Surprising scope comparison
- Thread starter Centercut
- Start date
I agree with all this to a point.
Coatings obviously are so good now it makes a huge difference in what we see depending on conditions . Take a modern Fujinon 90f2 lens for example, this lens will run circles around many & most at much higher $ vintage or modern
It doesn't even matter if it's the MIJ version or Phillapean.
Or take a humble old Canon 400mm f5.6 non stabi & it will do amazing work.
The lil big white is many many years older then then the Fujinon 90f2
Also I have a couple old Minolta lenses that hang with anything & would never sell.
Just gotta be careful with sun with them
But resolution is very high with these albeit just a few qualify .
But yeppers I wouldn't be scared of anything made in Phillapeans in glass land as Fujinon has proved this to me . They produce freaking amazing glass or someone does for them in superb fashion
It's a great time in life to buy scopes or camera lenses. There so dang good now across the board
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Tokina 50-135, all glass and metal, weights like a pickup truck, discontinued about 15 years ago
Tokina 11-20
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Along my years punching paper rings (and over 40 years in photography hobby) I developed some preferences with glasses.
I like high power scopes, I like to zoom in to a ring center be that 100 or 50 or 200 meters. And I don't like paying four figures $ for my scopes.
I have compared at least a dozen scopes over 40 power and mostly 50 and find out not many Brands shall be so proud of the products targeting that category.
If per say a 50 power scope is not sharp at full power I don't want it ... regardless if I may be using it at 70-80% most of the time if I shoot shorter then 100M.
Falcon X50 is on my MK2, got it from Krales.
I like high power scopes, I like to zoom in to a ring center be that 100 or 50 or 200 meters. And I don't like paying four figures $ for my scopes.
I have compared at least a dozen scopes over 40 power and mostly 50 and find out not many Brands shall be so proud of the products targeting that category.
If per say a 50 power scope is not sharp at full power I don't want it ... regardless if I may be using it at 70-80% most of the time if I shoot shorter then 100M.
Falcon X50 is on my MK2, got it from Krales.
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Yep unfortunately it typically takes a small fortune to get into the top tier scopes which will show a noticeable edge in optical prowess.
I have a pair of Zeiss HT 10x42 binos that I was spotting with a few days ago. Then immediately I'd look through a Athlon Heras 4-20 to take the shot. It was pretty shocking the difference!!! Those binos are brilliant in comparison. I paid $2200 for them when they first came out 11 years ago. I think the new Zeiss SF 10x42's are around $2900 in today's money and quality level.
Normally the Heras glass is fine to look through until you get to looking through high level glass like these binos have.
But to be fair I don't think a $5000 Tangent Theta 5-25x56 would measure up to the top tier binos.
I have a pair of Zeiss HT 10x42 binos that I was spotting with a few days ago. Then immediately I'd look through a Athlon Heras 4-20 to take the shot. It was pretty shocking the difference!!! Those binos are brilliant in comparison. I paid $2200 for them when they first came out 11 years ago. I think the new Zeiss SF 10x42's are around $2900 in today's money and quality level.
Normally the Heras glass is fine to look through until you get to looking through high level glass like these binos have.
But to be fair I don't think a $5000 Tangent Theta 5-25x56 would measure up to the top tier binos.
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Centercut said: I'm not sure that a side-by-side blind comparison (by regular shooters and not Scope bubbas) would rate the NightForce ATAC-R, Sightron SV, or Vortex Razor HD any better than the Athlon Cronus.
Reluctantly, I have to agree with this.
But when focus rangefinding (a la' Field target) the NightForce will resolve 1/2 yard distances. Didnt know that till it arrived. For me there's more to a "good scope" than just optical quality.
Seems to me that Centercut's blind comparsion experiment could be easily arranged, and his theory tested
Reluctantly, I have to agree with this.
But when focus rangefinding (a la' Field target) the NightForce will resolve 1/2 yard distances. Didnt know that till it arrived. For me there's more to a "good scope" than just optical quality.
