Best Affordable Budget Spotting Scopes Under 100, 200, & 300 NEW In 2023

You can get yourself a great spotting scope and on a great budget. We have collected a list of the best spotting scopes and classified them according to different activities. The great news is that we have curated great scopes at a really affordable price.

The following are the 5 BEST Affordable Budget Spotting Scopes Reviews!

Image Product
Editors Choice Product Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom
  • Multi-Coated Optics.
  • Lightweight And Easy To Carry.
  • Good Field Of View
Most Affordable Product Emarth Angled Spotting Scope
  • Great For Any Spotting Scope Activity.
  • Ergonomic Design And Durable Body.
  • Weatherproof & Unbeatable price!
Great For Digiscoping Product Redfield Rampage Spotting Scope
  • 20-60x60mm Magnification
  • Retractable Lens Shade
  • Fully Multi-Coated Lenses.
Good For Hunting Product Roxant Authentic Blackbird Spotting Scope
  • Lightweight And Easy To Carry
  • Clearest And Crisp Image
  • Waterproof
Made For Long-Range/Birding Product Gosky 20-60 X 80 Porro Prism
  • Simple And Easy To Use.
  • Fully Weatherproof.
  • Long Range Scope With Great Optics.

Best Budget Spotting Scope Under 100, 200, & 300 Reviews 2023

- Editors Choice

If you like to scour the skies in search of birds or looking for a solid choice for targeting shooting & hunting then the Ultima Zoom is what you are looking for. You take home a high-quality refractor spotting scope for a great price. Designed to last a lifetime, this is an incredibly affordable option for the price you pay. 

It comes in both angled and straight designs. It comes with all the specs that you expect from a more expensive spotting scope. The Celestron 52550 has multi-coated lenses, is waterproof, and at 3.6 pounds, it is rather lightweight. Plan to bring it on your next birding/ hunting adventure. 

Best Long Range Budget Spotting Scope Under 200

Pros
  • Unbeatble price for the specs you get.
  • Multi-coated optics
  • Porro prism built.
Cons
  • It is advertised as 20-60 magnification, but many users coomplain that, after the 20x magnification, the scope delivers not so clear images. This is due to the lack of ED glass.

The scope works pretty well, even in low-light conditions. The lens of the inexpensive version is larger than the 80 mm one. However, you get a good visual with a large field of view very appropriate for bird-watching.

- Great for Birdwatching

If you like to scour the skies in search of birds to watch the Ultima Zoom is what you are looking for. You take home a high-quality refractor spotting scope for a great price. Designed to last a lifetime, this is an incredibly cheap option. 

One remarkable characteristic of the Gosky is that it includes a phone adapter for digiscoping. This is not very common in the lowest-priced scopes, but this one just got lucky to be paired up with this dynamic lens focusing system. 

One Of The Best Long Range Budget Spotting Scopes

Pros
  • Digiscope adapter is included.
  • Lenses are made with BAK-4 glass.
  • Fully multi-coated lenses.
Cons
  • Power gets seriously compromised at maximim power.

It does not end there. This budget spotting scope is both waterproof and fog-proof so you can easily take it to the forest and transition to the woods and stay in the field for as long as you need. Despite the low price tag, the Gosky features BAK-4 glass and is fully multicoated.

- Most Affordable

Designed for any spotting scope activity this spotting scope performs in harsh conditions, the Emarth is a great option, equipped with a great varied magnification and a large enough field of view. 

A unique feature of this spotting scope is the dual focus wheel system, especially designed for long range viewing.

This system allows you to lock in your target and zoom in to get more details. When it comes to optics, Emarth really steps up. Multi-coated lenses and a BAK-4 roof prism ensure a clear and bright image with high contrast.

Best Spotting Scope Under 100

Pros
  • High Magnification And Great For Target Shooting
  • It Features A BaK-4 Room Prism
  • An Unbeatable Price
Cons
  • Past 100 Yards, The Powerful Magnificaiton Begins To Fade

This budget spotting scope is waterproof so there is no fear if the weather turns against you. The rubber armor provides both comfort and protection. Definitively a good option when you are looking for a good cheap spotting scope.

- Great for Digiscoping

This spotting scope is a great option if you are looking for great value for the price. It contains almost all features normally found in more expensive models. This budget spotting scope is a great option if you are planning on digiscoping, thanks to the clear image, especially at the mid-range magnification levels. 

These razor-sharp images are provided by fully multi-coated lenses. This rugged one will then deliver the best digiscoping experience. You get HD photos and videos of your favorite bird with a set-up made for the most demanding. To make things even better, it comes at an affordable price! 

Best Rated Budget Spotting Scope For Digiscoping

Pros
  • Waterproof
  • It Includes A Protective Case And A Tripod
  • Fully Multicoated Lenses.
Cons
  • Image Not Clear Passed 100 Yards

A 20-60 x 60mm magnification in a pretty rugged piece gives you the confidence you need. This scope is highly durable and designed to last a lifetime.

