Table of Contents
Our Top Picks
Best Overall Spotting Scope
Celestron Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope
- Value: 9/10
- Performance: 9/10
- Cost: 9/10
This reliable scope is spot-on! Pun intended, lol.
Check Price on AmazonBest Spotting Scope for the Money
Gosky Updated 20-60×80 Spotting Scope
Keeping tabs on a target while seeing it in detail is one of the challenges we encounter when shooting or hunting at long distances. And only spotting scopes have magnification high enough to really see your hits well from down range. But they can cost a lot, and we don’t want you wasting your hard-earned money on unreliable optics. To save you some coin and find a good value at the same time, we’ve put together a list of the best spotting scopes under 200.
Quick Comparison of the Best Spotting Scopes Under 200
Features to Consider
Straight vs Angled
Neck Relief
Angled spotting scopes are, as the name implies, angled. They are more comfortable to use and minimize neck pain from looking through your scope for a long time. With straight spotting scopes, you often need to crouch if your tripod isn’t tall enough.
Height
Straight spotting scopes are longer but shorter in height, while angled scopes are shorter in length but taller. An angled eyepiece is perfect for viewing objects upward from a lower vantage point, while a straight eyepiece is excellent for viewing objects from the same level or height.
Ease of Use
Angled eyepieces can be rotated so you can find the most comfortable position while viewing your target. Angled scopes are also easier to use when you want to look through your phone because your phone’s screen is elevated and tilted upward.
However, if you’ll be switching between your binoculars and your spotting scope, a straight design is easier to use since you won’t need to adjust your tripod’s height (most of the time) or change your seating position when doing so.
Portability
Angled spotting scopes are a little bulky so packing them is a chore, while straight ones are easy to pack and unpack.
Zoom and Lens Size
A spotting scope’s designation on zoom and lens size is always in this format: “Minimum Magnification – Maximum Magnification x Lens Diameter.” For example, 20-60×80. A bigger lens size delivers brighter and clearer images. We picked spotting scopes with lenses not smaller than 60 mm so you’ll be getting a great deal no matter what.
Lens and Mirror Coatings
Like rifle scopes, spotting scopes can have fully multi-coated lenses for excellent light transmission and protection from scratches.
5 Best Spotting Scopes Under 200
Best Overall: Celestron Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope
The Celestron Ultima 80 angled spotting scope is a favorite not only among hunters but also among outdoor enthusiasts. It’s as well-built as its more expensive rivals. This spotting scope is constructed with an aluminum barrel (with a rubberized rear) and a focus knob that turns easily and smoothly. It also guarantees clear and crisp images both in bright light or in the evening. Truly a great bang for your buck.
The scope comes with an extended tripod mounting plate, a zoom eyepiece with an integrated T-adapter for digiscoping, a carrying case, an eyepiece lens cap, an eyepiece port cover, a soft carrying case, an eyepiece pouch, a lens cloth, and an instruction manual.
Pros
- Comes with a sharp zoom eyepiece function
- Waterproof and Fully multi-coated lens
- Comes with a two-year warranty
- Comes with plenty of accessories
- Affordable
Cons
- It’s a little heavy
- The carry case is not padded
What Customers Say
After a bit of research I settled in this scope. It got me through bow hunting season just fine. Atleast until I upgrade. But its perfect for my indoor/outdoor tournaments.
Garret C. Schumer
Bought this for bird watching. You can also see some planets. Great value.
Russell Hamilton Sheldon
Best for the Money: Gosky Updated 20-60×80 Spotting Scope
Now here comes a spotting scope that won’t be giving you headaches despite its affordability. The Gosky 20-60×80 spotting scope guarantees easy power and swift focus adjustments. It features a non-slip and shock-proof grip that provides long-lasting external protection. It may not have the same glass quality as premium spotting scopes, but you get a lot of value from this scope and you get what you pay for. The included smartphone adapter also does its job pretty well.
