х | Objective diameter: 65 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 40/131 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 5/16.4 metres/ft | Eye relief: 20 mm | Weight: 2041 g
⊕ ED glass material
⊕ XLT coatings
⊕ Magnesium-alloy shell
⊖ Weighty
If you are searching for the best spotting scope for 500 dollars with ED glass, this is the rare case when superb quality is made affordable. The manufacturers managed to eliminate the color aberration and bring more detail.
In addition, the model also has a strong mirror enhancement, the XTL coating, that carries the majority of the light to your eye. Add the dual focus system and this is pretty much the perfect device for any activity.
Magnification: 20x-60x | Objective diameter: 80 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 35/114 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 6.7/22 metres/ft | Eye relief: 20 mm | Weight: 1860 g
⊕ Impressive magnification range
⊕ Extended field of view
⊕ Entirely customizable
⊕ Allows setting viewing angle
⊖ No tripod provided
⊖ Insufficient aperture (60 mm)
Another decent option among the spotting scopes under 500 has a special benefit of being super adjustable. The series offers size and eyepiece position alternatives to accommodate various users in a range of activities.
This model, though, has an angled eyepiece with 14-17mm eye relief, 1.0 to 2.2 degrees of view, and starts its focus at a short interval of 20 feet. Such specs allow you to see a wider area further away from you and even do successful digiscoping of objects in motion.
The device does not fear water and will not prevent you from seeing under the temperature differences that normally would cause fogging. If you are satisfied with the 200 yards of clear view this device can obtain, take it without thinking.
Magnification: 20x-60х | Objective diameter: 80 mm | Field of view at 1000m: 105/32 metres/ft | Closest focusing distance: 7.5/24.6 metres/ft | Eye relief: 18 mm | Weight: 1548 g
⊕ Robust rubberized body
⊕ Saturated and detailed images
⊕ Provided with a comfortable case
⊖ Greater zoom results in some distortion
Those who are searching for the best spotting scope under 500 that would withstand the rough handling during hiking or hunting, here is a decent option. It is fully waterproof and filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging up.
The optics have been treated with special coatings and the system operates on the dual focus mechanism. With it, you can roughly focus on the object in an instant and then proceed to bring additional details in, which is particularly handy for birdwatching.
Fully rugged, it can stand a few drops and knocks without losing alignment and decreasing the quality. A great model for going on complicated hiking trails or camping with children.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Bushnell Legend Ultra
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Konus 7122
Full set |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
Kowa TSN-600 Series
Light weight |
CHECK PRICE → |
You can never predict everything and to avoid having your piece of optics destroyed by the weather or some minor accident involving water, only consider the models that are resistant to it. Even the lowest level of protection, like having all the internal pieces sealed with epoxy, will put your mind at ease.
This type of prism is highly valued in any optics from miniature binoculars to large telescopes. Manufactured from improved glass, it can collect more light and deliver a sharp and bright image. It also helps that such pieces are affordable and built with circular exit holes for your eyes to feel more comfortable.
If you take a simple lens, you will find that it distorts colors, preventing them from arriving at the correct focal point. Simple mirrors, on the other hand, reduce the amount of brightness in the outcome, sometimes by 96% per mirror. This untreated system will show you a dark, blurry image.
Take the best spotting scope under 500 that has special ED lenses installed and coatings applied to the mirrors, and the visual outcome will improve dramatically.
The lens is constructed in such a way that the light splitting and chromatic aberration are corrected. This can be achieved either by combing low and high dispersion lenses or by chemically treating one to obtain the qualities of both.
The absolute best devices all come with fully multi-coated lenses because this small step brings an astonishing enhancement. It would be great to test the device in a poorly lit environment to see if it performs well. Check if objects 200 yards away can be seen in detail.
If you take the Vivitar model as an example, it has satisfactory performance for any general kind of activity. It delivers a decent image in the 20-60x magnification range that is enhanced greatly with lens coatings and the Porro prism. For any outdoor activities, owners often praise this model.
This marking means that you can see objects 60 times bigger than they really are. If you can distinguish a bullet hole from 10 yards without any enhancement, the hole will be visible from 600 yards with any device marked 60x.
This is basically a miniature telescope that is more transportation friendly and opens up many possibilities. Showing more than binoculars do, it presents perfect opportunities for birding, hunting, observing ships or anything else.
This is the best option for open-area hunters that settle in one spot and kill their prey from a long distance. In restrictive terrains like woods, where movement is key, a pair of good binoculars with a comfy harness will suit you much better.
