Thread: Bridge Camera vs Spotting Scope

Hi

I’ve done lots of Thar hunting in the 90s and early 2000s. Less lately with kids and work. In the past I had invested in good Swarovski Binos and if I saw a decent bull would climb up for a closer look. These days the last few trips I’ve been on numbers are way up from the past and longer shooting means better trophy evaluation is important to save the legs and avoid taking a smaller bull

So before investing in an expensive spotter is anyone using a superzoom bridge camera. Something like the Panasonic FZ80 is under $500 and pretty good optically plus can do HD video etc. I know it won’t be weatherproof but i still always have my Binos.

Any opinions?

The zoom is not equivalent. The zoom on a camera is based on a 24mm lenses whereas the zoom on spotter is based on something else can't remember exactly but it's more or less a 50mm lenses as such 120x camera zoom is the same as 60x spotter zoom. I have both a Kowa Tsn 553 15-45x55 spotter and a SX60hs camera. The spotter is significantly better and doesn't weigh much more it also weighs less than some cameras.

Pros for the Camera include:
Using it to spot shots although it's not like you have time to watch it soon enough to change POA.
Filming
Can rewatch glimpses.
Cheaper

Cons include:
No good in wet conditions.
Much more fragile
Zoom is not equivalent and the small screens aren't great resolution for in the field use.

Pros for the scope include:
Much more zoom.
Much clearer as it's resolution is as good as the glass.
Better in low light
Cons include:
weight although the scope I use its not an issue as its close.
Cost they cost more to get into good glass.

I use mine mainly for assessment of Red Stags and moose. So the smaller zoom scope is perfect. It compact and light and it's very rare I can use more than 45x anyway due to mirage. If I was guiding sheep I would have gone down the route of a swaro spotter probably the 20-60x65. A camera is best if you want to record things. I don't find they give me that much above my leica binos. For aging Tahr I would go the spotter if you can afford it.

I use a canon sx60? and at times wonder how much better a spotting scope would be. I struggle at times to get a clear picture at times at distance . Even taking a picture then zooming in . I never looked through a spotting scope but would like to compare the to at thousand meters

Originally Posted by bigbear

I use a canon sx60? and at times wonder how much better a spotting scope would be. I struggle at times to get a clear picture at times at distance . Even taking a picture then zooming in . I never looked through a spotting scope but would like to compare the to at thousand meters

Wrong part of the country but you'd be welcome to look through mine. It's good glass but it is a compact scope. The Nikon ED50 are considered a good lightweight option but zoom would be pretty similar to you SX60 but I'd imagine better res

canonSX430 with 45x zoom is no better/clearer than good 10x binos.......at making out what something is in distance....its good to take photo and then zoom in on that
this was at about 1200mtrs according to google earth.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....giscope-59559/
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-advice-48390/

Thanks for those links. Some interesting thoughts - seems if you can afford a Swarovski spotter it’s better but don’t bother with a cheap one and the camera will be better. For now I might save my $$$ on both and use it fund a trip South when clear to travel......

Originally Posted by Forestry

Thanks for those links. Some interesting thoughts - seems if you can afford a Swarovski spotter it’s better but don’t bother with a cheap one and the camera will be better. For now I might save my $$$ on both and use it fund a trip South when clear to travel......

Some other decent options the Kowa scopes are worth a look. I have the TSN 553 which is the Prominar Crystal lens. I also liked the leica and zeiss I looked through. It's really just make sure it's good glass. The like of the rokslide forum are good for scope reviews. The Nikon ED50 is a good affordable spotter that would suit the likes of hunting deer species in NZ

Thanks - I had a look on-line at the Nikon with excellent reviews at significantly lower price. Light and compact. Good advice

Originally Posted by Forestry

Thanks - I had a look on-line at the Nikon with excellent reviews at significantly lower price. Light and compact. Good advice

It has its place its kind of the halfway point.