Things You'll Need:
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Step 1
Decide what factors are going to go into the selection of your spotting scope. There is always a price consideration, but you'll want to decide if you want the most powerful magnification possible or if you're more interested in a wide field of vision. You also want to know if you'll be viewing in dim light, at dusk or dawn for example.
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Step 2
Understand what the numbers that describe a spotting scope mean. There are three numbers that are typically associated with a spotting scope. The first two numbers express the range of magnification, and the third number reflects the size of the objective lens, which is the lens at the far end of the scope. For example, a spotting scope that is described as 20-45x60 can magnify objects from 20x to 40x and has a 60mm objective lens.
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Step 3
Choose the objective lens size you'll need for your activity. If you're going to spot fast-moving game, you won't be as interested in magnification as you will be in having a large objective lens, which increases your field of vision. The field of vision is determined by the width of your view at 1000 yards. If you want a large field of vision, you'll want to consider an 80mm objective lens or larger.
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Step 4
Select your desired magnification range. If you're going to being using your spotting scope during daylight hours, any magnification over 60x will often produce hazy images because of heat and moisture in the air. But you might, on a calm day with low humidity levels, get good images with a magnification of 80x.
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Step 5
Pick options you want for your spotting scope, understanding that options add to the cost. You could pick the waterproofing feature if you're going to do spotting in the rain and low dispersion glass for the lenses to improve the sharpness of the images.
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Step 6
Select the spotting scope that fits your needs and your price range. Place it on a tripod to start spotting.
