This table shows some popular scopes used by birders. It is by no means an exhaustive list of all scopes. An asterisk in the Eyepiece Design column (45° *) indicates that the same model also comes with a straight-through eyepiece design. The entry (45°/ 90°) means that you can mount either a 45° or a 90° angle prism on the same telescope body. The prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices. Actual dealer or mail order prices are often significantly less. Most of the scopes can use interchangable eyepieces. A (+) in the Retail Price column means that the price is for the scope body only, with the eyepiece not included |
and Objective Lens Size |
Length (in) |
Weight (0z) |
Eyepiece Design |
Special Glass |
Retail Price | |
| Bushnell Spacemaster Black Armored | 60mm | 11.6 | 38 | straight | no | $454 |
| Bausch & Lomb PremierHDR | 60mm | 13 | 38 | 45° * | no | $600 |
| Bausch & Lomb Elite | 60mm | 12.2 | 26.5 | straight | no | $720+ |
| Kowa ED Scope TS-613 | 60mm | 12 | 23 | 45° * | ED glass | $999+ |
| Nikon Spotting Scope | 60mm | 11.75 | 43.5 | 45° * | no | $499+ |
| Nikon Fieldscope II | 60mm | 12.8 | 34 | 45° * | no | $671+ |
| Nikon Fieldscope II ED | 60mm | 14.4 | 45 | 45° * | ED glass | $1299+ |
| Swift Panther 844 | 60mm | 12.4 | 32 | straight | no | $350+ |
| Swift Nighthawk 850U | 65mm | 12 | 45 | 45 * | no | $640+ |
| Swift Nighthawk 850U-ED | 65mm | 12 | 45 | 45 * | no | $1350+ |
| Bausch & Lomb Elite | 77mm | 16.9 | 38 | straight | ED glass | $1133+ |
| Kowa TSN-1 | 77mm | 15 | 48 | 45° * | no | $696+ |
| Kowa TSN-3 | 77mm | 15 | 48 | 45° * | Fluorite | $1573+ |
| Leica Televid Angled | 77mm | 15.3 | 55 | 45° * | no | $779+ |
| Leica Televid APO Angled | 77mm | 16.1 | 60.7 | 45° * | Fluorite | $1399+ |
| Nikon Fieldscope ED-78A | 78mm | 14 | 56.6 | 45° * | ED glass | $2170+ |
| Optolyth TBS 80-GA | 80mm | 15 | 50 | 45° * | Fluorite | $799+ |
| Optolyth TBS 100-GA-APO | 100mm | 16 | 5.3 lbs | 45° * | Fluorite | $1999+ |
| Swarovski CT-75 Extendible | 75mm | 12.4 | 40 | straight | no | $775+ |
| Swarovski CT-85 Extendible | 85mm | 9.7 | 50 | straight | no | $1110+ |
| Swarovski AT80 | 80mm | 16 | 51.8 | 45° * | no | $1110+ |
| Swarovski HD-AT80 | 80mm | 16 | 51.8 | 45° * | HD glass | $1545+ |
| Swift Nighthawk 849U | 80mm | 14 | 56 | 45° * | no | $860+ |
| Swift Nighthawk 849U-ED | 80mm | 14 | 56 | 45° * | ED glass | $1800+ |
| Tele Vue Ranger | 70mm | 18 | 53 | 45° / 90° | ED glass | $795 |
| Celestron S80 | 80mm | 16 | 41 | 45° / 90° | no | $830 |
| Celestron C90 | 90mm | 10 | 3.9 lbs | 45° / 90° | NA | $920 |
| Celestron C5 | 127mm | 14 | 5.6 lbs | 45° / 90° | NA | $1300 |
| Questar Birder 3.5 inch | 89mm | 11 | 4 lbs | 90° | NA | $2950 |