Firefield 20-60×60 Spotting Scope Review 2026: Worth Buying?

Spotting scopes used to cost a small fortune. Today you can grab one for less than the price of a decent range bag. The Firefield 20-60×60 sits right at that entry point, and it keeps showing up in shopping carts because of one simple reason: it is cheap and it comes with everything you need in one box.

But cheap optics carry a reputation. Some deliver real value. Others frustrate you until they collect dust in a closet. So where does this one land?

I spent time with this scope at the range, in the backyard, and on a few early morning walks. This review covers what works, what annoys, and who should skip it entirely. No sugar coating. Let’s get into it.

In a Nutshell:

• The price is the main selling point. The Firefield 20-60×60 typically sells around $100 to $120 as a complete kit. That includes the scope, a tripod, a soft case, and lens caps. Nothing else to buy on day one.
• Image quality holds up well from 20x to about 35x. Push past 45x and the picture goes soft. Colors wash out slightly. Heat shimmer destroys detail. This is normal for glass at this price, but you should know it going in.
• The included tripod is the weakest part of the kit. It wobbles. It shakes when you touch the focus knob. Most owners end up replacing it, and that extra cost changes the value math.
• Eye relief measures 17mm at 20x and drops to 13.5mm at 60x. Glasses wearers will struggle at high magnification. If you wear safety glasses at the range, plan on fighting with the rubber eyecup.
• It is genuinely waterproof and nitrogen purged. The body carries an IPX6 weather rating. Internal fogging is not a problem. That is unusual at this price and worth real credit.
• Best fit: casual shooters checking targets at 100 to 200 yards, new birders, and anyone who needs a spotting scope a few times per year. Serious users should budget more.

Firefield 20-60×60 Spotting Scope

Last update on 2026-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

The Firefield 20-60×60 SE is a straight body spotting scope built around a 60mm objective lens. The model number is FF11018K. Firefield sits under the Sellmark family of brands, which also owns Sightmark and Pulsar, so the company is not a random import label.

The scope uses BaK4 Porro prisms and fully multicoated optics. Magnification runs from 20x to 60x through a zoom ring on the eyepiece. Focus happens through a single central knob. The body weighs 22.5 ounces, which is genuinely light for a 60mm scope.

Field of view measures 110 feet at 1,000 yards on the low end and tightens to 57 feet at full zoom. Minimum focus distance is 15 feet. The whole package feels like a starter kit, and that is exactly what it is.

Unboxing Experience

The box arrives smaller than expected. Inside you find the scope sealed in a zippered nylon pouch, a three section aluminum tripod, lens caps front and rear, and a basic cleaning cloth.

First impression: the scope itself feels better than the accessories. The rubber armor has real grip. The focus knob turns with no grinding. The zoom ring has a textured ridge that your thumb finds easily.

Then you pick up the tripod. It weighs almost nothing. The legs are thin tubes with plastic locking collars. The pan head uses a short handle that flexes under pressure.

Some buyers have reported the eyepiece cap threads arriving cross threaded. Mine was fine, but check yours. The scope is the star here. The extras are filler.

Build Quality and Design

The rubber armor covers the full barrel and resists scuffs well. Drop it on grass and nothing happens. Drop it on gravel and you will see marks but no cracks.

The straight body design splits opinion. Straight scopes point naturally when you are standing or seated at a bench. You look through them like a telescope. Angled scopes feel better when the tripod sits low or when several people share the view.

A built in sunshade slides forward from the objective end. This small feature genuinely helps on bright days by blocking stray light that otherwise reduces contrast.

The diopter adjustment lives on the eyepiece with a range of negative 4 to positive 8. That range covers most eyes. Set it once and forget it. Tripod mounting uses a standard 1/4 inch thread, so aftermarket upgrades drop right on.

Top 3 Alternative for Firefield 20-60×60 Spotting Scope

Last update on 2026-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

Emarth 20-60×60 Angled Spotting Scope

Last update on 2026-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

Celestron Ultima 20-60×80 Angled Spotting Scope

Last update on 2026-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

Gosky Elite HD 20-60×80 Spotting Scope

Optical Performance and Image Clarity

Here is where honesty matters most. The Firefield delivers a bright, usable image across the lower two thirds of its zoom range. At 20x to 30x in daylight, the view is sharp enough to read detail on signs, count feathers, and identify shapes clearly.

Contrast is decent thanks to the multicoated lenses. Colors lean slightly cool but stay natural.

Problems start above 40x. The image softens noticeably. Edge sharpness falls off. Chromatic aberration appears as purple fringing on high contrast edges like tree branches against sky.

Exit pupil shrinks from 3.15mm down to 1.05mm at full zoom. That tiny exit pupil is why the view darkens so much at 60x. Low light performance suffers badly as a result.

Treat 60x as an emergency setting, not a working one.

