Angled spotting scopes and straight spotting scopes are MORE SIMILAR than they are DIFFERENT.
If I’m going to be strict about it, they really only DO differ in their style: the angled spotting scope has an angled eyepiece.
Not quite the surprise you were expecting for an angled scope, right?
This one simple difference makes ALL the difference when it comes to usability and comfort.
I’ll walk you through the essentials of each spotting scope.
Contents
Spotting Scopes Overview
Let’s start this review by going over ALL the important features that set both spotting scopes apart from one another.
Spoiler alert: they’re a LOT more similar than you think!
What Is an Angled Spotting Scope?
The ANGLED spotting scope promotes maneuverability.
It’s quite straightforward to imagine where this angled scope gets its name: the angled spotting scope curves up towards the adjustable eyepiece.
The scope’s angled eyepiece will seemingly cushion your eye as you look down on it to view your target!
Now… Why does MANEUVERABILITY make this angle important?
Simply, the curve allows you to adjust your viewing angle. What’s more appealing is that you have COMPLETE CONTROL over the adjustments you can make:
- Turn the angled scope freely to accommodate your sight.
- Position your head comfortably around the eyepiece
This kind of flexibility made my hunts INFINITELY better because of the enhanced user experience.
Others prefer to use the angled spotter scope during a sit-down viewing up the mountains…. I reckon that you will too!
Who Should Use an Angled Spotting Scope?
Any hunter can use an angled spotting scope for several uses, even astronomy!
I would recommend angled spotting scopes to hunters with more experience with spotting scopes in general, but with a little practice and supervision, a beginner can use one too!
Angled spotting scopes are best for finding higher-located targets, like birds or those up in trees.
- More comfortable to look through in most positions
- Lower tripod height
- Easier to look up
- Prone body position
- Have to adjust the tripod and its height to switch to binoculars
- Not as comfortable when lying down
What Is a Straight Spotting Scope?
The straight spotting scope is just that: STRAIGHT.
No angles or fancy positions are needed for a straight scope! It’s a straight tube resembling most telescopes that you see in the market and media.
Its straight spotting scope design requires EYE LEVEL positioning. You either have to:
- Raise the straight scope with a tripod, or
- Stoop down to the level of its straight eyepiece (even then, you might have to position it somewhere stable to easier achieve a straight line more)
You can find the BEST VIEWING ANGLE for your straight spotter scopes after repositioning your head a couple of times.
It’s best for casual viewing: a fixed target for long periods of time that won’t require others to constantly look through the scope’s straight eyepiece.
Who Should Use a Straight Spotting Scope?
Like with angled spotting scopes, any hunter of any level can use a straight spotting scope.
If you prefer to hunt animals running on land, a straight spotting scope will be easier to use because of its faster target acquisition and tracking.
- Retain tripod position when switching to binoculars
- Faster target acquisition
- Taller height for the tripod makes the straight spotting scope unstable
- The taller tripod makes you more visible
- Not as comfortable for viewing when standing
Angled vs. Straight Spotting Scope: Comparing the Features
I’ll tell you right now: the two spotting scopes DO NOT HAVE ANY FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES.
Some people would be right in saying that their ONLY difference is their structure.
Deciding which of them is BETTER is simply a choice and preference on design.
As such, you’ll find out that where they DO differ is in their applications.
Allow me to show you the ADVANTAGES of each rifle scope based on certain criteria through this review.
REMEMBER: One is NOT better than the other… it all depends on what you NEED.
Optic Quality
WINNER: Tie
Both angled and straight scopes have the SAME objective lens resolution, magnification, and field of view.
No spotting scope has an advantage over the other!
- OBJECTIVE LENS – Both have objective lens diameters with the same range of 50 mm – 80 mm.
- MAGNIFICATION – Lens magnification ranges from 10x to 60x, depending on the scope. Either way, there is no difference between the two types.
- FIELD OF VIEW – A contested feature, but I would like to stand by my rating with a tie. Both scopes still maximize the same sight picture.
Just remember the rule of thumb: the HIGHER the magnification, the SMALLER the field of view. This does not change between spotting scope types.
Now, do you see why the optic quality doesn’t do much for the straight vs. angled spotting scope debate?
Let’s go back to discussing the field of view a bit more…
Field of View
This is a contested feature because of the maneuverability advantage attributed to angled scopes.
Only this time, it serves to be one of its disadvantages under this feature.
Straight scopes have a slight advantage because you can customize your spotting devices.</