I looked at about 10 different spotting scopes, monoculars, binoculars, etc, and never found one that even remotely worked for me. Eye relief was always measured in mm and the picture was worth crap.
Then I decided to look for a rifle scope instead. Since I don't plan shooting past 100 yards, I figured something in the neighborhood of 3-9x would be fine.
Unfortunately, eye relief was usually poor and the exit pupil on max power was often nonexistent. I tried about 15 scopes from various manufacturers that ranged from $30 to $200.
Then I found this baby:
Eye relief is about 12 inches (maybe more) and exit pupil is HUGE. I bought it at Big 5 and a set of rings for $52 plus tax (using my 25% coupon).
A stop to WalMart for ammo yielded a $7.50 mini-tripod in the photo department. Then I went to my local hardware store and bought a couple of concrete wall anchors threaded the same as the tripod.
BEHOLD:
and folded:
for a little additional fun, I got one of the anchors flush-mounted to the top of my range box. Much sturdier than the tripod:
I can read street signs from a block away with this thing! Plus, it's ready to mount to a rifle some day.
Re: My $60 spotting scope
2Nice! Way to be innovative and find something that works!! I may have to copy you since I already have a scope sitting around.... Hmmm...
Re: My $60 spotting scope
4Thanks guys. The bolt in the range box has a range of about 4 inches, which should allow me center on targets at my rifle bench.
Re: My $60 spotting scope
5This is really clever.
But the proof is in the pudding (whatever the heck that means!).
What size holes can you see at what distance?
But the proof is in the pudding (whatever the heck that means!).
What size holes can you see at what distance?
"To initiate a war of aggression...is the supreme international crime" - Nuremberg prosecutor Robert Jackson, 1946
Re: My $60 spotting scope
6No idea! If I can see 22 holes on th 50y range, I'd be happy.
Probably won't take it out until Friday.
Oh, I was able to read the sale tags on shoes from about 35y, so I'm hopefull!
Probably won't take it out until Friday.
Oh, I was able to read the sale tags on shoes from about 35y, so I'm hopefull!
Re: My $60 spotting scope
7I always get to the bottom of the bowl without having found any proof, but I'll keep trying.Elmo wrote:
But the proof is in the pudding (whatever the heck that means!).
Re: My $60 spotting scope
8[\pedantry on] it should be "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." See http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pro1.htm [\pedantry off]