Every bird watcher knows that a spotting scope and a good tripod is
perhaps the best investment they will have to acquire in order to become
equipped for their game and properly enjoy their passion. If you are a
member of the birding tribe you want a scope with a high magnification
and stability that will let you see that bird in the distance without
losing the detail of its distinguishing marks and other details; some of
these small details cannot be distinguished when you are using
binoculars. Being able to choose the right model of a spotting scope requires some fore knowledge so that you don’t become overwhelmed when you get confronted with a number of models of different specifications and sizes. When you know what you are going to be looking for you can be sure that you will spot the difference before you pull the trigger into your wallet. Most people will buy one or at most two spotting scopes in their lifetime and, as such, it is important that you get it right the first time. The key to making the correct choice is to keep your self thoroughly informed so you can make a good choice and get value for your dollar.
The issue of angles
Most people don’t know why there should be an issue between a straight body and an angled body scope. The angled body spotting scope has its lens fixed at an angle of 45 degrees; this is highly recommended in most cases especially in situations where you may want to share it with other people in your group. While binoculars are not really easy to share, scopes are almost always shared. With an angled scope you have no hassles aiming at a bird in the sky, up on a tree, a hawk soaring high up in the sky and sometimes the rings of Saturn or the moon.
Angled bodied spotting scopes are fitted with adjustments that easily allow a user to rotate the body so as to have the position of the eyepiece to its side or even its bottom. With this unique feature, you have no problem raising the height of the scope or rotating its body so that you can easily see something down the cliff and especially when you are standing at a high point. Straight bodied scopes are most convenient for those birders who think most of their viewing will be dome from the comfort of their cars. The best thing about the angled scope is that it is versatile and will give you results in most situations.
