Customer Reviews

Alpen 20x50 Waterproof Mini-Spotting Scope

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a pleasant surprise. For years, I've watched other guys lug around these bulky, 5 to 10-pound spotting scopes in suitcases so they can see if their bullets hit the bullseye at 100yds. After reading a few positive reviews, I opted to give this pint-size scope a try. It is a definite winner! It focuses easily and is as clear as any scope I've ever used. It is a straight view as opposed to the scopes with eye pieces that angle upward toward the eye. This product is a rare combination of bargain price and quality. The tripod is also good quality. This scope comes with a nylon carrying case that fits nicely into the side pocket, end up, of my SMALL range bag - and it only takes up half of the pocket at that. I hang my ear protectors over the portion sticking up. This way you don't have to start unzipping and digging into your bag for ear protectors (MANDATORY) before entering an indoor range. It weighs less than one box of some ammunition or a brick of .22LR.

Alpen 20x50 Waterproof Mini-Spotting Scope is a very good compact and very affordable monocular. The objective lens is big enough so it still usable under a low light condition such as in a cloudy day. It has fully coated optics with porro prism which is a plus for me. The 20x magnification may be troublesome for someone who does not have a steady hand. But it has tripod mount connector, so you can simply attached it to the tripod that comes with it or other tripod/monopod. I use it sometimes to see the sky on a clear night mounted on my full size tripod. The free tripod that comes with it is very weak, so I mostly use it for my PNS digital camera.

This works. I wish there were a zoom feature. We use it for 50 yard viewing with no problems. It works well in the rain too.

I bought this scope to check my shooting in the pistol yard at 25 meters using standard ISSF targets. Even the little holes made with a .22 bullet are visible with this nice scope. Previously I used a 10x monocular but it was not a big help. I am really happy with this purchase.

I am a serious, experienced (40+ years) and very successful hunter and naturalist out west. Anyone interested in acceptable quality for checking out details at intermediate and long distances without the frills of pricey high-end and powerful scopes, this may be the scope for you. It's especially perfect for the outdoors person who is seeking a light weight and compact scope for checking on game animals as well as bullet groupings while sighting in at the shooting range. I find too much power (greater than 30X) in a terrestrial scope and you will see distortions and heat waves no matter what scope you use. Besides, this mini-scope fits nicely in my day and hunting packs and performed nicely in most instances for my purposes.

At first I was skeptical about the finish and optics given the low, low price of this product, but after I opened the box and used this scope in the field, I consider this the perfect addition for those hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts interested in only a product that improves your ability to find and observe your target objectives in the field. Unless you are a professional guide, you don't need to go through the expense of pricey scopes for scoping out big country such as I hunt for large animals. If you are like me and not one to show off or brag about having the best, this scope is adequate.

I went shopping around for a spotting scope and was a little dismayed at the high price of most of the spotting scopes, until I came across this one. I am a Law Enforcement professional and, as such, I need to be proficient with firearms and to do that I spend a lot of time at the range but I do not have unlimited funds. I am familiar with Alpen and have not heard any negative comments about them, so I was comfortable about placing my order. I use it primarily for spotting targets out to 100 yards and I have no difficulty in doing so with this scope. If you are looking for a scope that works well for a reasonable price, then this will do well for you too.

The optics are very good, images sharp. The little tripod it comes with is dollar-store junk, not nearly stable enough for a 20x scope. With a decent tripod, a nice scope...your eye must eb right up to the lens to see much of the full field. It is hard to aim and find the thing you are looking for as it would be in any 20x small scope. I put some aiming marks on the barrel to allow approximate aiming which makes it usable. Forget handholding it, too shaky.

In a perfect world we'd all be able to buy Swiss optics at China prices. This Alpen Mini-Spotting Scope is a stand out in it's price range though. It is not armor plated, so I can't guess how long it will last, but my initial tests have left me a very satisfied customer. Yesterday I saw a wild turkey in a field about 200 yards away and got the scope. Turns out it was surrounded by 7 babies. I could read the tag on one little guy's leg: Future Butterball Star! You will need a sturdier tripod though.

I bought this scope because it is very small and because of the good reviews that it got. It is very small and it is easy to pack. The problem is that the magnification is weak and the field of view is limited. I took it to the range and tried to use it to sight in a 223 rifle. I could barely see the bullet holes. I ended up borrowing the spotting scope of the person next to me at the range. I have to say that I am disappointed. I will probably buy a more powerful scope with an upturned eye piece. This is a nice toy and it is very small but it is not a good spotting scope.

I purchased an Alpen monocular a while back and thought I'd try this one as well. I was not disappointed! I read reviews by other users expressing concern over the use of this item without a tripod and that it was too shaky, although I have had no such issues. I love it! Thanks!