Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 spotting scope review

The Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 is a premium spotting scope that's perfect for nature lovers and wildlife watchers

Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85
(Image: © Gavin Stoker)

Digital Camera World Verdict

For those requiring supremely detailed viewing from a distance, the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 angled spotting scope not only boasts a high-resolution lens but also a rapid focus mechanism, therefore making it ideally suited to bird or animal watching, where the user will need to, in a very real sense, adjust on the fly. Yes you’ll need a tripod to use it and yes it is relatively bulky and expensive compared to simply a pair of binoculars, but if it’s power and detail you need the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 scope comes highly recommended.

Pros

  • +

    Delivers high degree of detail

  • +

    High contrast images

  • +

    Wide angle field of view

  • +

    Solid and well built

Cons

  • -

    Weighty at just under 2Kg

  • -

    Ideally needs a full size tripod

  • -

    Price reflects the premium build

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

The Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 could be ideal if you’re looking for high quality and reliability in spades and have the budget to match your ambitions. Zeiss is a brand instantly recognisable for photography enthusiasts for its optical excellence, so has got to be a top choice. The only negative is that premium options like this inevitably don’t come cheap. But on the plus side if you have got the cash to spare, you’ll be rewarded with years of highly detailed observation.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Gavin Stoker

Gavin has over 30 years’ experience of writing about photography and television. He is currently the editor of British Photographic Industry News, and previously served as editor of Which Digital Camera and deputy editor of Total Digital Photography

He has also written for a wide range of publications including T3, BBC Focus, Empire, NME, Radio Times, MacWorld, Computer Active, What Digital Camera and the Rough Guide books.

With his wealth of knowledge, Gavin is well placed to recognize great camera deals and recommend the best products in Digital Camera World’s buying guides. He also writes on a number of specialist subjects including binoculars and monoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, trail cameras, action cameras, body cameras, filters and cameras straps.