Magnification Range in Real Use

Most owners settle into a comfortable band and stay there. For this scope, that band runs 20x to 35x.

At 20x you get the widest, brightest, steadiest view. Finding your target is easy. Movement is simple to track.

At 30x you still have good brightness and enough magnification for bullet holes at 100 yards on clean paper targets. This is the sweet spot.

At 45x the view dims and every tripod vibration becomes obvious. Focus gets fussy.

At 60x on a sunny day with a solid tripod, you can sometimes resolve .223 holes at 300 yards. On a hot day with mirage, you will see nothing useful. The top end exists for marketing more than practical use.

The Tripod Problem

This deserves its own section because it affects everything else.

The included tripod cannot support a 60x view. Touch the focus knob and the image jumps. A light breeze introduces visible shake. Extend the legs fully and the wobble gets worse.

The workaround is simple. Collapse the legs completely and set the tripod on a bench or table. Stability improves dramatically. Height becomes awkward, but at least the image holds still.

A better answer is a $60 to $90 aluminum photo tripod with a fluid pan head. The upgrade transforms the scope. Sharpness you thought was missing from the glass turns out to have been vibration all along.

Budget for this upgrade from the start. The scope plus a real tripod still costs less than most mid tier kits.

Eye Relief and Comfort

Eye relief is the distance your eye can sit from the eyepiece while still seeing the full image. The Firefield offers 17mm at 20x and 13.5mm at 60x.

Those numbers look acceptable on paper. In practice they create friction. The fold down rubber eyecup adds thickness, so at higher zoom you must fold it back and press your eye close.

If you wear prescription glasses or mandatory range eye protection, this becomes a real nuisance. Several reviewers have described removing eye protection entirely to use full magnification, which no range officer will appreciate.

Viewing sessions longer than ten minutes cause eye strain for some users. This is the single most common complaint about the scope. If you wear glasses full time, strongly consider an alternative with 18mm or more.

Weather Resistance and Durability

Credit where it is due. Firefield did not cut corners here.

The body is nitrogen purged and sealed. That means no internal condensation when you move from a cold truck into warm humid air. Cheaper scopes fog internally within minutes in those conditions and stay fogged for hours.

The IPX6 rating means the housing resists heavy water spray. Light rain, morning dew, and splashes cause no harm. This is weatherproof rather than submersible, so do not drop it in a creek.

Operating temperature runs from 0 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which covers nearly every hunting season in the lower 48.

A sealed, fog free body at this price is genuinely rare. Many competitors in the same bracket skip nitrogen purging entirely.

Performance at the Shooting Range

Range spotting is the job most buyers have in mind, so let’s be specific.

At 100 yards with black paper targets and good light, you can see .223 holes at roughly 30x to 40x. The holes appear as small dark dots. Clean paper helps. Splatter targets help even more.

At 200 yards, you need 40x or higher and bright conditions. Rifle caliber holes become hard to resolve. Larger holes from .308 or .45 stay visible.

At 300 yards, only steel target impacts and large caliber holes register reliably.

Mirage ruins everything on hot days. Heat shimmer at 50x turns targets into wavering blobs regardless of glass quality.

Verdict for range use: excellent for 100 yards, workable at 200, marginal beyond that. Many owners still prefer walking downrange to confirm groups.

Birding and Wildlife Watching

Birders have different needs than shooters. They want wide fields of view, fast focus, and good color.

The Firefield handles casual birding reasonably. At 20x you get a 110 foot field of view at 1,000 yards, which is enough to find a bird in a tree without hunting around. Color rendition is acceptable for identification.

The 15 foot minimum focus distance is fine for feeder watching from a window.

Where it falls short is low light. Dawn and dusk are prime birding hours, and the small exit pupil at higher zoom makes the view dim exactly when you need brightness most.

The straight body also forces an awkward neck angle when watching treetops. Angled scopes win for birding, and most serious birders choose them for this reason.

Digiscoping with a Phone or Camera

Firefield markets this scope as camera adaptable, and the eyepiece accepts standard phone adapters sold separately.

Results are mixed. At 20x to 25x you can capture usable photos and video of distant subjects. Social media quality, not print quality.

Above 30x, two problems compound. Vignetting creates a dark circle around the frame. Vibration from the stock tripod blurs everything.

A phone adapter plus a solid tripod produces much better results. Expect to spend around $25 for a decent clamp style adapter.

Do not buy this scope primarily for digiscoping. Purpose built options with wider eyepieces and better stability exist. For occasional snapshots of a distant hawk or a target group, it does the job.

What This Scope Does Not Do Well

Authentic reviews name the flaws plainly, so here they are.

It does not deliver sharp images above 45x magnification. The glass simply lacks the quality to support that much zoom.

It does not work well in low light. Dawn and dusk performance is weak.

