There is a definite air of gimmickry to this scope, but it's reasonably well-made and performed well in our tests. It may encourage younger users into the world of birdwatching and astronomy, and that can only be a good thing.
Reasons to buy
+
Wide field of view of 234ft - 177ft at 1000 yds / 78m - 36m at 1000 m
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Tough outer rubberized casing
+
Multi-coated 7-piece lens
Reasons to avoid
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Small toy-like initial impression
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Not the sharpest views
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Not handholdable at high magnifications
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The Nocs Provisions Lite view spotting scope is marketed to new users in the world of spotting scopes. It has a toy-like look and size, but has pretensions of ability beyond its size. With a 56mm objective lens and a short length of 7.56-in, there's plenty of light getting through the unit, enabling use during low-light conditions. The 6.6 ft close focus is particularly beneficial for a spotting scope, allowing the users to focus on bird tables and feeders located close to a hide, further demonstrating the scope's beginner-friendly credentials.
The best binoculars for stargazing include binoculars not necessarily associated with stargazing. However, this spotting scope would fit into that category, due to its small size and high magnification range.
Nocs Provisions Lite View spotting scope: review
Nocs Provisions Lite View Spotting Scope: Design
The Nocs Provisions Lite View has a toy-like appearance due to its size, but we were pleasantly surprised by its overall capability.
(Image credit: Matt Morris)
Simple attachment of straps and removal of lens caps
All instructions are printed on the inside of the box, with further website instructions
Easy to set up for a beginner with minimal assembly needed
There's very little to set up on this scope; you just remove the two lens caps, and it's good to go. There's a strap on the shoe-shaped bag that fits over the shoulder, and all of this was installed in a few minutes. The unit weighs only 1.2 lbs, making it easy to carry. Children would find this scope very comfortable to use.
As with the larger 60x spotting scope that we recently tested, the instructions are printed on the inside of the box, making the whole process very straightforward. The scope takes a little getting used to in practice — due to its small size, the focus ring doesn't fall naturally to hand. You have to take the unit away from your face to find the ring first. We found we were missing moving birds while attempting to find the focus, which was a shame. After a while, this did improve, and we found that holding the focus ring in the left hand, with the right on the eyepiece for fine focus, worked well.
The scope comes with a handy carry case.
(Image credit: Matt Morris)
Specifications
Optical design: Roof/XDR prism Mount type: Tripod Aperture: 56mm Focal length: 7.87-inch (200mm) Focal ratio: f/3.5 Magnification: 9-27x Included eyepieces: Eyepiece permanently attached Dimensions: 7.56 x 4.72 x 2.68-inch (192 x 120 x 68 mm) Total kit weight: 1.2 lb / 567 g
The eyepiece is made of metal with a rubber cup, while the body is covered in a wave design rubber material, which feels pleasant to the touch and provides a good grip.
The tripod mount is covered with a shoe-shaped rubber mount, which is held on by an allen bolt. This was a slightly awkward system, where the loss of the bolt was a very real concern for us.
However, this spotting scope was very easy to transport, as it weighs only 1.2 lbs and can easily fit into a large pocket. The unit comes in a textured carry case with a shoulder strap for added convenience.
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Nocs Provisions Lite View Spotting Scope: Performance
The eyepiece isn't waterproof; only the body of the scope is. Therefore, we recommend caution when using the scope in the rain.
(Image credit: Matt Morris)
Useful 9x27x magnification range
IPX4 waterproofing
Large field of view of 234 ft - 117 ft at 1000 yds
Although the sound of higher magnifications is tempting, in reality, the 9x27x range of the Nocs is perfect for most cases. Any more than this, and the need for a tripod to stop blurry images becomes essential. The body of the scope is only 7.5-inches long, which makes it quite difficult to hold steady at its max magnification, although this does make it child-friendly. The range of magnification is far greater than that of the equivalent binocular or monocular, and with its small size, the Nocs is an excellent addition to your toolset.
We would have preferred the unit to have higher waterproofing, but it does have multiple coatings on the lenses, which will provide some protection from scratches and water ingress.
With its 56mm objective lens and the field of view at 234 ft - 117 ft at 1000 yds, we found the scope to have more power and clearer images than other units of this size. The image is reasonably sharp, and there is minimal edge distortion, although some is apparent at full magnification with the scope. The color representation is reasonably accurate and consistent with other optics at this price. Though the optics are nothing amazing.
The rubber shoe on the base of the Nocs comes off to allow tripod use.
(Image credit: Matt Morris)
Using the scope at night to view the blood moon, it performed excellently when used on a tripod, although its size made it awkward in this situation. We found it challenging to turn the body-mounted focus wheel when it was attached to the camera. When focusing on more distant celestial objects, we found it necessary to use a lower magnification to locate and then focus in fully.
We were able to use the scope's full range of magnification whilst in our dark sky reserve testing area. The light pollution and Bortle scale of four didn't have a significantly negative impact on the viewing experience, and the scope would be enjoyable to use for both beginners and experienced observers returning to the night sky.
Nocs Provisions Lite View Spotting Scope: Functionality
The 56mm objective lens was able to produce enough light to have clear views well into dusk and dawn.
(Image credit: Matt Morris)
Good observation of the blood moon
Able to see the rings of Saturn and the planet
Good viewing of water birds
The scope was able to reveal craters and fissures on the moon's surface at its 27x magnification. The viewing night had low-level light pollution of 21.4 and a Bortle scale of 4, making for some impressive views of the natural satellite. Recent views of Saturn allowed us to discern its rings to quite a good amount of detail, too.
Comparing the scope to its bigger brother, the recently reviewed Nocs Provisions long-view scope, which boasts an impressive 20-60x magnification, we found the Lite View's magnification range more than adequate for gathering fishing Egrets on a nature reserve's marshland.
(Image credit: Matt Morris)
The scope is also well-suited for watching sporting activities, such as windsurfing and jet skiing, as it can be used handheld, enabling swift tracking similar to some binoculars.
Overall, the compact size and significant magnification ability of the scope make it suitable for replacing a pair of binoculars and a larger spotting scope, as long as you can cope with the lack of ultimate quality views.
Should you buy the Nocs Provisions Lite View Spotting Scope?
Buy it if:
✅ You want a light and compact yet powerful scope: This spotting scope is ideal if a light and compact scope is what you're after.
✅ You want a reasonably tough and easy-to-use scope: Its robustness makes it great for children and beginners.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want the top level of magnification: While the magnification is good on this spotting scope, those looking for more detailed views may want a higher magnification.
❌ You want top-quality high-level glass: Better quality glass will enable you to getcrystal clear views and high contrast.
The Nocs Provisions Lite View spotting scope is an excellent choice for beginners. With high-quality casing and capable glass, we found it capable of providing clear and reasonably sharp views of both bird and animal activity, as well as being suitable for astronomy. With its focal range of 9-23x, it's more than capable of taking the place of both a binocular and a larger scope if you are carrying your equipment over long distances on a hike, etc. and don't want to lug heavy equipment to your viewing site.
Its lack of full waterproofing is a shame, but if reasonable precaution is taken, it shouldn't be too much of an issue. During testing, we didn't experience any fogging issues and the scope remained clear even in damp early morning conditions. We didn't experience any heavy rain showers whilst testing the scope, but it would be able to tolerate a light shower, just not full immersion.
The Nocs Provisions Lite View spotting scope is a small yet capable spotting scope that initially appears to be a toy, but as you use it more, you soon realize that it's more than just a gimmick. We were impressed with the unit overall and would recommend it to beginners.
If the Nocs Provisions Lite View spotting scope isn't for you, try the high-quality Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85, which offers fantastic views as you'd expect from this renowned camera manufacturer. Or what about the Vortex Viper HD with an adapter, if you're keen on taking images with your camera through the scope? Budget concerns shouldn't limit your enjoyment of your new scope so what about the Bushnell 20x60-65 prime? There are cheaper options, but this scope is comfortably able to cater to a beginner while still having headroom when the user becomes more demanding.
How we tested the Nocs Provisions Lite View spotting scope
We tested the Nocs Provisions Lite View scope in a Bortle scale 5 dark sky reserve and a hide-equipped local nature reserve. We also took the scope on walks and outings to get a general feel for its quality and performance, while using it with little warning or preparation.
Matt Morris is a keen astronomer, wildlife watcher and photographer living in Somerset, UK. He started stargazing and birdwatching at the age of 10 with his father who took him to bird hides and nature reserves around England. This sparked his interest in cameras and optics, a passion that has now spanned the better part of four decades and led to his being featured in several national photography magazines for competition-winning photos. Matt has had deteriorating eyesight in one eye over the last few years due to being Type-1 Diabetic. This has led him to develop a special interest in optics, spurring his passion for bird watching and wildlife spotting.
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