Honestly, if you want a spotter for that budget, you won't get a good one at that magnification.
I didn't used to understand why anyone would buy the higher-end models until I got to look through good glass and see the difference.
I would put my Burris 6-24x ($125 at SportsWorld) up against anything you can find for $125 or less at 40x-60x and I'll bet you can see stuff clearer in my spotter than anything else at that price range. And my Burris isn't high-end by any means, but its definitely a step up in clarity from anything I've seen at that price-point.
I can read street signs at a mile away with mine. The Burris is clearer than the 3 higher magnification spotters that I've had the chance to compare it to, so I love it.
My only complaint with the Burris was the cheesy scope covers and lack of tri-pod, but I was planning on upgrading them to Butler Creek flip-ups anyways and found a tri-pod that works at a camera store.
Bushnell makes an OK spotter for $125, but if you want super-clear, you're going to have to step up to more expensive, or step down on magnification - its simple science/economics. Making clear lenses and using solid construction materials and workmanship isn't cheap, especially in clear high-magnification lenses.
True, spotters don't usually take the abuse from bench-rest shooting that rifle-scopes take, but you don't want anything breaking or falling apart either.
There's nothing wrong with being budget conscious, I'm totally for that - but don't expect a clear spotter at 30x plus for anything under $300.
If this is a spotting scope for what is mid-range to long-range shooting, remember: clarity is key. You want to see details in the smaller-than-inch hole you just put in paper at 100-500yds down range (and if you're concerned about seeing details about a group you just made, clarity is even more important). That doesn't come from super-magnification, but from clarity of the lenses. Super magnification with even the slightest lack of clarity won't get you much in the way of details on what you just shot.
I didn't used to understand why anyone would buy the higher-end models until I got to look through good glass and see the difference.
I would put my Burris 6-24x ($125 at SportsWorld) up against anything you can find for $125 or less at 40x-60x and I'll bet you can see stuff clearer in my spotter than anything else at that price range. And my Burris isn't high-end by any means, but its definitely a step up in clarity from anything I've seen at that price-point.
I can read street signs at a mile away with mine. The Burris is clearer than the 3 higher magnification spotters that I've had the chance to compare it to, so I love it.
My only complaint with the Burris was the cheesy scope covers and lack of tri-pod, but I was planning on upgrading them to Butler Creek flip-ups anyways and found a tri-pod that works at a camera store.
Bushnell makes an OK spotter for $125, but if you want super-clear, you're going to have to step up to more expensive, or step down on magnification - its simple science/economics. Making clear lenses and using solid construction materials and workmanship isn't cheap, especially in clear high-magnification lenses.
True, spotters don't usually take the abuse from bench-rest shooting that rifle-scopes take, but you don't want anything breaking or falling apart either.
There's nothing wrong with being budget conscious, I'm totally for that - but don't expect a clear spotter at 30x plus for anything under $300.
If this is a spotting scope for what is mid-range to long-range shooting, remember: clarity is key. You want to see details in the smaller-than-inch hole you just put in paper at 100-500yds down range (and if you're concerned about seeing details about a group you just made, clarity is even more important). That doesn't come from super-magnification, but from clarity of the lenses. Super magnification with even the slightest lack of clarity won't get you much in the way of details on what you just shot.
