Spotting Scope Recommendation

YIA

I have a funny request.
I am involved in security spotting in a stadium environment.
I am looking for a recommendation for a scope (stabilised maybe) to be used across approx 200m that needs to give me facial recognition.
A zoom is preferable, but not absolutely necessary.
I thought the bird watchers might have a good idea of focal lenght/ price/ size/ small tripod.
Thanks

clivej

The spotting scope that comes up for sale in aldi is good enough for what you need @€;20

johngalway

Birdwatchers will be the best for advice on this, as you say.

I bought a piccolo compact I think it's called. Basically an Opticron spotting scope, but it's not branded Opticron. Very good for the money - which I can't remember - more than €20 anyway

Tackleberrywho

I have a pair of Soligor 12-60x70 bino's that gan clearly make out a face @200

http://www.astroshop.eu/soligor-zoom-binoculars-high-performance-12-60x70-mc/p,11248

For security purposes there are camera Bino's & Spotting scope adapters also available
http://swarovskioptik.com/en_us/products/camera-adapters#

If you want decent quality pics a score is a little shy of what you need to spend though;)

Not saying Aldi/Lidl stuff is not wonderful, but..........

Deerspotter

What is your budget?
I was looking through a Zeiss spotting scope in Berlin recently and was so impressed.
But your well up over €1,000 for a name like that.

www.cabelas.com has a great range of them, but stay away from Bushnell.
The Cabelas own brand is usually reliable and good enough.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/hunting-optics-spotting-scopes/_/N-1100060/Ne-331/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104600880?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104791680%3Bcat104752080&WTz_srn=By+Brand&WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU

YIA

Thanks all.
What's wrong with the Bushnell type?

I was looking at these two scope:

Celestron Ultima 100 (22-66x Zoom)

about 350 blips
and

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60 x 80


about 600 blips

Who do these fair?

We currenlty have a pair of Bushnell 16x50 but the lads don't really fancy them and would prefer a tripod mounted scope.

deerhunter1

YIA wrote: »

Thanks all.
What's wrong with the Bushnell type?

I was looking at these two scope:

Celestron Ultima 100 (22-66x Zoom)

about 350 blips
and

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60 x 80


about 600 blips

Who do these fair?

We currenlty have a pair of Bushnell 16x50 but the lads don't really fancy them and would prefer a tripod mounted scope.

If your budget is around 600 the Nikon is the way to go

YIA

Do you have a link to a suitable Nikon?
The 600 yo scope is a Bushnell.

deerhunter1

YIA wrote: »

Do you have a link to a suitable Nikon?
The 600 yo scope is a Bushnell.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/spotting-scopes/c2015

they are very good to deal with, good service

Deerspotter

This is just my opinion, so lads, don't hang me. Bushnell are total junk. I have owned several and have looked through more - they do not last, they are poor quality and they reflect too much.
I know this is generalising, but from my experience, you are better to stay away from them, as they will break your heart. They always have an attractive offer – just the right magnification at the limit of your budget, so you think they will be perfect. But they are not. They are dizzying, headache inducing, badly made and too expensive for what they actually are…

vixdname

Deerspotter wrote: »

This is just my opinion, so lads, don't hang me. Bushnell are total junk. I have owned several and have looked through more - they do not last, they are poor quality and they reflect too much.
I know this is generalising, but from my experience, you are better to stay away from them, as they will break your heart. They always have an attractive offer – just the right magnification at the limit of your budget, so you think they will be perfect. But they are not. They are dizzying, headache inducing, badly made and too expensive for what they actually are…

I cant say anything about their spotting scopes but I've used a Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15X50 riflescope for the last couple of years and cant fault it.
Its a low-mid end scope but it hasnt left me down "Yet" and the view is pretty clear through it.
I suppose tis like everything, you get what you pay for.

Deerspotter

vixdname wrote: »

I cant say anything about their spotting scopes but I've used a Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15X50 riflescope for the last couple of years and cant fault it.
Its a low-mid end scope but it hasnt left me down "Yet" and the view is pretty clear through it.
I suppose tis like everything, you get what you pay for.

I disagree with you. Bushnell are not always the cheapest option and I think with them you do not get what you pay for, as they are too expensive for the quality they actually provide.
Perhaps they were good one day, but in the last 5 years, anything I have come across has been a disappointment. Given the price, I would have expected A LOT more.

scoobydoo07

Hi there,I have the celestron ultimat 20-60x80mm scope,I find it an excellent scope for the money ,however at the higher end of mag it needs a lot of light for a really clear picture.Saying that on a stable platform you would have no problem spotting an ugly face at 200 yards!!!.I bought mine on amazon for 170 euros and used a tripod I had for my Canon EOS with it...ps u can get an adapter for it to add a camera on it for long range shots

vixdname

Deerspotter wrote: »

I disagree with you. Bushnell are not always the cheapest option and I think with them you do not get what you pay for, as they are too expensive for the quality they actually provide.
Perhaps they were good one day, but in the last 5 years, anything I have come across has been a disappointment. Given the price, I would have expected A LOT more.

As I said previously, the Bushnell rifle scope I have for the last number of years is pretty good and by reading other threads regarding riflescopes on this forum, there are plenty of other lads on here that regard Bushnell as a decent scope.
I cant speak about their spotting scopes as I've never used one.

Deerspotter

Yeah, I have read those threads with interest. I am glad that you and others are happy with their purchases, because I sure know how disappointing it is to be pissed off with your purchase.

vixdname

Deerspotter wrote: »

Yeah, I have read those threads with interest. I am glad that you and others are happy with their purchases, because I sure know how disappointing it is to be pissed off with your purchase.

Agreed, theres nothing worse then looking something up, it ticks all of the right boxes, but when you get it, its a bag of ****e.

Tackleberrywho

vixdname wrote: »

Agreed, theres nothing worse then looking something up, it ticks all of the right boxes, but when you get it, its a bag of ****e.

Lidl NIGHTVISION

YIA

Thanks all.
Think I'll give the Celestron a go and see how we fair.
It'll be used under floodlights, so light should not be an issue.

clivej

Try using the bins you already have. Most/all of the bins have a place to put a
tripod attachment. There will be a small cove in front of where the bins pivot point is. Attachment is cheap money

YIA wrote: »

Thanks all.
What's wrong with the Bushnell type?

I was looking at these two scope:

Celestron Ultima 100 (22-66x Zoom)

about 350 blips
and

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 20-60 x 80


about 600 blips

Who do these fair?

We currenlty have a pair of Bushnell 16x50 but the lads don't really fancy them and would prefer a tripod mounted scope.

YIA

Picked up the Celestron this morning and a Hahnel TRI 60 tripod.
So far so good.
Great light collection from the 100mm and the tripod can drop down to 3 or 4 different leg angles (it's mounted on a window facing desk so needs to be low).
Will see how we get on tonight.
Cheers for all the info/ advice

YIA

The bins are grand for looking at a large group of people (1-200) but the scope is great for picking one person out of that group.
At least that's the plan.