- Great for Hunting

When it comes to hunting, you need a spotting scope that is at the top of the line and made with prime quality. The Roxant Authentic Blackbird is a budget spotting scope that is serious about delivering exactly that. It is light and portable, making it easy to carry. The power is just appropriate for hunting large animals and the built is appropriate for outdoors. 

The scope is water resistant and is covered with a protective anti-slippery rubber armor, making it highly durable. Multi-coated optics and a superior BaK-4 prism guarantee the clearest image for spotting scopes of its kind. 

Top Rated Budget Spotting Scope For Hunting

Pros
  • 100% Waterproof And Fog-Proof
  • An Amazing HD Clarity
  • Large Center-Focus Knob.
Cons
  • The Roof Prism Optivs Makes Them More Difficult To Focus.

A 20-60 x 60mm magnification in a pretty rugged piece gives you the confidence you need. This scope is highly durable and designed to last a lifetime.

- Honorable Mention

We found our favorite spotting scope under $300 and it comes with a case and a tripod. This spotting scope is ideal for pretty much any kind of adventure. Take it to your hunt, to your birding, to take photographs, and have the best viewing experience of your life with the Konus spotting scope.

You get a magnification of 20x to 60x built into a spotting scope that has an objective diameter of 80 mm and has the name Konus on its side and you get a pretty successful product. Despite the objective lens of 80mm, the Konus 7120 Spotting Scope actually only weighs 3.4 pounds which makes it pretty comfortable for outdoor trips.

One of The Top Rated Spotting Scopes Under 300

Pros
  • It is lightweight and easy to carry
  • Tabletop tripod included
  • Forward expanding lens hood protects from the glare from day watching.
Cons
  • The carrying bag is not great. We recommend investing into a better one.

We like how strong the build feels on your hand. The site is really nice and colorful, just like it is supposed to be. The field of view is also pretty good at 157.2 feet at 1000 yards for the 20x magnification.

We do not really find anything bad about the Konus 7120. It does lose some clarity when it comes close to 50x, especially when it is cloudy but this is the occurrence in most spotting scopes. Regardless of your type of adventure, we are sure you will find this spotting scope of great value.

- Honorable Mention

You probably do not need a scope to only birding. If you are planning to use your scope for other activities, you must realize that this means that your budget should go up as well. But there is no need to fret, we got you covered.

Celestron is always on the frontline of providing high-quality products at a great price and the TrailSeeker is one spotting scope you must lay your eye on.

The Celestron 52332 80-45 degree spotting scope offers durability, performance, and great optics. This gadget is equipped with some great features that make it more versatile. It is coated with a strong armor that gives it durability and it is also waterproof and fog-proof.

Great Spotting Scope Under 300

Pros
  • Good Price
  • Magnification can vary even more thanks to removable eyepieces.
  • Relatively light and comfortable
  • Rotating tripod mount
Cons
  • Tripod is not included in the package

The image that you get thanks to the BaK-4 prism, propriety XLT, and fully multi-coated lenses, is crisp and sharp. You get vivid colors as this scope performs very close to those billed more expensive. It has an angled eyepiece and a really nice compact design as it is kept at a minimum for an 80-mm diameter objective lens. The eyecup is twist-up to allow a better focus and the eye relief is 18-15 mm.

The rotating tripod setup of this spotting scope allows rotation of the scope in all directions. It also comes with a T-mount adapter to connect DSLR cameras to the scope. This one also features a dual-speed focusing (fine and coarse) to better get a focused image.

It is super easy to zoom and get the right focus with the TrailSeeker thanks to the ergonomic knob and the coaxial fine and coarse focus dials. We also love the fact that it is compact and lightweight. The eyepiece is also replaceable so you can vary the magnification at numerous scales

This one does not include a tripod either, which would have been nice. Other than that, we believe that Celestron’s TrailSeeker is a great option for birders.

How To Choose A Cheap Spotting Scope (Buying Guide)

best budget spotting scopeIf you are serious about getting yourself a good budget spotting scope for the money, follow on. Your experience will still be a prime one as you get highly valuable spotting scopes that will not make your wallet suffer.

Finding the right spotting scope can be a challenge and not necessarily and inspiring one. Even when you are looking for one that fits your budget, there are so many options that still fall into the category you have filtered in.

It is very important to know a thing or two about what you are about to purchase. Not only to prevent a potential scam but to also clearly know what makes you comfortable and happy. As with all things, what probably is a hindrance to some, might be an opportunity for others. 

Since spotting scopes is what interest us, let us narrow it down to all the things that you should consider before deciding on one. But first, do know that the best spotting scope is the one you are holding right now. You already know your way around it and all the tips and tricks to get it running properly. 

