The Takeaway:
1. Our Pick: Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Spotting Scope
2. Runner-Up: Barska CO11502 20-60×60 Spotting Scope
3. Budget Pick: Celestron 60mm Zoom EP Spotting Scope
When searching out the best spotting scope under 200 dollars for the range, watching birds, or taking with you hunting, you will want to consider several things.
How tough it is, how it is going to be used (i.e., is it going to sit in one place all day or are you going to pack it up every few minutes and move to a new location,) and what is the weather like where it will be used (i.e., does it rain a lot? Is it going to be snowing? What kind of temperatures will it be facing?).
You have gotten yourself ready to go; however, if your spotting scope is fogged, it will be tough to see that bear or big horn. So, considering all these considerations, we’ve reviewed the best options the market offers to help you make a rational purchasing decision. Let’s look at some of the best spotting scopes under $200.
Our Pick: Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Spotting Scope
The Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Spotting Scope is a very good range scope. With its 80mm zoom, you should be able to see bullet impacts beyond 400 yards. It has a multilayer coating on the lens to help reduce glare and improve clarity. The eyepiece is zoomable with a little bit of false color as you crank up the power, but for the price, this is a good range scope even on those rainy days, as it is also waterproof. This spotting scope also comes with a limited lifetime warranty making this one of the best for the range and spotting scopes under $200.
Runner-Up: Barska CO11502 20-60×60 Straight Spotting Scope
The Barska CO11502 20-60×60 Waterproof Straight Spotting Scope is considered by many the best cheap spotting scope. It has a tripod, carrying case, and an attached lens cover. You do not have to buy these separately.
This very light spotting scope is nice to carry around all day while out in the field, weighing around 8.8 ounces. Its length of 13.5″ helps keep the weight and size down, which is great when carrying all that other gear.
This spotting scope’s 60mm lens is also fully coated and is 100% waterproof and fog proof, protecting it from the elements of the natural world and those unusual minor personal disasters.
It is also fully rubber coated to help further protect it against shock and bumps along the trail. This is one of the best values for a spotting scope, not just because of these features but because it also comes with a lifetime warranty.
Budget Pick: Celestron 60mm Zoom 45 Degree EP Spotting Scope
The Celestron 60mm Zoom 45° Telescope is one of the best cheap spotting scopes for the money you can take to the shooting range. It comes with an aluminum carrying case and a soft case that is really nice for the money. It also comes with a tabletop tripod that is not plastic but metal, which may add to the weight but increases its durability.
This scope will help you see where exactly you’re hitting the targets at the shooting range. It will allow you to zero in on your rifle or keep your skills up, quickly enabling you to see each impact. This Celestron 60mm spotting scope comes powder coated and is designed for setting up and leaving for the day.
It is a bit heavy with all of its gear, coming in at 6 pounds, with the scope itself weighing in at around 4.4 pounds. However, this could be used on a stand or a ground blind. This is one of the best spotting scopes under 200 dollars (way under it, retailing at around $77); you can pick it up for the money.
Also Great: Tasco World Class 20-60×60 Zoom Scope With Tripod
The Tasco World Class 20-60×60 Zoom Spotting Scope is a good range scope and hunting scope that comes rubberized to help protect against bangs and bumps. This scope also has an interesting feature that you can mount it on your vehicle, which could come in handy out in large open areas that you have to drive through just to get into shooting range.
It also comes with a tripod, an aluminum lockable carrying case, and a soft carrying case. This being one of the best value spotting scopes, it is also waterproof and fog proof for when the elements are testing you and your equipment. While weighing in at only 1.8 pounds, this scope is less noticeable while out on the trail, especially if you already carry a bunch of gear and a rifle.
Whether you want to see your shot placement at the target range to get sighted in or to find your quarry out in the field, this is the best value spotting scope under $200.
Final Thoughts on Best Spotting Scope Under 200 Dollars 2024
Whether you are out in the wilderness hunting, just watching wildlife, spending time with the kids in the backyard looking at the craters on the moon, or at your local shooting range punching paper, finding the right spotting scope for your purposes is no longer a break the bank process, with this.
Yes, there are more expensive scopes, but with name-brand manufacturers producing good quality spotting scopes at value prices, as they are today, you can take it easy on your wallet without sacrificing quality in the field. That is why any of these optics you choose will represent the best spotting scope under 200 dollars.
Sources and Official Brand Websites: