Home > Consumer Reviews > Brunton Macroscope Single Scope

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.

It is not what I expected. It is quite a bit heavier than I thought and is very difficult to hold still. I would return it if that is possible.

Easy to use. Excellent optics. Long focus range - closeup to infinity. So good I wish that there was some sort of camera adapter to fit to a digital camera. It does need end-caps (both ends), and the case should be snugger to allow safe wearing on a belt or to clip to a backpack. But it is a great device. Highly recommend it, especially to someone who is uncomfortable using binoculars.

Everything said about this Macroscope is true ~ it is an amazing scope. Compared to other options, including monoculars and spotting scopes, this 7x power scope excels in close-up (18") focus ability plus it has a wide field-of-view which makes it easier to follow moving targets. Very user friendly.

My first encounter with the Macroscope was at Outer Banks Birdwatchers in Nags Head, NC where they had the scope mounted onto a Polecat hiking stick, and leaned near a window for everyone to use while watching birds at their backyard feeder. That's exactly what we do here at home; keep the scope handy for watching our backyard birds.