Home > Consumer Reviews > Brunton Macroscope Single Scope

This is an amazing little piece of optical machinery. If you're the curious type, the Brunton Macroscope will bring you hours of enjoyment looking at spiders, birds, ant colonies, flowers, mountains, etc. without getting so close as to scare off nature/scorch something--the way a magnifying glass does. (I also think it would be useful for detail studies at a museum--looking at dinosaur bones or Impressionist paintings.)

Weighing in at just 13.5oz and well balanced, the Macroscope is easy to use--with the turn of a single large dial you can look at a bird up close and then smoothly track it as it flys off into the horizon/infinity. There is a standard tripod mount that can be rotated to ensure optimal positioning of the focus dial.

My only disappointment is that Bruton didn't feel it was necessary to include lense caps, so if you want to protect your investment, I recommend budgeting $26 (including shipping) for a hinged pair from inventor's website at "closetoinfinity com" or find a spare 43mm lens cap at your local photography store.

First time I took it into the field I was at a small shallow pond, and the water insects were fascinating. Next time, there were these beehives with the covers missing. WOW! When there are no insects, they do just fine on birds and whatever else you need to look at. The optics are very good so while they're not _top_ quality roof prism, they're fine in the real world. Mount it on a hiking staff using the camera mount ring. Hiker naturalist heaven.

Bulk/weight factor - a bit bigger than pocket size binoculars, such as the Pentax Papilios. The Brunton's 40mm objective is a big plus, though.

(edit) I took it to Botswana just recently. We were out in nowhere, miles and miles from city lights and smog, and I wanted the large exit pupil. It gave wonderful views of the southern Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. I didn't use it on wildlife much, because I was always looking through the camera viewfinder!

One problem with ordering on the internet is that it is difficult to visualize the size or quality of an item from a photo or written description.
This is a fine quality scope but larger than I expected it to be. The tripod mount is great and the focus knob is fast and easy to use. I wish that Brunton would have included lens caps to protect the optics. It is a nice light weight scope for birding but a bit too big for backpacking or hiking. I purchase the Vortex Solo for my hiking needs and will keep the Brunton scope in my RV.

Brunton's Macroscope is a good value for the $99.00 price I payed for the instrument.

I bought it to have a lightweight alternative to binoculars for use in a variety of
settings. I was especially interested in having a monocular that could focus at very
close objects (Macroscope focuses at objects as close as 18 inches), as I live in the
forest in the Pocono mountains in PA, and all sorts of critters show up on my deck who
will move away if I attempt to get any closer. This scope has given beautiful views of
hovering humming birds, Monarch butterflies and other woodland creatures visiting our
yard. At 7X magnification and 40mm aperture, its views are sufficiently powerful and
bright to give satisfying details of distant objects. My family and I used it on the
Circle Line boat tour around Manhattan island and were very happy with it.

Optics: Very good. A little object edge color fringing that will go unnoticed most of
the time. Lenes are coated for improved light throughput. Reasonably sharp images at
the edge of field when center is in focus. I put the scope on a tripod to steady it
and was able to split the double star Alberio in Cygnus with ease into the beautiful
yellow and sapphire component stars.

Mechanical: Focus wheel has just a little play either way before engaging. I find
this helpful, as it makes fine focus adjustments smoother by delaying the movement
of the focuser, letting you adjust (slow) your turning motion before the images
begins to change. The objective housing, not the eypiece, is the moving element.


The body is sturdy. The eyepiece guard can be brought in or out to give proper
distancing of the eye from the ocular, so that it can be used comfortably with
or without eyeglasses. The shoe that defines the base will receive the standard
1/4-20 pan head or tripod mounting screw. The monocular body is fitted inside
a collar with ball bearings (continuous with the mounting base) that permits
changing the position of the focusing wheel to either side or atop the scope
instantaneously, to your preference.

A carry bag with belt loop is provided.

Negatives: No dust caps for objective or eyepiece are included.

When I first heard a radio advertisement for this devise, I was intrigued. I finally purchased one and absolutely love it. Binoculars can be hard for me to use, but this macroscope is wonderful and everything appears amazingly crisp - both at a distance, and close up. I am shocked at how much I miss with my normal day to day vision of life. I cannot wait to take it up to our property to view the wildlife up close and personal.