One of the longest-standing optics brands, Leupold, was founded in 1907 as a survey equipment repairer. It has since metamorphosed into a manufacturer of optics and gun accessories. One of its optics products is the spotting scope. Leupold has tens of different spotting scopes in its collection, and they all come with different specifications and uses.
Spotting scopes are viewing devices used to see extremely long distances. Typically, they start to work where binoculars stop due to their high magnification levels. However, their power stops short of a telescope. Nevertheless, you can use a spotting scope for a lot of different activities, including hunting, nature watching, and birdwatching, among other things.
Leupold GR 10-20x40mm Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope – Straight
Our Top Recommendation for Leupold spotting scope
This clean Leupold GR 10-20x40mm spotting scope with a gold ring around its objective lens is extremely lightweight, and it can be used freehand without the need for a tripod stand.
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Buying a spotting scope is hard; buying from a specific brand like Leupold is harder. A lot of people struggle when faced with such a decision, and this is why a guide on some of the best spotting scopes made by Leupold is appealing. You do not have to go through a lot of testing to come up with a solid choice.
For Leupold, rugged and imported optical quality are some of its known qualities. People will want these from their spotting scopes, too, and to a large extent, they wouldn’t be disappointed no matter which scope they choose. However, the spotting scopes on the list below supersede the average expectations of the Leupold brand.
Table of Contents
Best Leupold Spotting Scopes:
Why should anybody be worried about getting the most suitable Leupold Spotting scope when they can go through this guide and easily select a scope? Here’s what we have on our list:
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Leupold GR 10-20x40mm Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope - Straight | • Magnification of 10-20x • Objective lens diameter of 40mm • Close focus distance of 5.5 feet | View Price |
 | Leupold SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x80mm - Angled | • Magnification of 20-60x • Objective lens size of 80mm • Helical focus collar ring | View Price |
 | Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide HD 15-45x65mm Spotting Scope - Angled | • Magnification of 15-45x • Objective lens size of 65mm • Great eye relief | View Price |
 | Leupold Mark 4 12-40x60 Spotting Scope TMR - Straight | • Magnification of 12-40x • Objective lens size of 60mm • An xtended twilight lens system | View Price |
1. Leupold GR 10-20x40mm Gold Ring Compact Spotting Scope – Straight
This is a straight Leupold Spotting scope with the body and eyepiece on the same plane. Leupold GR 10-20×40 compact spotting scope is the top scope on our list and features a variable magnification range of 10-20x. This is a far cry from the huge power levels found in many other spotting scopes. The level here is similar to many rifle scopes and suitable for regular long-distance views. Its objective lens size is 40mm, and for a scope with a maximum power of only 20x, this objective lens is good enough. The right amount of light can enter the tube.
It is touted as being compact, and it’s not hard to see why. Its objective lens is not as huge as other spoofing scopes; its build is smaller and clean. It weighs only 15.8 ounces and is 7.5 inches long, making it incredibly lightweight. You can carry this around all day in your backpack without feeling added stress.
You may be wondering what sets this spotting scope apart from a binocular since they share similar power levels. The singular optic in the spotting scope enables it to get finer images than the binoculars which struggle with zoom capabilities.
While spotting scopes are best suited on tripod stands, compact and lightweight options like this can be used freehand, especially on lower magnification levels. This Leupold GR spotting scope has a close focus distance of 5.5 feet, is built to keep water and fog out of the tube, and its optics are multi-coated.
Pros:
- Magnification of 10-20x
- Objective lens size of 40mm
- Close focus distance of 5.5 feet
- It can be used freehand without a tripod
- Extremely lightweight and compact design
- Weatherproof
Cons:
- Controls are not ambidextrous
- Low power
2. Leupold SX-2 Alpine HD 20-60x80mm – Angled
The Leupold SX-2 alpine HD scope may be new, but it is quickly growing among a lot of users. Its massive 20-60x magnification level makes it tough to ignore if you want to reach a far distance with a spotting scope while being able to switch to even shorter distances. Such powerful scopes should be supported by a large objective lens size, and Leupold understands this perfectly. It fits an 80mm objective lens to this scope. Wide area for enough light intake for better images.
The image quality is decent, but the glass can be improved upon. It is made with durability in mind; however, this does not affect its weight too much. It weighs 67 ounces and is 16.77 inches long, which is not particularly lightweight. Its close focus distance is 9.2 feet long.
The alpine scope is weatherproof and will provide sharp images even in harsh weather conditions. Its different light management system makes it possible to use this spotting scope in low light conditions. It is also great when used at the peak of the day with full light.
It comes with a rotating ring, so you can easily turn it in any direction when mounted on a tripod. It has good eye relief at 18mm, which should be enough to use comfortably even if you wear glasses. It uses the helical collar ring focus system so you can make fine and fast focus adjustments replacing the dual focus knobs.