So we have practically narrowed down what to look for in a spotting scope. Yes, we know that, in the end, it might be all about the budget but that does not mean you get poor quality if you are not exactly carrying deep pockets. 

A 200-dollar budget will actually get you the best quality, concrete functionality, and a solid foundation. You will probably not be getting the “lavish life” that comes with a high-end scope, but then, again, it must be functional in order for it to be worth the investment. Entry level does not mean it is cheap. 

So maybe while you transition to becoming an expert in targeting, you should consider getting yourself a cheap scope and practice and gauge yourself. When the time comes to upgrade you plan for a pricier one. 

Now, the next thing to bring in is what you are going to be using your scope. Mostly, scopes are designed for a variety of activities but you will get better results if you make a choice based on specific capabilities you will be needing.

How To Choose The Best Rated Cheap Spotting Scope For Target Shooting

Magnification is one of the most important aspects you should be looking at when choosing a scope for target shooting. This feature can make a lot of difference in your targeting and hunting results. To get better results, your scope’s power should match your needs. 

A magnification of 2x-4x is perfect for a range of 150 yards, for instance. If you need a larger range, a 3-9x is great for 300 yards. 

You also want to look into the eye relief. This is important since considering you will be shooting a rifle, the distance between your eye and the scope should not be less than 2 inches or you can wind up hurting yourself.

How To Choose The Best Rated Afforadable Spotting Scope For Hunting

Hunting is a more demanding activity and there are more aspects that you need to factor in so you might want to take your time here. Now, if you consider a budget spotting scope you must know that you will probably not find all the features you need in one so you will have to decide what is most important to you. 

These aspects include the type of glass that you need, if you need for it to be waterproof, whether you want it angled or straight, and much more. 

Most budget-friendly spotting scopes come with BaK-7 glass but if you can stretch a little more, you might want to opt for a BaK-4 lens since these are the ones that deliver a clearer image. If you are still lucky, maybe you can find a budget spotting scope with ED glass, which has the ability to reduce chromatic aberration.

How To Choose The Top Birding And Digiscoping Budget Spotting Scope

If your passion is to take a good close look at nature, you probably want to keep those memories in pictures and/or videos. This is what digiscoping is about. But to produce stunning photos, you need a spotting scope that delivers clear image in HD quality. 

Hence, your main focus here is clarity. Also, of course, make sure that your spotting scope can have a camera placed on it via an adapter. You should not run into any problem there as most of them have it. But if you do not buy a scope specifically for a particular camera, you will need to get an adapter. 

Make sure that you have a proper zooming to capture great images with pristine quality. 

If birding is what you are passionate about, remember to keep a large field of view. More power is not always the best here since greater magnification means that you will need to work on keeping the image steady. But in order to spot birds in their environment, you need a larger field of view.

How To Choose The Top Long-range Affordable Spotting Scope

The road here becomes a bit bumpier since long range spotting is done with elements that will basically make the scope pricier. However, manufacturers might give up some other specs to allow you to make long-range spotting with an affordable device. The call here then turns into deciding what are you willing to give up. 

Watching objects from far away and with a clear image is a luxury. A spotting scope on a budget can provide a range of 100 or even 200 yards. Usually, beyond that, images begin to get fuzzy. When you hit the store, be sure to ask about the best zooming for a better range for a particular spotting scope.

Final Thoughts

We have seen that there are some point factors that you must consider when choosing the best spotting scope for the money. This is crucial since many times what works for you might not work for others. Checking out the best spotting scope under 500 review, might work well for some with a higher budget, but all in all here’s a recap of the best budget spotting scopes on the market.

Image Product
Editors Choice Product Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom
  • Multi-Coated Optics.
  • Lightweight And Easy To Carry.
  • Good Field Of View
Mos Affordable Product Emarth Angled Spotting Scope
  • Great For Any Spotting Scope Activity.
  • Ergonomic Design And Durable Body.
  • Weatherproof & Unbeatable price!
Great For Digiscoping Product Redfield Rampage Spotting Scope
  • 20-60x60mm Magnification
  • Retractable Lens Shade
  • Fully Multi-Coated Lenses.
Good For Hunting Product Roxant Authentic Blackbird Spotting Scope
  • Lightweight And Easy To Carry
  • Clearest And Crisp Image
  • Waterproof
Made For Long-Range/Birding Product Gosky 20-60 X 80 Porro Prism
  • Simple And Easy To Use.
  • Fully Weatherproof.
  • Long Range Scope With Great Optics.

The first thing to take into account would be your budget. Once you have established that, decide what is the activity you will be using your scope for. Most scopes are built to perform in more than one environment, however we highly suggest you invest in a tripod, which you can check it out here the best rated spotting scope tripod review

Always be informed in order to make an educated decision. This will make the difference between having a scope for only a couple of years and having one for a lifetime.