photobiker07
Member
This scope has been around for a long, long time, but it's under the Bausch and Lomb name. I wonder why there are no reviews about for such a long-running and decent scope. I will have a crack to write the first detailed review of this scope online.
Anyone has more information or experience regarding this scope please add to it. I know good optics but I'm new to the spotting scope world.
Background information:
I got mine at opticsplanet.com for $259.95 (Free shipping) I ordered it Tuesday night and received it Friday about 2pm. Kudos to Opticsplanet.com.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-15-45x60mm-elite-spotting-scope-781548p.html
(Realized the price is different, and I ordered it exactly a week ago! Whew!)
I appreciate good optics as an amateur photographer. However, I am short on cash as a young teacher so I try to go for the best bang for bucks. After a yearlong research, I have decided on this scope because this scope has been made for a very long time (old wisdom: only good things can withstood the test of time), and this scope has an excellent reputation. The sales at the time put it below my price range ($300 or less).
I used a Winchester 60mm spotting scope before. It was so bad I refunded it with only one use.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vanguard-winchester-15-45x60mm-zoom-spotting-scope-kit.html
Moral of the lesson: never go cheap with EVEN spotting scope. It takes more resolution than I thought to spot little holes.
First impression:
I ordered the military version, which ships in a Styrofoam shell with bubble wrap and a clear plastic bag around the scope and nothing else. The scope itself doesn't have any Bushnell logo on it. At the aluminum block where the tripod thread located, it says "Made in Japan". That is good news..
The scope seems well made and feels tough. It is rubber-claded beside the eyepiece section. Fit and finish is impeccable.
Testing and Picture Posting:
Ergonomics and handling:
The scope has a rubbery hinge style objective lens cap on it. It takes a little practice to open the cover without the entire objective lens cap assembly falling out. There is a hard plastic "cup" that protects the eyepiece, focusing knob and zoom knob.
The control feels quite stiff at the beginning, but with some usage it lightens up in couple of days. It's somewhat difficult to focus well at the highest magnification. With a sturdier tripod and some practice, it does get easier.
There are no rubber eyecup for the eyepiece, which is a good thing for me as I wear eyeglasses and I would have folded them up anyway.
I am planning to add a UV filter on it to maybe enhance the picture quality and for protection, maybe even a sunshade.
It weights 1lb 11 oz. with both the objective and eyepiece caps on. So, it's lighter than my Nikon Action 10-22x50 binos. The straight tube design makes very easy to store in my range box or lug around in my backpack. Unfortunately, for those who wish to have an angled scope, this one is not for you.
Indoor usage:
I have a make-shift Airgun range (my dinning area) in my apartment which is about 22ft apart. Although the minimum focus distance for this scope is 30 ft. but it is still quite usable at 22ft. My apartment is quite well lit so it's not much of a challenge to see .177 holes at that range (for any scope).
Outdoor:
I did the "dollar bill at 100 yds" test similar to www.snipercountry.com. In fact, this scope is simiar in design with the Nikon Spotter XL spotting scope. The link for the result of that scope test is below:
http://www.snipercountry.com/InReviews/SpottingScopes.asp
I just look at various objects at various lighting condition. The optical clarity is good and the eye relieve is good even for eyeglasses wearer like myself. However, taking off the glass is still the best action in order to obtain the best quality at the highest magnification (45x). The optics does have a slight green hue to it which is especially pronounced at lower lighting. Fringing is minimal at all lighting condition and magnification.
I did some digiscoping with it. However, the optical clarity is much better than what it is in the pictures. I just hold the camera with my hands close to the eyepiece and use a very high shutter speed (usually in the neighbor of 1/200-1/1000) and use macro mode to get as much sharpness as possible.
Bird at 44yds (at 45x):
Electric Meter at 53yds (at 45x):
I can read the readings off the meters.
An orange catalog at 267yds (at 45x):
The catalog closeup:
The catalog at 267 yds:
Extra picture of a sign that is about 14-16” wide at the same distance:
Tree at about 406yds (at 15x, 30x, and 45x): It was quite windy that day and the tree was swaying.
The moon (at 15x, 30x, and 45x): It is fun to take the moon pictures, and it is the most satisfying of them all for some reason.
Target at 100yds (at 45x):
Target closeup:
Target at 100yds:
Same picture, but cropped to just the target only at full resolution of the camera:
Range Use
The scope is easy to setup and use. I can spot .22 holes very well when the holes are in the white, and spot holes in the black with some effort.
