Spotting scopes are telescopes configured for terrestrial viewing by using additional lenses to produce an upright image. They pick up where binoculars leave off in that the high end of binocular magnification is usually around 10x; powers higher than this magnify not only the subject, but the movement of the observers' hands and produce a pronounced "jiggling" of the image that degrades the image.
The magnification range of most spotting scopes is in the 15x to 75x range and are designed to be used on a stable mount such as a tripod. Most scopes also have a 60mm objective lens or larger to collect more light to compensate for the loss of light at higher magnifications. Swift Instruments, Inc. produces a fine line of spotting scopes for all uses, with the Nighthawk Series being our top quality line of scopes.