It is rugged and built with military-grade materials. It has a polycarbonate chassis and rubber armor for more delicate parts. The glass is extra protected, while the full scope comes with a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Magnification of 20-60x
- Objective lens size of 80mm
- Helical focus collar ring
- Durable and weatherproof design
- Good eye relief
- Light management system
Cons:
- Bulky
- Possible chromatic aberration
3. Leupold SX-4 Pro Guide HD 15-45x65mm Spotting Scope – Angled
Another angled spotting scope that makes seeing through the scope easy and convenient, this Leupold SX-4 pro guide HD scope is one of the best. It has a magnification range of 15-45x, covering a wide range from regular long ranges to ranges above 1000 yards. With a 65mm objective lens diameter, you’ll see a matching image brightness since it can take in a lot of light.
Its high definition optical quality does not make it fragile with a completely waterproof and fogproof tube and a body made from magnesium. This combines to produce a durable scope that can withstand pressure and can be used in different weather conditions. The spotting scope can be used in low light and the full glare of the sun since it sports an excellent anti-glare system.
It has an excellent eye relief of 20-17.6 depending on your power level, with an exit pupil of 4.1 to 1.4., its close focus distance of 34 feet is decent; seeing that its magnification level is high. It has a close focus distance of 11 feet and comes with some interesting added accessories. Some of which are neoprene covers, lens cloth, and eyepiece objective covers.
Pros:
- Magnification of 15-45x
- Objective lens diameter of 65mm
- Close focus distance of 11 feet
- Durable body
- Weatherproof
- Great eye relief
Cons:
- Bulky
4. Leupold Mark 4 12-40×60 Spotting Scope TMR – Straight
The TMR reticle is a popular Leupold reticle used on high-end scopes where accuracy is paramount. This TMR reticle is used in the Leupold Mark 4 12-40×60 spotting scope. The scope has a magnification range of 12-40x. The wide range covers a lot of activities, including bird watching, hunting, nature-loving, and more. High magnification levels will not be useful without the right optics. The objective lens size of scope is important as it determines the amount of light entering. For this scope, the objective lens is 60mm.
This high-end scope uses a multicoat 4 lens system of coating to improve lens quality, light transmission, and color fidelity. There’s a folded light path technology that makes it lightweight and compact. It is 12.4 inches long and weighs 37 ounces.
The magnesium body is tough, rugged and armor coated, leading to its shockproof characteristics. It is sealed to make it fogproof and waterproof. A fitting case wraps around the scope and protects the optics even when in use. The extended twilight lens system used in this scope is better suited to transmit blue and violet colors, which leads to great nighttime usage. Its excellent 30mm eye relief means the scope can be used with glasses on without any issues.
Pros:
- Magnification of 12-40x
- Objective lens diameter of 60mm
- Durable magnesium body
- Excellent 30mm eye relief
- High-end features
- Lightweight
- An xtended twilight lens system
Cons:
- Expensive
How to Select a Suitable Leupold Spotting Scope – Buyers Guide
Leupold is a well-known optics brand with numerous spotting scopes in its inventory. Hence, choosing from this list will be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. Here is how you can easily do this without wasting time and money:
Check Uses
Why do you want to get a spotting scope? If you can answer this question, you’ve narrowed down your search to a smaller group. This is because you can now choose scopes that can solve your problem. Whether the problem is birdwatching, hunting or star gazing, you’ll see a Leupold scope that can do it.
Also Read: The 5 Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting in 2022.
Magnification
Some uses require a higher power level to achieve; after getting your intended uses out of the way, you can choose the spotting scope with the magnification range that covers those uses. Typically, the magnification range of a spotting scope can start from as low as 10x to as high as 100x, even though 60x is the more common power limit.
Objective Lens
This goes with the magnification you choose. While it is not absolute, but wider objective lens typically produces better images since more light can enter the tube. However, you should know that other optics factors will be required to make this clear images a reality.
Size
Most people would prefer a compact and lightweight spotting scope as it is easier to hold, carry and store. However, this is not always possible, especially if you need a scope with high magnification and an objective lens. The bigger the objective lens, the heavier and bulkier the scope will be. You can find scopes in the middle ground that you can choose.
Price
High-end scopes with special features and pleasing bodies will naturally cost more. Budget spotting scopes l, on the other hand, will usually have fewer features. This does not mean you cannot find great buys in the budget categories.
With some findings and by following some of the guides in the piece, you can discover hidden budget gems. However, if the quality is of utmost concern to you, you may have to spend some money to get it.
Bonus Read: 5 Best Spotting Scope Under $500 {Expert’s Choice}
FAQ’s
Some questions have been asked so frequently that we’ve decided to curate them, so you do not have to go looking for the answers whenever they pop up.
Ans. While tripod stands are essential for most spotting scopes, Leupold does not include tripod stands in its accessories for spotting scopes. You’ll have to purchase this tool separately.
Ans. Leupold has a lifetime warranty in place for all its spotting scopes. This shows the trust Leupold has for its products. It also improves customer trust as you know they’ve got you covered whenever you need them.
Ans. Leupold spotting scopes are designed and assembled in their Oregon factory in the United States.
Summary
Leupold delivers impressive quality in all their optics, and the spotting scope category is no different. With over 30 available spotting scopes in its inventory, choosing the right one for you cannot get any easier than what is shown in this guide.