Pros
- User-friendly
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Fully multi-coated 80mm green film objective lens
- Great customer service
Cons
- Average glass quality
- Low-quality tripod
What Customers Say
Not bad for the price. Im able to get good pics of the moon and Jupiter with moons. Very impressive!
Ryan
Overall, I’ve been satisfied with this product. It’s a good scope for the money. After owning the scope for a while, I had an issue with the eyepiece. It took some time and a little probing, but they ultimately replaced the entire scope free of charge, which was nice.
NJudd
Athlon Optics Talos 20-60×80 Spotter Scope
Our next pick features a rotating tripod mounting ring that allows you to rotate the scope to any angle for a better spotting angle. It also comes with a built-in extendable sunshade for reduced flare and reflection resulting in clearer images.
The Talos spotting scope guarantees easy focus and adjustments and accurate zoom. It would have been better if there was a rubber piece around the eyepiece for more comfort.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Waterproof
Cons
- Not fog-proof
- The eyepiece is a little uncomfortable to use
What Customers Say
Use it at the range all the time, makes life a lot easier than going downrange all the time. Visual quality is very good at this price point.
Frank R. McDaniel
My husband broke his high-dollar scope right before a cross-country trip. He bought this just so he’d have something on the trip. He was super impressed by this scope and now uses it all the time.
Amie
Barska 30-90×90 Colorado Spotting Scope
This spotting scope’s side focus fine adjustment knob is conveniently located and works adequately. Barska equipped this scope with an extendable sunshade for minimizing unwanted glare. It delivers bright and sharp images at 30-60x magnification. One drawback is that the sight image becomes a little blurry at 90x magnification and higher.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Fully-coated optics
- Affordable
- Compact and portable
Cons
- The included tripod is a little flimsy
- The manual is not model-specific
What Customers Say
It works pretty good. Nice and heavy and seems to stay put when in a position which makes zeroing in on your target reasonably simple.
Terminal dude
For the price your getting quite a deal for a spotter that can hit 200 yards. Identical to other reviews on Amazon, its perfect for 100 yards at the range. Maxes out at 200 yards but dont sneeze or breather when using it otherwise its back to finding your target.
CDN IT Guy
Emarth 20-60×60AE 45 Degree Angled Spotting Scope
Our last pick is compact and lightweight but extremely durable. This Emarth spotting scope is equipped with a rubber-coated surface for a more secure grip and for protection against bumps and drops. As for the optics, it delivers crisp images up to 200 yards and has generous eye relief which is great for long hours of stalking your prey or bird watching.
Pros
- Costs less than $100
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Fully multi-coated lens
Cons
- Low-quality phone adapter
What Customers Say
I love using it. Having multiple powers is great. I can see things clearly far away that I barely can spot with the naked eye. I don’t use the tripod that came with it. It is maybe 12″ high so I would have to sit at a table or lie down to look through. I was able to mount it to a larger, stand-up tripod and it works great. I’m very happy with it.
Frank C.
Nice cheap scope for the range. And also for some nice views of the moon on a clear night!
Joshua Miller
FAQs
How much does a good spotting scope cost?
A premium spotting scope costs thousands. But there are a few that offers high-quality performance for less than $200 like our picks above.
How far can you see with a 60x spotting scope?
With most 60x spotting scopes, you can see your target well as far as 200 yards.
What’s the best spotting scope on the market?
The best spotting scope below $200 on the market is the reliable Celestron Ultima. It will be the best 200 bucks you ever spent. Know why from our detailed review above.
What spotting scope does the US Army use?
The US Army uses the M151 Improved Spotting Scope. “It allows recognition and identification of targets at long distances for U.S. troops executing precision ground engagements.”
Now you can get detailed visuals of your targets up close. Make sure to set up your spotting scope properly on a consistent and stable platform so you don’t miss a single target!
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Images from Amazon Product API