 Spotting Scope PF-63 ZOOM is waterproof and great for all weather conditions. an outdoor enthusiast, you want to know how to choose a spotting scope for various activities. Hunters are not the only group that use spotting scopes anymore. Knowing what is available and what is needed for your particular activity will help you narrow down your choices. Hunters have very different needs than bird watchers and these differences greatly change the type of scope needed to perform the best function. In fact, if you wear glasses there are other items to consider in making your purchase that will make your use even more enjoyable, and provide less eyestrain.
For the hunter to know how to choose a spotting scope is critical to their hunting career because it will make the difference between bringing home the big game and going home empty handed. The different types of focus mechanisms are designed based on the type of game you are hunting. A single focus knob is the most common but not as accurate as the fine focus. The double knob gives you both course and fine focus capabilities. The helical knob focuses more on birds and other game that change distances quickly.
Other factors in design deal with weather conditions. As you learn how to choose a spotting scope, you will learn that some are not designed to be out in the weather as much. The better scopes handle all types of inclement weather very well, without corrosion. The weight may be a factor for bird watchers who are typically holding the device for hours at a time. For eye relief, eyeglass wearers will want to look for long eye relief in choosing their eyepiece. The idea here is to provide a better range of viewing without having to strain due to your eye actually being 12 to 20 millimeters from the scope due to the eyeglasses.
When learning how to choose a spotting scope there are many factors that come into play based on the purpose for the scope. If you are a bird watcher, having the style that is designed for objects that change distances quickly is helpful. For those hunting big game, having the ability to focus quickly is necessary.
 Why would an outdoorsman or outdoorswoman need night vision? First of all, night vision is used so one can be active after dark. If you hike at night, ski or snowboard, ride your bike, or run, night vision goggles can come in handy. Almost any outdoor sport or activity can benefit from having night vision.
So, how are the night vision devices made to see in the dark? Well, there are two different ways it can work:
* Image enhancement - it collects tiny amounts of light, including the lower part of the infrared light spectrum. It is amplified to the extent where human eyes can easily observe objects in the dark.
* Thermal imaging - this particular technology works by capturing the upper portion of the infrared light spectrum, which is visible through heat. Hot objects, such as a human body, would emit more light than cooler objects like a plant or car.
If you were camping in the wilderness, image enhancement night vision would most likely benefit you the most to keep you from running into inanimate objects. You can still pick up movement of perhaps an animal or a lost camper that might have strayed from the site. Suppose you go hiking in the woods and the sun goes down before you get out of the forest? These night vision devices could make the difference in finding your way out safely, or not.
Both types of night vision devices have been put to substantial use with search and rescue efforts. When someone has gone missing, that person has a higher chance of being located with night vision goggles, binoculars or monoculars in use. If the person was unconscious, a thermal imaging device would have been better to use in this type of mission. When searching for a fugitive, an image enhancement device may be better since the distance of the vision would be more beneficial.
A night vision device is a good piece equipment to have with you if you spend any time participating in outdoor activities, whether you are hunting, walking, biking, or running or camping. Deciding on which type of night vision device you want will depend on the activities for which you will be using them. Good night vision equipment should be included in every safety kit for outdoor type activities.
John Flinn has had quite a life. He’s traveled to over 20 countries, climbed the greatest mountain ranges in the world, and even wrestled a bear – all while on the clock. Sound like a dream job? Just another day at the desk for Flinn, who is a column writer for the San Francisco Chronicle travel section.
Being a travel writer entails owning good equipment that will never fail. When your out in some strange foreign land and your camera breaks or your water bottle pops a leak, you can’t just run down the street to the closest Wal-Mart and buy a new one. That being said, Flinn recently published an article about his affinity for his binoculars, which have never let him down, time and time again.
Though his profession isn’t sales, I was sold on the binoculars just from his opening sentence – “For peering into a condor’s nest at Pinnacles National Monument, tracking a fiery space shuttle ascent or inspecting erotic temple carvings in Kathmandu, a good set of compact binoculars is a must.”
The model that Flinn praises is no longer available, though it has lasted him over 15 years. But fear not, there are plenty of other name brand binoculars that are just as good, if not better, such as Pentax, Bushnell, and Canon.
You can read Flinn’s full article here.
Related pages and posts – Binocular Terminology, Types of Binoculars , Binoculars Buyer’s Guide .
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have the ability to see in the dark? To be able to move about freely and foresee all obstacles that would otherwise be hidden in the dark of night? Thanks to the invention of night vision devices, we now have the ability to see in the dark. Animals have this biological capability, whereas humans lack a tapetum lucidum. With the invention of night vision devices, it has increased the benefits of hunting, camping, fishing, military uses and much more.
