Optika6 3-18x50 vs Ares ETR 3-18x50

[strow]

Does anyone have any opinion on how these two FFP scopes would compare?

It look like the Optika6 is 30mm vs Ares ETR 34mm and the Ares is ~4oz heavier? Price is similar. How does the glass, durability, tracking, and turrets compare?

Can anyone confirm that the Optika6 parallax does go down to 10y?

I have the Midas Tac in both 4-16x and 6-24x. I would assume the glass is better in both the Optika6 and Ares ETR?

Any input would be great!

 

[Sqwirl57]

I can't speak for the Optika6 but I have the 4.5-30x56 Ares ETR. Glass is excellent but more importantly, the turrets are dead on perfect throughout their entire range. Its a great optic, almost too good for an airgun. Mine sits on my 6.5 Creedmoor

 

[JungleShooter]

Well, I had those two scopes near the top of my shopping list.

The Optica6 just sold out at $722.

The Ares is still available for $800.

Product Description

Product Description | Camera Land NY

cameralandny.com

With the Meopta scopes it's a bit trickly, they are all so similar, and just one little detail varies, and all of the sudden the minimum parallax or another critical feature changes (like some have IR, others not, some have holdoff reticles, others only BDC, and there seems to be no rime or reason for those variations).


I attached below the Meopta 2022 catalog. At the end they have tables where you can easily identify WHICH scopes of 10y parallax.

Happy scope shopping!

Matthias


PS: I today decided to go one level of glass lower (probably) — and one level of magnification up (Vector Continental 4-24x56 FFP MIL 34mm IR).
It still has a huge FoV like many 3x scopes, and it comes with 113moa elevation adjustment all the zero stops and physical revolution counters that a die-hard turret dialer can ever wish for.


Attachments:
Meopta 2022 catalog

View attachment Scopes. Meopta. Catalog. 2022. More Details.pdf

 

[Kdog]

I have a Optika6 3-18x56 as a Hunter FT scope and I think it's fantastic. Glass is great.. like the reticle that is illuminated and it ranges just as good as any other scope I have ever used at 16x. Yes it ranges down to 10yards!

 

[mercado]

I purchased a ETR 34mm .. and installed in one of my pcp and in my other 2 I had one arken 4x16-34mm and in the other a ep5 6x24 .. at almost 3 times the cost of the 4x16 and twice the price of the ep5.. I could not find a reason to keep the ETR..the next day was shipped back first thing in the morning...next time will go higher $$$ 1,600+ to see if is worth it..looking for a scope to go 600y+ .. I have not had a chance to buy a optika6..

 

[Sqwirl57]

If you shipped the ETR back next day, you don't really know how good the ETR actually was. Glass is not the only deciding factor on an optics price. I use mine to shoot 1000m. I can dial 10.25 MOA up and be exactly where I should be at 500m. Dial another 15moa and its right where it should be at 800m. Turn the dial all the way back down to my zero, and at 200m I'm regrouping where I originally was, not one click off. That kind of precision in the turrets cost money and you are not getting it for 1/3 the price of the ETR.

If all you are looking for is clear glass, the ETR is not what you're looking for. Save your money and stick to cheaper optics. Even a $1600+ optic will not impress you, I promise.

 

[JungleShooter]

If all you are looking for is clear glass, the ETR is not what you're looking for. Save your money and stick to cheaper optics. Even a $1600+ optic will not impress you, I promise.

Would you help me a bit with deciding which scopes have "clear glass".... — I was exactly attracted to the ETR for the "better glass" (since they cost more).
Now, you explain that the manufacturer invested the extra $$ in better turrets — something that I DO appreciate!

However, I also would like a better picture for my scopecamming — but I'm right in the bracket of $400 to $900.
And I am not a "glass snob" — never even have looked through a Tier 1 or Tier 2 scope.

I'm all open to learn.

Thanks,
Matthias

 

[Sqwirl57]

Those Meoptas and Arken optics offer excellent glass for the money. I'm not trying to talk anyone out of either of them so if I came across that way, sorry. They're very nice optics just not quite Ares ETR good in certain aspects. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either one for an air rifle. The Arken EP5 also has like 120 MOA (35 MIL) of adjustment built in which is fantastic. The one downside (aside from weight) is the 25yd minimum parallax which really hasn't affected me on any of my hunting guns.

