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Pros - Excellent image quality - Includes view-through carrying case - Includes mount rail for Orion’s EZ Finder Deluxe II Reflex Sight Cons - Focus knob is set right of center - Short eye relief - Long close focus range

Hi there, and thanks for coming to my review of the Orion GrandView 16–48x65mm Waterproof Zoom Spotting Scope. Orion is best known for their telescopes, but they also make excellent spotting scopes and other optics. I’m always excited when an Orion product arrives at my doorstep, so let’s dive right in and see how this baby compares to the competition.

The spotting scope integrates a 65mm objective lens in a porro prism design and an angled eyepiece.

The eye relief is a bit short, at 18mm, but it was still perfectly comfortable to use, even with my eyeglasses on. The scope’s close focus range is a bit far out there, though, so you won’t be able to get a good view of anything closer than 33 feet.

The scope weighs in at 2.7 pounds, and measures 14.5 inches long.

What Comes With It?

Obviously, you’ll want to know what you get aside from the scope itself. This is a pretty barebones package, and includes the following:

• The Orion GrandView 16–48x65mm Waterproof Zoom Spotting Scope itself
• A view-through soft carrying case

You don’t get a tripod with your purchase, but let’s be honest here. How many of us continue using the cheap tripods that come with our spotting scopes anyways? Orion has built this to work with just about any tripod out there, so just find yourself a good-quality professional model that suits your needs.

What’s the Magnification of the Orion GrandView 16–48x65mm Waterproof Zoom Spotting Scope

Through the 65mm objective lens, you get magnification from 16X to 48X. The image quality is superb throughout the entire range of power, providing you with plenty of contrast, resolution, detail, and outstanding color reproduction. There isn’t even a hint of chromatic aberration at any magnification level.

Through this scope, you’ll enjoy a generous field of view from 67.2 feet at 1,000 yards with full power to 132.8 feet at full magnification.

Is This Glass Easy To Use?

Orion has designed this spotting scope for the amateur user, so it’s very easy to use. The magnification wheel on the eyepiece has plenty of ridging to make it easy to turn even with gloved or sweaty hands, and the center focus knob is well-knurled as well. Unfortunately, this is one of those designs that places the focus knob to the right of center, which is fine if you’re right-handed but very awkward to use if you’re a southpaw.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Scope?

Thanks to a generous objective lens and fully multicoated optics, the GrandView offers outstanding transmittance. While it’s marketed as being best for imaging terrestrial objects, I’ve used this glass for some simple backyard astronomy with excellent results.

How Good Are the Optics and Focus?

The porro prism design of this scope utilizes BaK–4 prism glass, and the optics are fully multicoated for excellent image quality and light transmission. You won’t notice any phase shift at any magnification, because Orion is meticulous about their application of the appropriate phase correction coatings. Color reproduction is outstanding, and so is the image clarity and overall quality.

Focusing is smooth and easy, with enough friction to ensure you only adjust the knob when you mean time. The same holds true for the magnification wheel.

What’s the Housing Like on the Spotting Scope?

Orion has designed the GrandView with a rugged waterproof housing that’s rubberized, but it’s quite smooth. I would be hesitant to handhold this glass with gloved or sweaty hands, but here’s the thing: you don’t have to. The included soft carrying case is view-through, and even includes a cutout for your tripod mount, so there’s no reason at all to use the scope “naked.”

On the left side of the spotting scope, you’ll find a mount rail for the optional Orion EZ Finder Deluxe II Reflex Sight, which is sold separately. If you want a great aid in aiming your spotting scope for precision viewing, this add-on accessory is very helpful.

The tripod mount works with any standard tripod, and rotates around the body of the scope for adjusting your viewing angle so that it’s just right for your comfort and convenience.

How Durable is the Glass?

Since the housing is rugged and rubberized, there should be plenty of shock absorption for the occasional bump or fall. It’s also fully fogproof and waterproof, with O-ring sealed lenses and an optics chamber that’s been properly {nitrogen-purged.