Posted: 2/6/2026 10:21:30 AM EDT
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What is the current affordable way to observe down range. I have a spotting scope, but it really bothers me to stare into it for longer periods of time. I'm trying to actually use the club I joined, and we have up to 200 yards available. I'm wanting to get the kids into some long range shooting, so 2-3 hours wouldn't be out of the questions. I tried some of the phone mounts, and that never really adjusts correctly. I remember years ago there was a downrange camera in an ammo box that was the hot new thing, but it was way out of my price range at the time. Options that could allow more than one watch the downrange target would be preferable. |
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The Ollin adapter is the best that I’ve found. It requires a special case or adapter that can interfere with your phones camera for zooming if you have multiple lenses, but for digiscoping, it’s fantastic. As long as your spotting scope is adjusted for the target, you’ll be focused immediately when you pop your phone on it due to the magnetic lock up. There are other systems that have launched that are similar, but I’ve stuck with Ollin for my last 2. They just work Ollin |
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Shot Spot I have this. Sends the video to your phone or iPad via Bluetooth. |
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I have the caldwell shooting camera setup, its ok for an affordable down range target camera, but most of the time both for just shooting and hunting I use my cell phone with a phone adapter on my razor 27x60x85 spotting scope..the key is a quality phone adapter...Ive had several shit adapters including phone scope, they all suck, they are just to flimsy to hold the camera perfectly everytime..I finally bit the bullet and bought a Nova Grade adapter, more money but it is 100% perfect everytime, and produces top quality repeatable videos and pictures, it also fits any phone with or without case and any spotting scope that they make a compression ring for, including phones, iPads, tablets, even adapters for cameras...It fits on both of my spotting scopes, my binoculars, my rangefinder, even rifle scopes, but rifle scopes don't work right with it because they require eye relief....I have the double adapter, they make a single adapter as well, I got all of their compression sleeves so I can fit it on almost anything and their bluetooth trigger that works with my phone as a trigger to take pics or stop and start videos without touching the camera...Great piece of gear and it will solve all the issues the cheap adapters have...Cost, for everything on mine was about 225 bucks, but I've spent more than that on a couple phone scopes from changing phones or even just cases on the same phone...this fits them all, is easy to accurately and consistently place the phone over whichever lens you want to use and it repeats every time...Oh and with my spotting scope sitting on the tripod, with the nova grade attached, I can pick everything up by grabbing the Novagrade alone..that is how solid it mounts.... Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File A couple pics in use...1500 yards on my range finder... Attached File A couple bulls at about a mile and a half... Attached File The website is nova grade.com, unfortunately the link function wouldn't work for me... |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: The Ollin adapter is the best that I’ve found. It requires a special case or adapter that can interfere with your phones camera for zooming if you have multiple lenses, but for digiscoping, it’s fantastic. As long as your spotting scope is adjusted for the target, you’ll be focused immediately when you pop your phone on it due to the magnetic lock up. There are other systems that have launched that are similar, but I’ve stuck with Ollin for my last 2. They just work Ollin I went and checked the Ollin out, nicer setup than the phone scope and such, but to do just one of my scopes and my binocs is 300 bucks, and that leaves out my other scope, or any of my buddies scopes without more adapters, and I don't even see anything for rangefinders if like me you like to take pics of targets thru the RF... I think the Novagrade is a far better setup and its cheaper while covering anything with your choice of large or small compression ring kit that comes with it and the optional set(both sets are 23 bucks each, you get your choice with the adapter) if you want them all........Plus it works on any phone/case combo incase a buddy wants to use it and it works on any eyepiece(scope/binocs/RF) they make a compression ring for(if you have both sets).... |
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They have some of the bino rangefinder options. I like it for the simplicity. From time of receipt to use is under 3-5mins. Most of that time is swapping phone cases. It’s stupid easy and fast and doesn’t impact the overall footprint of the scope/bino. I’m just not a fan of compression rings, and having to get everything just right for the best image. Not sure of the Nova’s ability to retain its setting, but I’ve had too many that required minor adjustment between use due to minor bumps from travel. I’ve never adjusted my Olin’s once put on. Different strokes for different folks, but I like fast and simple. Less opportunity for a failure point. |
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Originally Posted By SuperJlarge: They have some of the bino rangefinder options. I like it for the simplicity. From time of receipt to use is under 3-5mins. Most of that time is swapping phone cases. It’s stupid easy and fast and doesn’t impact the overall footprint of the scope/bino. I’m just not a fan of compression rings, and having to get everything just right for the best image. Not sure of the Nova’s ability to retain its setting, but I’ve had too many that required minor adjustment between use due to minor bumps from travel. I’ve never adjusted my Olin’s once put on. Different strokes for different folks, but I like fast and simple. Less opportunity for a failure point. The adjustability is 100% in any direction, besides the side to side adjustment, the up/down adjustment it also has in/out adjustment and it never moves , ever.. you put it on the eye piece and it repeats exactly the same every time unless you don't put it on the same way...I have yet to see another adapter that once installed you can pick up and carry the whole setup by, including the adapter/phone/spotting scope/tripod without it moving or failing...And yes it goes right on my binocs as well... We use our spotting scopes most, binocs are nice but normally we are trying to count brow tines at very long distances so the scopes work better..But yes you are right, everyone has their own likes/dislikes and what works for them may not work for others..Just offered up a choice that we have found out performs everything else we have seen/used that may solve issues for others that works perfectly with most anything you can find to hook it onto with most any phone w/w-o any case you want to use on it with out having to keep spending money buying stuff to make it work... 
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