 

[mercado]

If you shipped the ETR back next day, you don't really know how good the ETR actually was. Glass is not the only deciding factor on an optics price. I use mine to shoot 1000m. I can dial 10.25 MOA up and be exactly where I should be at 500m. Dial another 15moa and its right where it should be at 800m. Turn the dial all the way back down to my zero, and at 200m I'm regrouping where I originally was, not one click off. That kind of precision in the turrets cost money and you are not getting it for 1/3 the price of the ETR.

If all you are looking for is clear glass, the ETR is not what you're looking for. Save your money and stick to cheaper optics. Even a $1600+ optic will not impress you, I promise.

Then you have just saved me the madness .. of spending a lot more money..because for my use arken have been perfect in the tracking for me ..so if arken give me the tracking I need.. and more magnification + a higher cost will not impress me .. then there is no need for me to spend more money.. ETR glass was not better n the turrets I didn't like them enough to keep it .. but glad that you are enjoying yours .

 

[Sqwirl57]

Then you have just saved me the madness .. of spending a lot more money..because for my use arken have been perfect in the tracking for me ..so if arken give me the tracking I need.. and more magnification + a higher cost will not impress me .. then there is no need for me to spend more money.. ETR glass was not better n the turrets I didn't like them enough to keep it .. but glad that you are enjoying yours .

Exactly my point. For most people the ETR is not a necessary upgrade and especially at typical airgun ranges. Theres a very good reason I said mine sits on a firearm and not a pellet pooter. Its heavy and its overkill for what most of us do.

 

[mercado]

My pellet pooter do 215 fpe in 25 cal n 160 fpe in 22 cal not your average pellet shooter..and at 48" long .. i don't mind heavy scopes that's is why I wanted something with more magnification and if possible better glass.. I have pb but ironically I could shoot 600 + yards in a Friend land .. that in ranges because ranges stop at 200y .. only military ranges have 1000y + that are a pain to get aces to... I would not see the sense on buying a $1000+ scope for the average pcp that maxes out at 300y in a wind less day..with good eyesight a 3x18 should be enough for most airguns ..

 

[Sqwirl57]

My pellet pooter do 215 fpe in 25 cal n 160 fpe in 22 cal not your average pellet shooter..that's is why I wanted something with more magnification and if possible better glass.. I have pb but ironically I could shoot 600 + yards in a Friend land .. that in ranges because ranges stop at 200y .. only military ranges have 1000y + that are a pain to get aces to... I would not see the sense on buying a $1000+ scope for the average pcp that maxes out at 300y in a wind less day..with good eyesight a 3x18 should be enough for most airguns ..

I agree and even 18x is too much usually. Even at 500m I'm typically sitting at 10x, not 30 unless I'm trying to get a read on the wind. I have a few rifles with LPVOs on them and even at a measly 6x I do fine at that range. Magnification just isn't THAT important. The kicker, those LPVOs don't even have decent glass. They're cheap Primary Arms optics. They fit the bill of "good enough".

That being said I dont pretend that they are "just as good" as more expensive optics. It would make me sound like that kid saying his Gamo Urban is just as good as an M3. Can they both group well at 100yds? Sure but it still isn't "just as good" to someone who knows what their doing with whatever they're holding.

 

[mercado]

Different people, Different eyesight,different shooting conditions.. for my eyesight 3x18 is the minimum I could use..because I could only usually do 100y + don't have anything closer to shoot.. n trying to hit some the a bit wider than a golf ball 100y + in 6 power for me is really uncomfortable..you are mixing 2 different things n never assume what gun the other guy is using..this is a open fourum to express your experience with products .. nex time try not to be a smart ass .. n don't pick a members comment..to expose your opinions..you could only help by expressing how the product had worked for you .. n for me n my use it didn't work..

 

[JungleShooter]

Helpful points, thanks.

The requirements for the glass quality that a shooter has depend very much on the shooting scenarios....

