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Pros - Textured rubber exterior makes it easy to grip - Excellent quality of image - Glare-reducing extendable sunshade integrated in scope Cons - Included tripod is poor quality - Short eye relief at maximum zoom - Narrow field of view

Welcome to our review of the Barska 20–60×65 WP Level Straight Spotting Scope. Barska is definitely known for their excellent optics, and the Level Spotting Scope series was on my priority list to test. Let’s see how the lineup fares versus the competition.

This particular spotting scope features a 65mm objective lens and a straight eyepiece. The eye relief ranges from 15mm to 17mm, and the close focus distance is 29.5 feet. It weighs in at 2.45 pounds, and measures 14.25 inches in length. I wish the eye relief was a bit longer, since it can be a challenge to use fully zoomed in if you are wearing eyeglasses.

What Comes in the Box?

Of course, you’ll want to know what you get for your money. Every Barska Level spotting scope comes with the following:

• The Barska 20–60×65 WP Level Straight Spotting Scope itself
• Hard carrying case
• Soft carrying case
• Pan-head lever tripod
• Lens cap
• Instruction manual

The cases are very good quality, and will help keep your spotting scope safe and secure. I wish the tripod was of better quality, but I’m growing used to included tripods being substandard. Fortunately, it will work beautifully with any standard tripod.

What’s the Magnification of This Spotting Scope

The 65mm objective lens and 20mm eyepiece provide magnification from 20X to 60X. Images are crisp and clear, and I’ve found the scope terrific for everything from target shooting to birdwatching, and even backyard astronomy. There is no apparent chromatic abberation, since Barska has put a lot of effort into perfecting the optics on this model. The field of view through the spotting scope is quite limited, unfortunately, only allowing you to see 30.45 feet from 1,000 yards at maximum magnification, and 72.45 feet from 1,000 yards at 20X zoom.

How Easy is the Barska 20–60×65 WP Level Straight Spotting Scope to Use?

Like most spotting scopes of this design, the Barska Level provides you with a center focus knob and a magnification wheel integrated in the eyepiece. Both are quite easy to use and knurled, making them adjustable even if you’re wearing bulky gloves. The tripod mount rotates, allowing you to adjust your viewing angle as much as you really can with a straight-eyepiece spotting scope.

How Well Can It Gather Light?

Light transmission is quite good on this model, thanks to the 65mm objective lens paired with fully multicoated optics. I’ve used this scope in bright and not-so-bright conditions, even viewing stars and planets on clear nights. The integrated extendable sunshade makes it easy to use the scope even on really sunny days, keeping the glare out of your image.

How Are the Optics and Focus on This Model?

This model uses a porro prism design, with BaK–4 prism glass that provides for fantastic refraction. The manufacturer has apparently done their due diligence in applying phase correction coatings, since I didn’t observe any phase shift in the image. Throughout the entire range of magnification, I’m enjoying terrific color reproduction, resolution, clarity, and contrast. The focus knob and magnification wheel both spin smoothly, but offer just enough friction to prevent them from getting accidentally misaligned.

What’s the Housing Like on the Barska Level?

The housing on this spotting scope is rugged and durable, coated in a textured rubber armor that’s easy to grip. You can easily use this spotting scope either on a tripod (with the integrated tripod socket) or handheld. It’s tough, durable, and reliable, and comes backed by a limited lifetime warranty that rivals those of some of Barska’s more expensive competitors.

How Durable is the Scope?

Barska claims that the Level series “sets the standard for toughness and durability,” and I’m not going to argue with them. I’ve dropped this scope a couple of times with no ill effects, and the entire optic is both waterproof and fogproof. That means the lenses are O-ring sealed and the optics chamber is nitrogen-purged.