by Michael and Diane Porter

BAUSCH & LOMB

Bausch & Lomb Elite ED 80mm
60x resolution score: 17

New this year, Bausch & Lomb's straight-through scope comes with ED glass and a 20-60x zoom lens included in the price. The scope is partially rubber armored, with a slide-out sunshade, a big, useful aiming sight on the top, and a relatively small focus knob on the top right of the prism. It's well sealed, and it's waterproof with the eyepiece attached. It does not come in an angled version.

In the preproduction model we tested, the bayonet eyepiece quite didn't lock sufficiently, but Baush & Lomb assures us this problem will be fixed by the time they go into full production.

BRANDON (VERNON & CO.)

Brandon Master Birding Scope 80mm

This sturdy, well-armored 80mm astronomical scope, by Vernon Scope & Company, has an easy-to-locate focus knobs on each side. It can take huge, 2" diameter eyepieces. The 2", 30mm-Wide eyepiece has long eye relief and is remarkably easy and relaxing to look through.

We did not give this scope a resolution score, since with the 30mm eyepiece it provides only 15 power, but it does provide a bright, wide-angle view. If you move your head slightly, foreground objects move against the background, making the picture look 3-D. Minimum focusing distance is a mere 8 feet. The scope comes with your choice of the 30mm eyepiece or a 15-50x zoom.

BUSHNELL SPACEMASTER

Bushnell Spacemaster 50mm
20x resolution score: 10

The venerable classic spotting scope for years was the 60mm Bushnell Spacemaster. For our tests, Bushnell sent us their new, compact 50mm Spacemaster. This straight-through scope comes with a 10-30x zoom. A 15-45x and 20-45x zoom are also available. Rugged looking, black rubber armored, it has a peep sight on top. Focus is on the eyepiece. The judges were impressed by the remarkable optical quality for the size and price of this scope.

EAGLE OPTICS

Eagle Optics Raven
New review, added Jan. 2003

The new Eagle Optics Raven is an 80mm waterproof scope with a 20-60x zoom. It is excellent for its very low price. See price information and Details.

The "Eagle Optics Raven" described directly below is a discontinued item. It was in the original article in Bird Watcher's Digest, 2000, but it has been replaced by the new Eagle Optics Raven, mentioned above.

Eagle Optics Raven 60mm (Replaced)
[20x resolution score: 8]

This light, slim little scope would be a good traveling companion. There's no sighting device, but it's easy to aim, by simply pointing the straight-through barrel at the bird. The Raven is armored with a pleasant black rubberized material. It comes with a built-in 15-45x zoom, and the focus wheel is on the eyepiece. And it is surprisingly inexpensive!

Fujinon Super 80 Fieldscope 80mm
60x resolution score: 17

This 80mm straight-through scope comes in a standard and ED-glass version, but no angled version is available. It comes with a 20-60x zoom. Fixed eyepieces are also available.

It's sturdy, lightweight, and waterproof. There's a pullout sunshade. A hollow tube sight on top helps you get on the target quickly. The focus knob, at the top of the barrel, is fairly small but focuses smoothly. A nice feature is the rigid screw-on lens cap that protects the entire eyepiece assembly. It's waterproof provided an eyepiece is attached.

The Fujinon turned in a fine optical performance, especially considering that the Fujinon model we tested did not have the ED glass.

Fujinon Super 60-S Fieldscope
20x resolution score: 10

The 60mm Fieldscope is available only with the standard (non-ED) glass. This scope looks like a miniature of the 80mm straight-through scope. It comes with the same 20-60x zoom and uses the same lenses. In addition to the bayonet mount, the zoom lens has a screw-on lock for extra security. The scope is waterproof and nitrogen purged.

KOWA

Kowa Prominar TSN-823 82mm
60x resolution score: 16

This is Kowa's new top-of-the-line spotting scope. They've increased the size of the objective lens to 82mm (from 77mm), thus increasing light transmission by 13%.

The new scope has a peep sight on its right side and a pullout sunshade. It's well sealed and waterproof, with a high-impact polycarbonate body. A hard screw-on lens cap protects the whole eyepiece assembly with a rigid plastic cap. The lens cap screws on also, so the scope is suitable for carrying around.

The 20-60x zoom eyepiece has good eye relief for glasses wearers, at least at 20x.

Kowa Prominar TS-614 60mm
27x resolution score: 11 F

This small scope is gray-green, with a built-in retractable sunshade and partial rubber armoring. It's well sealed and waterproof, and lightweight, with a smooth focus. A rigid screw-on cap protects the interchangeable bayonet-mount eyepieces. The scope has excellent optical qualities. We tested it on the only eyepiece we had available, a fixed 27x. That makes its score hard to compare. When we tested other 60mm scopes with zooms at approximately 27x, the Kowa scored similarly to Nikon and Optolyth.

OPTOLYTH

Deutsche Optik Optolyth TBG GA/HD Scope 80mm
60x resolution score: 16

This Optolyth scope sports a rugged, completely rubber-armored, sage green body. The scope is shock resistant, waterproof and nitrogen purged. It has an extendable sun shield. The focus wheel, at top center, is smooth and silky.

We tested the straight-through model. The TBS 80 is angled version. You can get six interchangeable eyepieces, including a 20-60x zoom, all of which also work with the 60mm scope.

Optolyth TBG 65 GA
20x resolution score: 10

The straight-through model we tested has a wide, easy-to-locate focus ring that encircles the entire barrel. It's also available in a 45¡ angled body. It's rubber-armored and nitrogen purged, and it's waterproof even with no eyepiece attached. It takes interchangeable screw-in eyepieces.