I purchased this Barska Gladiator spotting scope for my mother as a Mother's Day gift. She was a very avid birder and wanted to take photos of the birds, and other wildlife. She tried it a few times, but her hands were too shaky and at 80 years old, it was just “too much trouble”.

This scope is perfect for hunting and game spotting, spotting for target shooting, bird watching, and of course, taking photos at extreme range.

When I ordered this, I had read all the reviews, which were all very positive. I checked the tech specs, and saw some sample images that were shot with a point-and-shoot digital camera through this scope. What I did not do was realize how BIG this scope really is. It's quite large, though it is surprisingly light-weight. This beastie is 18.9 inches long, and weighs 100.8 oz (6.3 lbs).

I'm including the digital camera mount with the scope, the tripod, and the nylon soft-sided carrying case. My asking price is $250 for everything. I will also give you a full-sized metal tripod as an added bonus. No need to kneel! Contact Me through the web site, or call me at (501) 884-3502. All sales final.

The camera mount (shown below) will hold a digital “pocket” camera. It will not mount a DSLR. The camera needs to have a standard screw mount on the bottom. The mount features fine tuning for perfect alignment. One caveat – it works best with a fixed-lens camera, meaning if your lens automatically zooms in and out, it may not have enough clearance and might bump the view-piece on the scope. It won't mount an iPhone or Android phone, as they don't have the standard camera screw mount, but you could likely use a Velcro strap to hold it in place – I have not tried this. You could certainly rest the phone on the mount platform. The tripod that comes with it is designed for table-top use, like when using this as a gun range spotting scope. It's sturdy enough, but with the camera mounted it is a bit shaky. A remote cable or wireless release for your camera would be very helpful.

This is the Barska “Digiscope” camera mount for point-and-shoot digital cameras:

Barska Digiscope Camera Mount AF 10540

Here are some photos I took this morning to show off the incredible range of this scope. These were taken with a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX1 (old!), mounted using the included digiscope mount. I shot these through a window, without a cable release, and didn't take my time at all. This is what you could expect from quickly setting up and snapping pics. The first photo shows the scene with no zoom on the Canon camera. The red circle shows the hole in the tree. The second photo shows the Canon camera zoomed all the way out. The third shows the hole in the tree, fully zoomed, through the Barska Scope.
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Product Features

►O-ring sealed for complete waterproof protection and Dry nitrogen-purged and sealed to prevent fogging, clouding and moisture damage
►Multi-coated optics and massive objective lens increases light gathering ability thus delivering brighter images in low light conditions
►Ergonomically designed with shock-absorbing rubber armor for maximum protection and enhancing overall handling
►Ideal for long range big game stalking and harsh weather conditions
►Includes fully functional multi-adjustable tripod with quick release platform, and a carrying case for field protection

Technical Detail

Brand Name: Barska
Device Type: Spotting scope
Model: AD10610

Product Description

Big meets massive! With crystal clear clarity and extreme ruggedness, nothing rivals the vigor of Gladiator's unparalleled performance. Gladiator superior optics reveals every detail in optimum contrast, high brilliance color and sharp resolution. Tough in harsh weather conditions, these scopes are ideal for long-range big game stalking. Spotting will never be the same with Gladiator scopes. Spot the magnificence. Backed by Limited Lifetime Warranty.