If you’re on the hunt for a phone-to-spotting-scope adapter that promises functionality, durability, and ease of use, look no further than MagView’s S1
by Jace Bauserman
Over the years, I’ve tested piles of glass. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from bowhunting bighorn sheep in the Rockies, trophy bull elk in New Mexico, and sending lead on the range, it’s this: The better the glass, the more successful and enjoyable your experience will be. It’s hard to beat top-tier optics, whether a spotting scope, bino, rangefinder, or rifle topper.
Recently, I discovered something that sweetened the optic pot, a system I won’t go to the field or range without — a compliment to my spotting scope that makes judging animals easier and allows me to have more fun sighting in a rifle. Dubbed the MagView S1 Spotting Scope Adapter, this simple-to-use system will enable one to quickly and easily attach their phone to their spotter and start snapping pictures or recording video.
The S1 Adapter looks like a scope cover, and to a degree, it is. This innovative cover, though, contains a strong magnet on the cap, which, when flipped open, attaches quickly to an included MagView Phone Plate. This is no regular magnet, and the cap-to-phone connection is uber-strong. With your phone attached perfectly to your spotting scope, you’re in for an excellent viewing experience. Taking your eye off your spotter and looking through your phone while still maximizing the zoom and focusing capabilities of the spotting scope and phone means remarkable photos, videos, and a viewing screen that’s easier to look through.
That’s the 411, but we need to take a few steps back so you can better understand the entire MagView experience.
First, the S1 Adapter fits eyepiece sizes between 51mm and 60mm and comes with one Phone Plate, three eye-relief spacers, one Allen wrench, and four sizing rings. The sizing rings enable the adapter to fit a broad range of eyepieces. Each spacer and ring are slugged with a number, which indicates thickness. To insert spacers and sizing rings, use the included Allen wrench to loosen the screw on the outside of the S1.
Now, select your eye relief. I recommend starting with the eye relief numbered 70, the middle size. Insert the eye relief into the S1 Adapter with the number facing up. Now align the gap in the spacer with the ridge in the S1 Adapter to keep the spacer from spinning. Next, place the each ring over the eyepiece of your spotting scope to find the right size. You want a fit that’s tight but not too tight. Get too loose, and you’ll know it; the adapter will slide off easily and fall off when you place your phone on the magnet. Once the correct ring is found, insert it into the S1 Adapter with the number facing up and align the ring like you did your eye relief spacer.
Lastly, use the Allen wrench to tighten the screw. Your S1 Adapter is assembled. The process is elementary and takes about 10 minutes. If you need to remove a ring or spacer, use a small pick and pry up gently.
The last step is removing the film cover and placing the Phone Plate magnet on the back of your phone’s case. Once the film cover is removed, the piece of the magnet that attaches to the phone is very sticky, so use caution. I recommend doing this in the field to better align the magnet on the phone’s case. Set your phone horizontally over the cap and viewing area, take note of where your phone’s camera best lines up, and then attach the magnet. It also helps to tilt and twist the S1 Adapter and angle the cap of the adapter at a slight angle.
Now that your S1 Adapter marries perfectly to your spotting scope, visit the App Store or Google Play Store and download the MagView App. The app is easy to use and has several features like auto-focus, flash, brightness settings, and a timer. Take time to play with each feature to maximize the app’s benefits.
That’s it. You’re ready to start capturing images and video through your spotter. Flip the cap of your S1 Adapter open, place your phone’s camera over the spotting scopes viewing area horizontally, and let the Phone Plate magnet connect to the magnets in the S1 cap. The attachment is ultra-secure, and it takes seconds. My favorite feature is you don’t have to remove your phone from its case, slip it into another one, and then attach it to the spotting scope. The MagView system simplifies the phone-to-spotter setup.
I have used several phone-to-spotter devices over the years, and MagView is my go-to. The attachment is secure, the app is easy to navigate, and the quality of the images and video is fantastic.
While I use my MagView S1 Adapter on every big game hunt, I also love it on the range. Whether I’m sighting in a rifle, wanting to shoot social media content, or capturing images of downrange groups, this system works amazingly well. I love shooting a three-shot group, and then looking over at my phone and being able to see the group clearly through the spotter. The system can save sight-in time. Plus, with the Phone Plate attached to your smartphone, the adapter is highly compact and will fit in your pocket, backpack, or anywhere you want to tote it. The adapter is tough as nails, and I’ve dropped it on numerous hard surfaces over months of testing with zero damage.
MagView’s B1 Binocular Adapter is also creating a buzz. MagView notes this sleek digiscoping system as incredibly small but impressively strong. Available in a pair of sizes (B1 and B1 XL), users must slip the one-piece design over the eyecup and tighten the retaining screw.
A dynamic duo from a forward-thinking company, MagView’s S1 and B1 digiscoping systems are worth looking into.
