Spotting scope for el cap

Looking into buying a spotting scope so I can check out routes from the ground level.  I currently use a crappy pair of binoculars that are rated 10x25 and it sucks.  What do most people use in the Valley to watch teams on el cap?  There's a lot on amazon for around 80$ that have a range of 20x60x60.  

If anyone has any pointers on this subject or a scope for sale please let me know.

Nikon makes some really nice spotting scopes for hunters that I'd like to be able to afford

If you plan on looking through it for a long period of time then you might want to spend more than $80 and maybe a bit less than a Swarovski. Eye strain can suck and having the resolution to see details is really important. I mean why spend any money at all just to see a bigger blury version of the same thing your eyes already see and get a headache too. 

You should probably mention if you want to spend $200 or $2000.

Nikon ED50 is good at about $800

Edit: mistyped the price

I bought a cheaper one off amazon with good numbers for a scope. Its actually great and way better than my nice binoculars, the main problem is the tripod sucks bad and is wobbl so its hard to lock in a certain spot.

Having a decent stable base will be the key for using a spotting scope. I would suggest getting a regular photography type tripod to use with the scope. also look at getting a phone scope type attachment.

M Mobes wrote: I bought a cheaper one off amazon with good numbers for a scope. Its actually great and way better than my nice binoculars, the main problem is the tripod sucks bad and is wobbl so its hard to lock in a certain spot.

What numbers?  What did u end up getting if you dont mind me asking please

Alex Ghiggeri wrote:

What numbers?  What did u end up getting if you dont mind me asking please

Barska 20-60x60 waterproof, years ago it came with two tripods one short and one tall. The tall one sucked unless you tied it down to a rock or cinder block

I bought a pair of Barska bincs once as they were so cheap. Cheap also described their view, they were terrible and total pieces of crap. Never seen the Barska scope M Mobes has, maybe it's OK, but I wouldn't touch the brand based on my binocular purchase. Bushnell and Redfield both have excellent reputation and solid price- performance reviews. If you want to step up in price, Leupold and Stevens and Vortex make excellent product. 

Logan Hugmeyer wrote: If you plan on looking through it for a long period of time then you might want to spend more than $80 and maybe a bit less than a Swarovski. Eye strain can suck and having the resolution to see details is really important. I mean why spend any money at all just to see a bigger blury version of the same thing your eyes already see and get a headache too. 

Vortex is a great US brand that does optics falling between trash and Swarov. They participate in many of the popular pro deal programs too. Good deals can be found on them.

Anyone have any experience with the Celestron Ultima 18 to 55x65mm?

Alex Ghiggeri wrote: Looking into buying a spotting scope so I can check out routes from the ground level.  

I would imagine that published topos would yield more useful info on small route features than anything you'd be able to discern from down below.

Tbh I don't use my spotting scope anymore after getting a lumix dc-fz80 60x zoom camera. You can expose beak seams and even anchor bolts on El Cap from the Meadow and have the additional ability to shoot a bunch of photos and then merge them into a pano when you get back home tocontinue to research the routes.

Sounds fun but what exactly are you spotting that you can’t find out with the very detailed topos available?  Seepage? Fixed lines?

Shit, just buy a few Cobras and bring them to Tom in the Meadow and you can look through his lens!

M Mobes wrote:

Barska 20-60x60 waterproof, years ago it came with two tripods one short and one tall. The tall one sucked unless you tied it down to a rock or cinder block

I actually have that scope and even at $60 it blows. Terrible glass.

Good for spotting holes being put through a white paper target at 100 yards, but that's about it.

Gunkiemike wrote:

I would imagine that published topos would yield more useful info on small route features than anything you'd be able to discern from down below.

You just blew your on-sight. 

Kevin DeWeese wrote: Tbh I don't use my spotting scope anymore after getting a lumix dc-fz80 60x zoom camera. You can expose beak seams and even anchor bolts on El Cap from the Meadow and have the additional ability to shoot a bunch of photos and then merge them into a pano when you get back home tocontinue to research the routes.

From what I've seen, good glass is just as expensive if it's a zoom lens for a camera or a spotting scope. 

The main advantage of the scope is durability. They're typically waterproof and drop resistant. You can also adapt a scope for a camera but that adds even more expense. 

I was also looking into getting one for similar purposes, though I haven't decided yet. A few I was looking at in the 200-300 dollar range that are all 20-60x80mm:

https://www.meade.com/binoculars-spotting-scopes/spotting-scopes/wilderness-spotting-scope-20-60x80mm.html
https://www.barska.com/20-60x80-wp-level-spotting-scope-angled.html
https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-GrandView-ED-80mm-Spotting-Scope-with-20-60x-eyepiece/rc/2160/p/130267.uts?refinementValueIds=4545

For that distance you could probably get a 60mm one and be fine but I'm just guessing. From what I gather, the markers of quality glass are BAK-4 prisms, fully multi-coated optics, and ED (extra low dispersion) lenses. I haven't seen those all in one lightweight package for under 500.

Climbing Shotgun wrote: I was also looking into getting one for similar purposes, though I haven't decided yet. A few I was looking at in the 200-300 dollar range that are all 20-60x80mm:

https://www.meade.com/binoculars-spotting-scopes/spotting-scopes/wilderness-spotting-scope-20-60x80mm.html
https://www.barska.com/20-60x80-wp-level-spotting-scope-angled.html
https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-GrandView-ED-80mm-Spotting-Scope-with-20-60x-eyepiece/rc/2160/p/130267.uts?refinementValueIds=4545

For that distance you could probably get a 60mm one and be fine but I'm just guessing. From what I gather, the markers of quality glass are BAK-4 prisms, fully multi-coated optics, and ED (extra low dispersion) lenses. I haven't seen those all in one lightweight package for under 500.

Hey Shotgun, I don't suppose you know how much that Orion scope weighs. They don't say and it looks heavy.

FWIW this is a photo taken through a Barska 20x60mm POS from about 2mi away:

Trad Man wrote:

From what I've seen, good glass is just as expensive if it's a zoom lens for a camera or a spotting scope. 

The main advantage of the scope is durability. They're typically waterproof and drop resistant. You can also adapt a scope for a camera but that adds even more expense. 

Taken from the meadow (and seemingly downsampled by MP). For what OP has stated he wants to do, the Lumix dc-fz80 setup is going to be more than enough. These were also taken without a tripod.