Best Spotting Scope Under 300: Reviews and Buying Guide for 2023

Do you like doing outdoor activities such as bird watching, target shooting, camping, hiking, and more? Then you know there are times you wish that you had your spotting scope with you. If that happens more often, then consider getting the best spotting scope under 300 to see what you can enjoy more with it.

Many people think that a spotting scope has to be expensive. However, that is not always the case. It is possible to end up with a great spotting scope while on a budget. Go ahead and check out our list of affordable but high-quality spotting scopes below.

Scope	Brand	Expert Rating	Check Price
	Gosky 2019 Spotting Scope with Accessories		Check Price
	LANDOVE BAK4 Prism Spotting Scope		Check Price
	CREATIVE XP Spotting Scope with Tripod		Check Price
	Emarth Waterproof Angled Spotting Scope		Check Price
	Roxant Authentic Blackbird High Definition Spotting Scope		Check Price

How to Choose the Best Spotting Scope Under 300

Magnification Power

The magnification power is one of the most important considerations for many people. For affordable models, expect the magnification power to range from 12x to 60x.

If you are new to spotting scopes, you might want to start with lower power of 12x to 30x. This will be ideal for most applications that you might have to handle. You can still make upgrades later when you find more applications that need more magnification power.

Glass Quality

You are likely to come across different types of glass used as the lens in the scope. You should check out how good the glass will be in terms of light transmission. If you get that the glass is fully multi-coated, you are sure that light transmission is better.

With better light transmission, you end up with clear and detailed images even in low light conditions.

Eye Relief

The eye relief often determines how comfortable it will be to use the best spotting scope under 300. Having a longer eye relief will drive the focal point farther to the back. As such, the user will now have a complete field of view.

Eye relief of 12 – 15mm should be adequate for most people who love spotting scopes for various outdoor adventures.

Focusing Mechanism

The focusing mechanism will help in locking into your target better. It is then important that you pick the best focusing mechanism.

The two most common options will be the focusing collar and a small focus knob.

Under the focusing collar, the whole barrel of the scope will move so that you get a sharper image. It might not be the easiest to use sometimes when you want to fine-tune the image. That goes to the models whose focus involves using a small knob to adjust the focus better. It might be slow, but it will leave you with a precise focusing experience.

Build Quality

One thing you can never forget to consider is the build quality. Since you will be using the best spotting scope under 300 outdoors, you need something highly durable.

Look at the materials used to make the scope to determine if it would stand up to regular use. Even if you drop it while outdoors, you can pick it up and continue enjoying the activity.

Also, the build quality can determine if the spotting scope will remain waterproof, shockproof, and much more. These are additional features to consider when picking the best among many available.

Top 5 Best Spotting Scopes Under 300

Our Top Pick

Runner’s Up

LANDOVE BAK4 Prism Spotting Scope

If you enjoy birdwatching and other outdoor activities, then this is the best spotting scope under 300 to consider. It features a fully multi-coated lens. Such a lens is designed to improve light transmission to end up with clear and brighter viewing of the images. There is no doubt you will notice the difference when you compare it to some other models in the market.

Having the high variable magnification of 20x to 60x makes it better too. You will now have a continuous variable zoom and focusing system to ensure that you see your target even better. It is why such a spotting scope would be ideal for camping, hiking, outdoor sporting, and much more.

Since you will mostly be using it outdoors, it is good to know that it comes with durable construction. The manufacturer made it using high-quality materials that can stand up to tough outdoor conditions. Other important construction features include non-slip grip, shock-proof, waterproof, fog-proof, and so much more.

It is now possible to catch nature into your screen since it comes with a smartphone adapter. The adapter is easy to set up to take videos and images far from physically. The adapter fits all phones, so it should not be a problem to have yours mounted.

CREATIVE XP Spotting Scope with Tripod

If you are willing to spend a little bit more, then this is what you get. It is all about giving you bright and clear images compared to what you get with other expensive models. To make it even better, you get a smooth magnification of up to 60X. Even at the highest magnification, there are no chromatic aberrations.

The focus is also great. You get the model having two fine focus knobs to end up with a smooth focusing experience. Those who have used it claim that the focus helps generate a detailed and vibrant image.

Having a large eye relief of 17-12mm makes it a comfortable spotting scope to use for hours.

The manufacturer also built it for the outdoors. You will feel that it has a rugged construction whenever you touch it in your hands. Even when dropped accidentally, it will still work fine. This is thanks to the shock-proof design too. Other notable design features are waterproof, fog-proof, and ease of setting up on a tripod.

You might be thinking that with all these features, then it must be heavy. However, that is not the case. It is built to be tough but remains lightweight at the same time. You can easily take it with you on trails without feeling it adds too much weight to your gear.

Emarth Waterproof Angled Spotting Scope

For those on a budget, this is the best spotting scope under 300 to get today. One thing is for sure; you will find its magnification one of the best. The magnification is easily one of the most powerful for the price. The magnification ranges from 20x to 60x.

Looking at its design, we find it is angled at 45 degrees. This will make it ergonomic to allow for more comfortable viewing. You also get a field of view of 39-19m/1000m bringing nature close to you. It is why you will find it is ideal for target shooting, bird watching, hiking, camping, and more.

The fully multi-coated lens and BAK4 roof prism are important for increasing light transmission. The results are that you end up with bright, high-contrast, and clear images. Even in low light conditions, you will notice that the images are still clear.

For those who want to do long-range viewing, that is not an issue considering it comes with a dual focus wheel system. You can now easily fine-tune the focus to get it perfect.

Durability is a crucial aspect of any scope. It is one of the best in terms of durability for this one. The use of high-quality rubber armor makes it non-slip, shock-proof, and still durable to live up to the tough outdoor conditions.

Roxant Authentic Blackbird High Definition Spotting Scope

This is another budget best spotting scope under 300. The best part is that it comes with multiple accessories to improve your experience. The accessories include a carrying case, lens caps, handheld tripods, and more. You will simply be getting the best value for the money spent on it.

Another reason for this spotting scope should be its waterproof rubber armor construction. Even if you use it outdoors for those tough conditions, it should still stand up to them. It comes with a textured focus ring to make it non-slip. Even in the worst conditions, you can still adjust the focus system for better clarity.

The magnification of 12x – 36x is still good for the price you are paying. You will now find it is ideal for nature use. This will include stargazing, vacations, hunting, target shooting, camping, hiking, bird watching, and more.

The high-definition military-grade optics makes it one of the best to get as it will ensure you get the best performance overall. The BAK4 prism and the fully multicoated lens transmit the light better. The brightness of the image is also better so that you end up with detailed images all the time when using the scope.

FAQs

Are spotting scopes worth buying?

It all depends on the activity that you want to do. If hunting or camping, then having a good spotting scope can be advantageous over using binoculars. However, some cheap spotting scopes might not give you the performance that you need. So, choose wisely.

Are spotting scopes waterproof?

Because of the nature of their use, most of them are waterproof. Just check out the product description to see if the manufacturer mentions it. The last thing you want is to get a scope that cannot live up to your needs.

Is it hard to use a spotting scope?

No. Spotting scopes are generally easy to use. There are only a few controls that you need to use to set it up and focus on a target. Even if you are new to using a spotting scope, you will find it is easy to use.

Conclusion

Outdoor activities can be fun when you zoom on them and lock in the target. That will only happen when you have the best spotting scope under 300. From the various models above, it is easy to see that not all great scopes have to be expensive. Even if they are within the affordable range, you will note that they are still highly durable and deliver the best quality images. Depending on which model you pick, some have additional accessories to improve your experience.