spotting scope power

[brock77]

looking at getting a new spotting scope (packable)...so with that.....would it be a waist getting a 20-60x60 (because of its lower light) at 60 power...or should a guy go with a 15-45x65 less power but the same light...
any one have experience between the two....thanks

[bozzdrywall]

I have a Leo 20x60 and your right the light sucks past 40x. If I had to buy one just for packin in the mountains I would go with something smaller with better light transmission.

[bridger]

go with the 60power its great when you need it and can use it my two sheep hunting partners have 20x40 scopes and are always using mine in low light.

[Elkaddict]

There is no hard and fast rule. It will depend totally on the quality of the scope and eyepiece. My old Nikon 20-60X60 was useable to 60X in nice bright conditions, but when the light started to fade you had to dial back around 40 to keep the image bright enough to see. The Swaro 20-60X65 I looked through recently was excellent in fading light. The lower the quality of the optic, the less useable it will be at higher powers, especially in less than optimum light.

[Singleshotneeded]

I agree, if you buy an inexpensive spotting scope, then stick with 15-45X, if you buy high end, then 20-60X...

[todbartell]

I got a 12-40x60 Leupold gold ring, but it's a stepping stone for me to the Swarovski 20-60x65