Conclusion:
At the price I got it, it is very hard to beat. Only areas of weakness I can think of is lack of a detachable eyepiece for serious digiscoping. Also, for those who needs extremely close focus (20ft or less) will not find it useful. Finally, it is a straight
Anyone has more information or experience regarding this scope please add to it. I know good optics but I'm new to the spotting scope world.
Background information:
I got mine at opticsplanet.com for $259.95 (Free shipping) I ordered it Tuesday night and received it Friday about 2pm. Kudos to Opticsplanet.com.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-15-45x60mm-elite-spotting-scope-781548p.html
(Realized the price is different, and I ordered it exactly a week ago! Whew!)
I appreciate good optics as an amateur photographer. However, I am short on cash as a young teacher so I try to go for the best bang for bucks. After a yearlong research, I have decided on this scope because this scope has been made for a very long time (old wisdom: only good things can withstood the test of time), and this scope has an excellent reputation. The sales at the time put it below my price range ($300 or less).
I used a Winchester 60mm spotting scope before. It was so bad I refunded it with only one use.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vanguard-winchester-15-45x60mm-zoom-spotting-scope-kit.html
Moral of the lesson: never go cheap with EVEN spotting scope. It takes more resolution than I thought to spot little holes.
First impression:
I ordered the military version, which ships in a Styrofoam shell with bubble wrap and a clear plastic bag around the scope and nothing else. The scope itself doesn't have any Bushnell logo on it. At the aluminum block where the tripod thread located, it says "Made in Japan". That is good news..
The scope seems well made and feels tough. It is rubber-claded beside the eyepiece section. Fit and finish is impeccable.
Testing and Picture Posting:
Ergonomics and handling:
The scope has a rubbery hinge style objective lens cap on it. It takes a little practice to open the cover without the entire objective lens cap assembly falling out. There is a hard plastic "cup" that protects the eyepiece, focusing knob and zoom knob.
The control feels quite stiff at the beginning, but with some usage it lightens up in couple of days. It's somewhat difficult to focus well at the highest magnification. With a sturdier tripod and some practice, it does get easier.
There are no rubber eyecup for the eyepiece, which is a good thing for me as I wear eyeglasses and I would have folded them up anyway.
I am planning to add a UV filter on it to maybe enhance the picture quality and for protection, maybe even a sunshade.
It weights 1lb 11 oz. with both the objective and eyepiece caps on. So, it's lighter than my Nikon Action 10-22x50 binos. The straight tube design makes very easy to store in my range box or lug around in my backpack. Unfortunately, for those who wish to have an angled scope, this one is not for you.
Indoor usage:
I have a make-shift Airgun range (my dinning area) in my apartment which is about 22ft apart. Although the minimum focus distance for this scope is 30 ft. but it is still quite usable at 22ft. My apartment is quite well lit so it's not much of a challenge to see .177 holes at that range (for any scope).
Outdoor:
I did the "dollar bill at 100 yds" test similar to www.snipercountry.com. In fact, this scope is simiar in design with the Nikon Spotter XL spotting scope. The link for the result of that scope test is below:
http://www.snipercountry.com/InReviews/SpottingScopes.asp
I just look at various objects at various lighting condition. The optical clarity is good and the eye relieve is good even for eyeglasses wearer like myself. However, taking off the glass is still the best action in order to obtain the best quality at the highest magnification (45x). The optics does have a slight green hue to it which is especially pronounced at lower lighting. Fringing is minimal at all lighting condition and magnification.
I did some digiscoping with it. However, the optical clarity is much better than what it is in the pictures. I just hold the camera with my hands close to the eyepiece and use a very high shutter speed (usually in the neighbor of 1/200-1/1000) and use macro mode to get as much sharpness as possible.
Bird at 44yds (at 45x):
Electric Meter at 53yds (at 45x):
I can read the readings off the meters.
An orange catalog at 267yds (at 45x):
The catalog closeup:
The catalog at 267 yds:
Extra picture of a sign that is about 14-16” wide at the same distance:
Tree at about 406yds (at 15x, 30x, and 45x): It was quite windy that day and the tree was swaying.
The moon (at 15x, 30x, and 45x): It is fun to take the moon pictures, and it is the most satisfying of them all for some reason.
Target at 100yds (at 45x):
Target closeup:
Target at 100yds:
Same picture, but cropped to just the target only at full resolution of the camera:
Range Use
The scope is easy to setup and use. I can spot .22 holes very well when the holes are in the white, and spot holes in the black with some effort.
Conclusion:
At the price I got it, it is very hard to beat. Only areas of weakness I can think of is lack of a detachable eyepiece for serious digiscoping. Also, for those who needs extremely close focus (20ft or less) will not find it useful. Finally, it is a straight
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