Brands of Spotting Scopes

• Spotting scopes are used whenever someone requires more magnification than can be provided by binoculars. Anne Ackermann/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  A number of different manufacturers create spotting scopes. Spotting scopes are small telescopes that are designed for use during daylight hours. They allow in more light than astronomical telescopes, but do not provide the same level of magnification. Spotting scopes are used whenever someone requires more magnification than can be provided by binoculars. Scopes are commonly used by avid birders, hunters and people viewing distant wildlife and ships.

Leupold

• Leupold offers a variety of spotting scopes for hunting and observation purposes. There were three spotting scope lines currently available in 2010: Golden Ring, Sequoia and Kenai. The Golden Ring line features four different models of scopes, two compact models, with rugged, lightweight and watertight construction combined with unsurpassed optical quality. The Sequoia line offers an additional four spotting scopes, two of which are angled. The Sequoia line provides waterproof and rugged construction combined with up to 60x magnification. The Kenai line presents a straight and angled spotting scope, both of which feature a premium, 80mm lens for generous light transmission and a sharp, clear picture. Further details regarding the spotting scopes available in these three lines can be found on the Leupold website.

Bushnell

• Bushnell offers as many as 22 different spotting scope models among 10 product lines for a variety of hobbies and uses.

Nikon

• Nikon, which is better known for their cameras and lenses, offers at least five different spotting scopes. Nikon also offers eyepieces for digiscoping with a Nikon Coolpix camera. Digiscoping allows the user to take photos through the spotting scope in order to photograph objects that are much further away than the camera lens could capture unassisted.

Zeiss Optical

• Zeiss Optical offers three spotting scopes. Whichever Zeiss model you choose, "multiple thin lens elements and fluoride glass in the objectives contribute to the FL Concept, which offers the brightest, sharpest, most vivid images on the planet. Even in low light situations, the most cunning creature pops from camouflaged cover." Two different sizes of Victory Diascope offer rugged, waterproof, dustproof housings with dual speed focusing to allow an incredibly detailed look at the greatest distances. Zeiss also offers their Photoscope, a spotting scope with integrated 7 megapixel digital camera "with a super tele lens." This is a new offering that competes with the digiscoping products sold by competitors.