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Pros - Great optics and image quality - Wide range of magnification levels - Smooth, easy-to-use controls - Outstanding close focus range Cons - No tripod included - Light transmission is a bit less than I would have expected

Welcome to my review of the Vanguard Endeavor 16-48×65 Spotting Scope. Vanguard makes some excellent products, some of which are on par with much more expensive models, so I was definitely keen to see how the Endeavor stacked up against the competition. Let’s check this one out and see how it fares.

This model features a 65mm objective lens and a straight eyepiece. It measures 14 inches long and weighs in at 2 pounds, 15 ounces. Eyeglass wearers will be happy to hear that the scope has a generous 19mm eye relief, making it comfortable to use for all.

What Comes in the Box?

You will probably want to know what you get for your money, so I’m always careful to pay close attention to the box contents when I review any new optic. Here’s what you can expect to find when you get your new spotting scope:

• The Vanguard Endeavor 16-48×65 Spotting Scope itself
• Lens caps
• View-through soft carrying case

You don’t get a hard carrying case or tripod, but the value of this spotting scope definitely makes up for the lack of a tripod. I just wish a hard carrying case was included. Truth be told, I typically find included tripods to be of extremely low quality anyways.

What’s the Magnification of this Spotting Scope

Through this glass’s 65mm objective lens, you’ll enjoy a wide range of magnification levels from 16X to 48X. That’s a great thing, making this spotting scope terrific for use spotting bullet holes from as far away as 300-400 yards. There isn’t a hint of chromatic aberration at any magnification, thanks to the excellent engineering work that went into the optic.

You might think that the field of view would be narrow, given the small size of the spotting scope. This couldn’t be further from the truth, however. You’ll enjoy seeing 105 feet of terrain at 16X and 52 feet with 48X magnification.

If you want to view something that’s nearby, you’ll get close focus of 14.8 feet. That’s about as good as it gets, folks.

How Easy is the Scope to Use?

The Endeavor makes use of dual focus controls, placed exactly where you would expect them to be at the front center of the spotting scope. The magnification wheel is, as usual, on the eyepiece. All of the controls are beveled and large enough for ease of use even when you’re wearing gloves or your hands are cold or wet. All in all, this is one of the easiest-to-use scopes I’ve come across.

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

The transmittance on this spotting scope isn’t the worst, but neither is it the best. While Vanguard doesn’t provide information on the scope’s twilight factor, I can say that it doesn’t perform nearly as well in low-light conditions as at night or during the day. Images at twilight or dusk are darker than I’d expect, despite the use of fully multicoated optics.

How Are the Optics and Focus on This Spotting Scope?

Vanguard has designed this scope using a porro prism design with BaK-4 prism glass, which has been treated with an excellent phase correction coating. As a result, you probably won’t notice any phase shift at all with this spotting scope. Throughout the entire magnification range, you’ll be pleased with what you see: a clean, crisp image with excellent color reproduction and detail.

The focus and magnification wheels provide just enough resistance to alleviate any problems with accidental adjustments, but they still rotate as smoothly as butter.

What’s the Housing Like on the Spotting Scope?

Vanguard has built the housing from a magnesium alloy, with rubber armor to provide additional shock protection. The texturing on the rubber armor gives you a great grip on the glass, allowing you to hold it securely for those times when your tripod isn’t available or convenient.

How Durable is the Glass?

Backed by a hassle-free lifetime warranty, this optic has been built to last. The optics chamber is both fogproof and waterproof, sealed with O-rings and nitrogen-purged for use in all weather conditions. The rubber armor provides enough shock resistance to allow this scope to be used and abused almost at will, short of actually shooting the accessory.