▪ Young eyes
vs. old eyes

▪ Seeing the target
vs. seeing the hits on the target (.22 holes at 100y are pretty hard to see)

▪ Using the scope to shoot
vs. using the scope to shoot and to film

▪ Squirrel ranges
vs. pigeon ranges
vs. prairie dog ranges

▪ Target shooting at 50y
vs. target shooting at 100y, 200y, etc.

▪ Normal scope user
vs. glass snob (not my term, that was self-applied by several here )



I think I like scopes as much as I like guns. They're just fascinating!

Matthias

 

[peaceful_ruler]

I have a Optika6 3-18x56 as a Hunter FT scope and I think it's fantastic. Glass is great.. like the reticle that is illuminated and it ranges just as good as any other scope I have ever used at 16x. Yes it ranges down to 10yards!

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I have this exact scope and love it! Def not as popular as it should be. I feel that 3-18X is a versatile, do it all kinda scope. For paper or pest it’s been fantastic. I’m very satisfied with it in all accounts…my only complaint being that it’s pretty hefty at almost 2#. But, even that tells me it’s built well! I had mine on a 16 fpe springer for a while with zero issues. I really can’t think of why I would ever need more scope than this for my uses…unless…well sometimes I wonder if a >24X magnification wouldn’t be nice for out there at >100m. For now that’s not an issue as I don’t shoot past 70m with the Hades pellets I’m running now. I’ve no trouble shooting 1/2” 10 shot groups at 50 meters with this rig.

I also enjoy this scope for night pesting. The possums and feral cats have been in decline in recent months in these parts.

I could rave on about my Optika6 but I’ll conclude by saying that I think Meopta and Athlon make the best VALUE scopes out there. Great, quality glass for the money…I can’t give a direct comparison for theses two scopes as I’ve not ran the Ares ETR. This specific Optika6 is the top in the 3-18 lineup(FFP, illumination, 10 yd focus, MRad1 reticle which is one of the only FFP reticle I’ve seen that doesn’t need illumination to be usable at low mag powers) and I’ve seen it for sale for around $680 new.

 

[peaceful_ruler]

 

[peaceful_ruler]

Turrets on my Optika6 are great imo. Both are zero resettable with the side/windage being capped. The elevation is 10 mil/revolution, tool-less zero reset, and has a hard zero-stop.

I reviewed a LOT before I bought this scope and really couldn’t find any weak points EXCEPT…Meopta Optikas 5/6 tend to be chunky/heavy and while the glass resolution is very good it doesn’t handle stray light too well. A sunshade is a simple remedy. Tracking, durability, and general quality all seem to be on point otherwise…

 

[peaceful_ruler]

Ok, one more thing.

The side-focus was a bit stiff until I installed a MK Machining attachment. What I really appreciate is that the yardage markings on the dial are dead on! At least for the diopter setting that my eyes require which is far-sighted—meaning the fast focus eyepiece is turned in all the way(clockwise).

Combining this with a FFP tree reticle makes it very fast for pesting at various ranges and conditions. Range, adjust parallax, FIRE.

 

[bman940]

You can not go wrong with a Meopta optic on dang near any platform. One of Meopta's SFP scopes with Parallax that you might consider is their Optika5, a 1-inch tube that delivers the same quality European glass as the 6, just in a more compact and lighter package. The 5 is one of my favorites and I think I have 4 now on multiple 22 LRs. A tremendous value in Meopta glass.

 

[1shooter]

I meant to buy an Athlon years ago. Multiple models have caught my eye like the Midas, Ares and Helos but I never purchased one. When I finally bought a new scope I decided to upgrade and spend more than 200- 300 dollars that my vector and discovery cost. Wanting to jump over the river of made in china scopes meant no Athlon for me and I landed on the Optika6 and 5. Still not sure how wet I am but I do know that I like what I got and am happy with the price.

I think Dairyboy posted some photos of the Ares looking through the scope and they looked really good but thats not saying much about one vrs the other.

Both meopta 3-18 ffp scopes go down to 10

I like the ffp optika 6’s but wish they had a ffp optika 5 Reason is for the size and weight to come down for use on my smaller pcp’s
My hope/dream is they add 2 more to the optika5 lineup.
A 3-15x44 and a 4-20x50RD both with
ffp, a mrad reticle and the same type of elevation turret that is on top on the optika6.
Hopefully someone at Meopta reads this and says Hmmm.