How to choose the right spotting scope for you

A few weeks ago, Austrian optics specialists Swarovski launched a new compact spotting scope onto the market. Or, more accurately, two new compact spotting scopes: the ATC (with an angled eyepiece) and the STC, with a straight eyepiece. 

At face value, the two scopes are nearly identical, with the same magnification, objective lens diameter and field of view, and only tiny differences in weight and length. 

The last two stats in the table are the ones that stand out. These two spotters are intended as a compact alternative to bulkier options on the market (such as Swarovski’s modular ATX and STX). Weighing less than a kilo, and coming in at under a foot in length, these are lightweight and small enough to stow in a backpack or even wear around your neck. 

It is true that in the UK spotting scopes are not much used outside of the Highlands, since we don’t have the vast open spaces that other countries enjoy, so carrying a bulky scope, and its accompanying tripod, offers little advantage. With these smaller offerings, this may well be about to change, and UK stalkers and deer managers will be able to take advantage of the increased magnification that spotters give when compared to binoculars.

Which scope is right for you

If you are new to the world of spotting scopes, you may well be asking yourself which of these two new scopes would be the best for your needs, and you’ll probably want to spend a bit of time behind the lens of each at your local optics shop. Ultimately, it is likely to come down to personal choice, but there are some pros and cons to each.

Angled vs straight spotting scopes

Angled spotting scope - advantages

• Ability to share a view with someone of a different height - when mounted on a tripod, the ability to bring the eye to the eyepiece rather than the other way around means you don’t have to adjust the height of the tripod to give someone else a look.
• Photography - These days, if you haven’t got a photo or video, did it even happen? Although both the ATC and the STC are compatible with Swarovski’s phone adapter, many people find that the angled eye-piece allows for a more ergonomic experience, since the phone screen is tilted towards your face.

• Glassing uphill - When it comes to using your scope to look up, the angled eyepiece makes the process more comfortable and puts less strain on the users neck.
• Stability - Since you don’t have to have the scope at eye-level, you can set your tripod lower and therefore create a more stable base, especially useful in windy conditions! This is also true when you’re not using a tripod, but instead resting the scope on something else, such as a car door or a fence - you won’t have to contort your body to get your eyes at the right height. Both the STC and ATC have half shells that allow you to rest them on a surface and still be able to operate the focus and zoom wheels.

Angled spotting scope - disadvantages

• Making the switch - if you’re using a spotter alongside a set of binos, switching from one to the other can be a pain when using an angled spotter, owing to the differing heights, making it harder to relocate the animal that you were looking at.
• Bulk - the ‘L’ shape can make an angled spotting scope a fraction more tricky to pack away, though given the small size of both the ATC and the STC, the reality is this won’t be too much of a problem
• Glassing downhill - using an angled spotter from the top of a steep hill can be awkward, owing to the shape of the scope.
• Open to the elements - Since the eyepiece is angled up, if it is snowing or raining, water can sometimes get on the lens.

Straight spotting scopes - advantages

• Easy to find what you’re looking for - the intuitive ‘point and look’ nature of the straight spotting scope makes finding your object of interest simple
• Tight corners - in confined spaces it can be difficult to bend and get to the eyepiece of an angled spotter.
• Stowability - straight scopes are easier to pack into a backpack or even a pocket than angled ones.

Straight spotting scopes - disadvantages

• Stowability - straight scopes are easier to pack into a backpack or even a pocket than angled ones.
• Instability - because the spotter needs to be at eye level, you’ll necessarily need to have your tripod set up a few inches higher, which can lead to instability on uneven ground or high winds

Discover more about the ATC/STC spotting scopes