It does not come with a usable tripod. Plan on replacing it.

It does not suit glasses wearers at high magnification. Eye relief is too short.

It does not track moving animals easily. The straight body and narrow high zoom field make follow up difficult.

It does not feel premium. Accessories feel inexpensive because they are.

None of this makes the scope bad. It makes the scope a $110 scope. Expecting $400 performance leads to disappointment every time.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Complete kit at a low price with scope, tripod, case, and caps included
• Genuinely waterproof body with nitrogen purging that prevents internal fogging
• Light weight at 22.5 ounces makes carrying and packing easy
• Sharp, bright images from 20x through roughly 35x in good daylight
• Built in sunshade improves contrast on bright days
• Smooth central focus knob and easy zoom ring operation
• Standard 1/4 inch tripod thread allows simple upgrades
• Backed by Sellmark, an established optics company with warranty support

Cons

• Image softens badly above 45x magnification
• Included tripod wobbles and needs replacing for serious use
• Short eye relief creates problems for glasses wearers
• Weak low light performance due to small exit pupil at high zoom
• Straight body design is less comfortable for upward viewing
• Focus knob is sensitive and easy to overshoot
• Accessories feel cheap compared to the scope body
• Chromatic aberration visible on high contrast edges

Who Should Buy the Firefield 20-60×60

This scope fits specific people very well.

Buy it if you shoot at 100 yards a few times per month and want to stop walking downrange. Buy it if you are new to spotting scopes and want to learn what features matter before spending real money. Buy it if you need something light for occasional backcountry glassing. Buy it if you want a scope for a kid or a beginner where damage risk is high.

Skip it if you shoot competitively beyond 200 yards. Skip it if you wear glasses constantly. Skip it if you bird seriously at dawn. Skip it if you hunt in genuinely rough weather week after week.

The dividing line is frequency. Occasional users get good value. Frequent users outgrow it fast.

Price and Value in 2026

Current pricing sits around $100 to $120 for the kit, with sales occasionally dropping it lower. Firefield lists it at $119.97 direct.

At that number, value depends on your expectations. You are getting a sealed, fog free 60mm scope with usable glass through 35x, plus accessories. Competing scopes under $150 often skip nitrogen purging or use inferior prisms.

Add a $75 tripod and you land near $190 total. At that price you enter territory where better scopes exist, and the comparison gets harder.

The smart play is buying the Firefield kit, using the stock tripod on a bench, and upgrading only if you find yourself using the scope often.

Value rating: strong under $110, fair above that.

Final Verdict

Last update on 2026-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Some of the links on this website are affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I only recommend products and services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!

The Firefield 20-60×60 is an honest budget scope that does roughly 70 percent of what the box promises. The optics work well where they are supposed to. The sealed body is a real feature, not a marketing claim. The weight makes it easy to carry.

The tripod disappoints. The eye relief frustrates. The top end of the zoom range is more sales pitch than specification.

Score: 7 out of 10 for the price bracket.

If you want a first spotting scope that will not hurt to buy and will not quit on you in the rain, this is a reasonable choice. If you already know you need serious glass, save longer and spend more. Cheap optics bought twice cost more than good optics bought once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Firefield 20-60×60 waterproof?

Yes. The body is nitrogen purged and sealed with an IPX6 weather rating. It handles rain, dew, and spray without internal fogging. It is not designed for submersion, so avoid dunking it.

Can you see bullet holes at 200 yards?

Sometimes. At 40x in bright light with high contrast paper targets, .308 and larger holes are visible. Small caliber holes from .223 are difficult. At 100 yards, visibility is reliable.

Does it come with a tripod?

Yes, the kit includes a three section adjustable tripod. The tripod is the weakest part of the package. Most owners eventually replace it with a sturdier photo tripod for better stability.

Is this scope good for birdwatching?

It works for casual daytime birding. The 20x setting gives a wide, bright view. Low light performance is weak, and the straight body makes watching treetops uncomfortable compared with angled designs.

What is the eye relief and does it work with glasses?

Eye relief ranges from 17mm at 20x down to 13.5mm at 60x. Glasses wearers can manage at low magnification with the eyecup folded down. High magnification becomes genuinely difficult.

Can I attach my phone to take photos?

Yes, with a separately sold phone adapter. Results are acceptable at 20x to 25x. Higher zoom introduces vignetting and vibration blur. Use a solid tripod for the best outcome.

How does it compare to the Emarth 20-60×60?

Both occupy the same price range. The Emarth uses an angled eyepiece, which many users find more comfortable. The Firefield offers nitrogen purging and a lighter body. Optical quality is broadly similar.

Does Firefield offer a warranty?

Firefield operates under Sellmark and provides warranty coverage on its optics. Register your product after purchase and keep your receipt. Contact details are available through the official Firefield website.