We suggest an approximate approach to solution of the light scattering problem for an axisymmetric particle. The approach includes the replacement of the scatterer by a spheroid and use of the quasistatic approximation. Applicability of the approach is numerically considered in the case of finite cylinders. It is found that the approach can be useful in a wide range of parameter values, and it is in particular appropriate to optically soft scatterers of large eccentricity.