Costco blog/discussion forum

A spotting scope is a telescope that has been modified for daytime use. A telescope usually has an upside down image and a very high magnification. The image in a spotting scope is not inverted. Spotting scopes usually have greater magnification than binoculars.

If you have a house with a great view (nature or ocean or city, whatever), don't go buy a telescope, you will regret it. Buy a spotting scope. These are also used for bird watching, sports, and just looking at city or nature views.

Costco is currently stocking a Meade 20 to 60 times zoom spotting scope (Costco Item 283111 priced at $54.99, in June 2008). This spotting scope features a 20 to 60 times zoom, fully multi-coated optics, and a tripod that adjusts from 15 inches to 44 inches.

You can pair this spotting scope with a $40 adapter, and shoot pictures through it with your digital camera. See this website for more details about digiscoping

Meade sells at least two lines of spotting scopes, the Redtail line and the Condor line. The Costco spotting scope doesn't appear to be from either of these product lines. It probably is a modified package with optics comparable to the lower priced Condor line or to the Meade 20-60x60 Fully Coated Waterproof Spotting Scope 81011. It appears that Meade has replaced the standard tabletop tripod with an expandable tripod that you can put on the floor. Comparable spotting scopes usually sell for $100 to $120, making this approximately 50% off, a great deal.