Best Spotting Scope Under £300

Once your budget reaches £300, you start to have some real choices.

This is the point where a lot of birdwatchers stop looking at entry level models and begin thinking more seriously about optical quality, build and how comfortable a scope actually is to use over a long session.

You won’t get a premium spotting scope for £300. But you can get something that does a good job for regular wildlife watching and that’s not a bad place to be.

Celestron Ultima 80 20-60×80

The Celestron Ultima 80 has been around long enough to earn its reputation. It’s one of those scopes that keeps coming up in conversations about budget optics for good reason.

The 80mm objective lens pulls in plenty of light, which helps when conditions aren’t perfect. The zoom range is generous too, so you’re not stuck at one magnification when your subject moves closer or further away. For the price, it strikes a solid balance between what you get and what you spend.

Hawke Nature Trek 20-60×80

Hawke’s Nature Trek range has picked up a loyal following among birdwatchers who want dependable optics without crossing into premium territory.

The 80mm lens keeps views bright and the waterproof build means you’re not worried every time the weather turns. It’s a straightforward, capable scope that does what you need it to do in the field.

Viking Cygnus ED 16-48×65

If image quality is your priority, the Viking Cygnus ED might be the one for you. The ED glass makes a difference when you’re trying to pick out fine detail.

Colour fringing is reduced and images come through cleaner and sharper. The objective lens is a bit smaller than the other two at 65mm but for a lot of users, the improvement in optical quality more than makes up for that.

Is Bigger Always Better?

A larger objective lens does gather more light but it also means more weight in your bag and a bigger setup to carry across a hillside.

If you’re regularly walking to your viewing spot, a lighter 65mm scope might serve you better day to day than a heavier 80mm model, however good the optics are.