Spotting v field scopes

[richardkm]

Q: What is the difference between a field scope and a spotting scope?

A: (according to a RSPB volunteer I met at Carsington at the weekend)a fieldscope gives the wide field of view, while a spotting scope gives the magnification!!!!

Discuss.

[John D]

Originally Posted by richardkm

Q: What is the difference between a field scope and a spotting scope?

A: (according to a RSPB volunteer I met at Carsington at the weekend)a fieldscope gives the wide field of view, while a spotting scope gives the magnification!!!!

Discuss.

Hi Richard, From what I've read there is no difference. Some manufacturers seem to prefer Spotting others Field.
John D

[richardkm]

Yes. My point really was that this person was giving advice (not to me, I overheard the conversation) and I have to wonder what other marvels of information she had to give out. She was a very emphatic person.

[Hobjob]

I thought that the phrase "spotting scope" was derived from the target
shooting world, where marksmen will have a small scope beside them to
observe where their shots pierced the target. As a lad I did a fair bit of this
form of shooting at Bisley and such like as part of the cadet corps - none of this telescopic sight nonsense!

At 200m or above (or yards as it was then!) the target is pulled down, and a small redcircle is placed over the hole to help - the remains of such "Butts", as the trenches are called where the targets are lifted and lowered, can
be seen at Rainham marshes RSPB to-day