Element Nexus Gen 1 vs. Gen 2: Thoughts?

Greetings.

I have heard this and that about the Nexus Gen 2 on YouTube, and on different forums. (This online chat pertains to the Helix and Titan line, too; I have only had three Helix scopes to date.) Not surprisingly, there is some conflicting opinion about how the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Nexus stack up to each other and about the optical quality of the Gen 1 and Gen 2 on their own merits. Regarding, there is diverse opinion. From my modest understanding, it seems that there are those who to varying degrees like the Nexus (and Element line in general) and those who think that Element products--including the Nexus--are over-hyped, under-performing, and have largely gained currency in shooting sports because of FX, Dubber, and a few more. Flatly put, there are Element 'despisers' of sorts. And if someone has had a bad experience, or does not like Element's line, and wants to strongly verbalize it, that's fine, of course. But to someone like me, who is only mildly experienced, it is hard to get a bead on things. So, I suspect the facts may lay somewhere in the middle or thereabouts.

Additionally, I wonder at times if there is a subtle 'cultural pressure' exerted by certain shooters of both guns and air rifles, unintended, perhaps, for others to not say something nice about Element products--the Theos excepted. I say this because when, here and there, someone touts an Element product, they may get quick rebuttal. This negativity may then tend to become ingrained in the minds of readers and viewers. To my ears, Athlon is typically trumpeted and Element is often poo-pooed. Is this at all accurate? Hey, it simply could be that Athlon is a better bang for the buck. Period. However, folks like Glassaholic (Bill), Ilya, reputable YouTubers, and so on, have, if my memory is correct, found the Nexus to be a nice scope. I do not think all these people have a dog in the fight.

For the record, I previously mounted an Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 on a Crown MKII (both of which have been sold), and it was a very nice scope in every way. But at shorter distances I did not notice a big difference between it and the Helix 4-16x44 FFP, which was mounted on my other Crown (still here). It may have been me? I have also briefly had an NX8 2.5-20 (which I liked a lot, especially the fit and finish) and a March 4.5-28x52. Other than this, and a wee bit more, my experience is limited compared to many, I am late to the game, and my eyes are older.

Okay, so here is my question: How do the two Nexus scopes compare optically?

Beyond my curiosity about all this, I think of getting a Nexus Gen 1 from time to time due to the price drop since the Gen 2 has come out. I know that I can try one out, but I would appreciate input.

To be clear, I have no one on this forum in mind!

Thank you in advance for your time.
S7
 
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I consider myself a moderate scope junkie. While I can't afford the best scopes, I like to outfit my finest airguns with the finest glass I can. Earlier this year I started using reading glasses as my once perfect vision is starting to fail. It should be noted that ALL of my scopes are FFP. So that affects my opinion on the reticles below.

Most of my airguns run the Hawke Frontier or Sidewinder range. I think they are good scopes that don't break the bank. The clarity is good, the reticles are good, the turrets are... ok (so I primarily use them with hold-over), and the eye boxes are quite forgiving. I've also owned a variety of Athlon scopes. They offer a good bang for your buck. The upper end (like the Cronus) is an excellent scope that closely compares to the Element Nexus & Nightforce NX-8 scopes, though the Cronus is quite a bit larger. A few years ago I ran the Midas Tac on several airguns. While its a good all around scope, my failing eyes simply couldn't get along with the ultra fine reticles.

I tried the G1 Titan scope and did not like it. It was a beast of a scope, and even though it boasted relatively high magnification, it wasn't really usable and gave me an instant headache. I find that most mediocre scopes are best utilized under 75% magnification. I've yet to try the Element Helix, but I've read good things about the price point vs quality & features.