Night seeing devices were used during World War II and since then, they have expanded to include a generation of many more different types of devices including upgrading of original goggles, binoculars and scopes. During the war and even today, soldiers found these night vision devices extremely beneficial as they allowed them to see enemies, obstacles and shoot with little light available. The Army usually uses two types of night vision devices – image intensifiers and thermals. Image intensifiers increase the clarity of objects by amplifying the light that is available, even light that is there that cannot be seen by the eye alone. Thermals are often used to see in the dark by thermal imaging. Objects giving off a high temperature, for example, a person would show up glowing red and orange. Trees and plants would show up blue (cooler temperatures).
Night goggles or glasses are very common for the average person. How they work is by electronic means. Instead of depending on a light source to amplify vision, they use the the light that already exists to amplify clarity. They are extremely sensitive and can be used for all sorts of things. Soldiers can use them, you can use them to go hunting in the night, camping, fishing at night, marine and wildlife observation, security and probably for the average person – repairs. It’s convenient to have night goggles while you’re working on a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, than to deal with holding a flash light.
Night vision has grown to include not only goggles, but to night vision binoculars and night vision cameras. They are a great asset to have and have worked wonders for those who already use them. Having the capability to see in the dark has saved people’s lives, given them peace of mind, helped local authorities and has been an aid for everyone who needs to see when they really need it most. So, no need to be afraid of the dark anymore.
Related links: UK Goggles, UK Contact Lenses.
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The spotting scope you choose greatly affects how it will work for you under certain conditions. For example, the person who only wants to use his or her spotting scope at the rifle range can often drive up to the bench and conveniently layout supplies including a large objective porro prism spotting scope. The target shooter could easily use a 80MM porro prism scope on a full-length tripod and not worry about compact design or lightweight since their automobile is a few yards away. On the other hand, a person who is planning an elk hunt in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness is probably very concerned with weight and the ability to fit the scope into a pack. Typically roof prism spotting scopes offer the hunter or backpacker a more compact and lightweight design to pack and carry long distances. While some porro prism spotting scopes are quite compact, others can offer larger fields of view and resolution, but they may not be practical to pack into the woods. Other features for the hunter to consider are rubber armoring to protect the scope from blunt force. A waterproof spotting scope offers piece of mind to the hunter working in rain and snow.
**This is not a comprehensive list of all the factors to consider when choosing a spotting scope but it will hopefully shed some light on some of the more critical factors to consider.
Magnification: The magnification feature of a spotting scope allows the user to view an object much closer than it would otherwise be using only the human eye. The magnification power is a function of both the scope’s optical system and the eyepiece being used. Spotting scopes such as Bushnell’s Spacemaster® series and Bausch & Lomb’s Premier® HDR series offer the user a choice of zoom eyepieces such as a 15-45x variable eyepiece or high power fixed eyepieces such as 60x. Most hunters prefer the versatility of a zoom (variable) eyepiece for use at varying distances. Sometimes the higher magnification offered in a zoom eyepiece can make the difference between positively identifying a trophy animal and not knowing for sure whether this is the Boone and Crockett animal you’ve been tracking.
Objective Lens Diameter: The objective lens of a spotting scope serves to gather incoming light. A 60mm objective lens will gather more light than a 50mm lens. When more light is transmitted to your eye, you will view a brighter and clearer image. Resolution (ability to see detail) is also a function of the objective lens diameter.
Eye Relief: Eye relief is the minimum distance between the spotting scope eyepiece and your eye that still allows you to see the entire field of view. Hunters and shooters who do not wear eyeglasses can use most spotting scopes and eyepieces without any trouble. People who wear eyeglasses are more concerned with eye relief. When a person wears glasses while looking through a standard spotting scope eyepiece their glasses may touch the eyepiece. Bushnell offers two eyepiece enhancements for those users wearing eyeglasses. Most Bushnell® and Bausch & Lomb® spotting scope eyepieces offer the ability to roll down the rubber eyecup thus increasing the distance between your glasses and the eyepiece without impairing the view. If even more eye relief is required specially designed long eye relief zoom eyepieces are available. The need for eye relief is an individual specific need. Sometimes eyeglass wearers are more comfortable looking through a spotting scope without their glasses on.
Optical Lens Coatings: Lens coatings play an important role in getting the light gathered at the objective end of the scope transmitted through the ocular end to your eye. The lens coatings are partially responsible for delivering a brighter and higher contrast image. All Bausch and Lomb® spotting scopes offer multi-coated lenses for superior images. Bushnell® spotting scopes feature fully coated lenses.
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