My best airguns run the Nexus G1 & G2, and the NightForce NX-8's. So I will compare these for you:

Regarding the glass of the Nexus G1 & G2 I can't tell any difference. They are both really good, and the edge to edge clarity is outstanding even at maximum magnification. The illumination is great (red only) and there is no bleeding on either model. The G2 does offer more magnification, and superior turrets and controls. The parallax on these scopes demands more precision, and the eye box is pretty tight at the highest magnifications. The reticles are crisp, though a bit on the thinner side. For my eyes this is a non-issue (so long as the eye bell is properly focussed). The G1 is selling at a great price and is a great scope, but the G2 is simply better.

The NX-8's also have great edge to edge clarity throughout the magnification range. The illumination is great (red & green) and there is no bleeding. The turrets have a great tactile feel, better than the Nexus G1, but not as good as the Nexus G2. The parallax and the eye box on these scopes are more forgiving. The reticles are crisp, though a bit on the thicker side.

The older I get the more selective I get with my optics. When I shoot I typically spends hours behind the glass. If a scope isn't easy to use, doesn't make me happy, or gives me a headache, you'll probably see it in the Classified section 👀

-Michael
 
Thanks, Michael.
That was a very helpful response! Besides clarifying some important things for me, I was not thinking about reticle thickness and now I am. I, too, typically go for FFP so this will come into play.
If I had my druthers, I would probably be thinking about one of the NX8s. But, as you mention, the Nexus Gen 1 is running at some very good prices right now.
David
 
I also am intrigued by the pricing on the Gen 1 Nexus. It's very tempting , and , as Micheal stated older eyes demand better glass. I currently have 2 Nightforce NX8's that in my opinion have superior glass to my other scopes........Meopta (close 2nd place) , GPO , SWFA , Optisan , and Athlon. To me the most compelling difference is that with the N/F scopes , I can use lower magnification settings and still get the target sighted as opposed to most others.
Not to derail this thread , but again , the Nexus Gen 1 looks appealing. Please talk me out of it !
 
I also am intrigued by the pricing on the Gen 1 Nexus. It's very tempting , and , as Micheal stated older eyes demand better glass. I currently have 2 Nightforce NX8's that in my opinion have superior glass to my other scopes........Meopta (close 2nd place) , GPO , SWFA , Optisan , and Athlon. To me the most compelling difference is that with the N/F scopes , I can use lower magnification settings and still get the target sighted as opposed to most others.
Not to derail this thread , but again , the Nexus Gen 1 looks appealing. Please talk me out of it !
Greetings.
These comments help and are well inside of the thread's concerns. Thanks.
 
I'm in the process of replacing my Gen 1 with a March scope. The Gen 1 isn't bad, I just don't think it's worth the $1500 I paid for it. For me, the lighting has to be just right to get the best image out of it and as others had mentioned, the parallax is much to be desired. Its a sub $1000 scope at best.
Greetings. I was on a big March hunt for a while, but I am now looking at lesser-priced scopes.
Thanks for the feedback on the Nexus Gen 1.
Not to kill my own thread, but what March scopes are you thinking about? I researched many of them rather extensively a while ago and have some opinion, most of it not experiential, but I have looked through two. I am curious to hear what you say.
S7
 
Greetings. I was on a big March hunt for a while, but I am now looking at lesser-priced scopes.
Thanks for the feedback on the Nexus Gen 1.
Not to kill my own thread, but what March scopes are you thinking about? I researched many of them rather extensively a while ago and have some opinion, most of it not experiential, but I have looked through two. I am curious to hear what you say.
S7
D42HV56WFIMAX-G2-FMA-TR1, I had it in hand, but had to return it due to some scratches it had internally on the Objective. My replacement should arrive any day now. Just out the box looking through the glass on a overcast day was night and day difference vs the Gen 1 and would expect it to.
 
D42HV56WFIMAX-G2-FMA-TR1, I had it in hand, but had to return it due to some scratches it had internally on the Objective. My replacement should arrive any day now. Just out the box looking through the glass on a overcast day was night and day difference vs the Gen 1 and would expect it to.
That is a very intriguing selection. I just read some encouraging things about this scope on the Hide.
My March 4.5-28 had the FML-TR1 reticle.
 
UA has em for $880 right now.

mike

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