Seems to me that Centercut's blind comparsion experiment could be easily arranged, and his theory tested
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The reliability of the scope comes first for me.
That is why I prefer Made in Japan.
Quality of glass is 2nd priority to me.
Bhaur
That is why I prefer Made in Japan.
Quality of glass is 2nd priority to me.
Bhaur
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This has been thrown around before alot of times in the past. Scope should cost as much as the gun. Maybe for a top tier powder burner I can see that or if you're a competition shooter for either powder or airguns, but otherwise I don't see it. I shoot pests and that's about it. I invest in my guns though to have the best. Evol mini, $2600 gun new, I bought it used for less. Have a $500~ scope on it. The Helos BTR Gen2 4-20x50. I shoot to 100yds regularly maybe if I REALLY stretch it 150yds but not seriously. I can't see what say a $2500 scope would do for me better than the $500 one. It tracks perfectly, parallax works just as it should and it's very very nice glass. I don't see why I would need to spend $2000 more just cause the gun is worth that money. I can find alot of other things to spend that on. But I know that's been a very popular standard over the years
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the way i see it, for an airgun outside of competition about 150 will do the trick ..if im gonna spend bucks im going to get an electronic scope with built-in ballistic calculator, lazer range finder, auto zeroing of reticle, built in wifi, and auto recording ... 'optical clarity' is all but a myth when it comes to spending money on a scope .. if you need high end its for the accuracy of the turrets .. again, id rather have a fully electronic scope if its for my personal use ..big bucks for a big optical scope outside of competition? why? airguns are 100y guns at best, not 1000y guns lol
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Airguns are reaching well beyond 100 yards placing more pressure on scope performance.
Just like tools, I select for the task being served. Over purchasing doesnt fix all, it can introduce it's own problems.
Just like tools, I select for the task being served. Over purchasing doesnt fix all, it can introduce it's own problems.
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I think it all comes down to diminishing returns and how much one is willing to pay for it. I don't compete but I enjoy looking through high-end glass regardless if I'm looking at a target/object at 50 yards or 1000 yards.
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Binoculars are a very good example of diminishing return. Look through a pair athlon cronus 10x42 then compare to a pair double the price ....Holy cow you can spend a lot to get just a little better and maybe not better.
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I’ve recently been using a higher end Vortex Razor on my Skout Epoch. This scope is big and heavy, as is the gun. This scope was a prize and I would not have bought such an expensive optic, but I’m glad to experience it, even if it is way overkill.
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Optical quality is just one part of what makes a scope "good" or better than another.
In the firearms world, brands like Nightforce keep their reputation by ability to hold zero and track well.
PCPs are a very easy environment for a scope to live on.
Notice that a lot of the brands we as airgunners love, don't find their way onto guns used on backpack hunts out west, or going to Africa. There's a reason for that.
Check out some of the gnarly scope tests the guys on Rokslide put stuff through. It's nuts.
These days optical quality isnt the stiff competition that it used to be. You can get clarity for not a lot of money and the difference between makes and models sometimes isn't broad. The mechanical parts are where the extra money comes in, and PCP guys just aren't that demanding of it.
In the firearms world, brands like Nightforce keep their reputation by ability to hold zero and track well.
PCPs are a very easy environment for a scope to live on.
Notice that a lot of the brands we as airgunners love, don't find their way onto guns used on backpack hunts out west, or going to Africa. There's a reason for that.
Check out some of the gnarly scope tests the guys on Rokslide put stuff through. It's nuts.
These days optical quality isnt the stiff competition that it used to be. You can get clarity for not a lot of money and the difference between makes and models sometimes isn't broad. The mechanical parts are where the extra money comes in, and PCP guys just aren't that demanding of it.
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Agreed. PCP, maybe not. And, yet a hard shooting springer can outdo most hunting centerfire rifles in the, 'damage to scope' realm due to the forward/back recoil. (Reasonably speaking... 257, 264,30 30, 308, 7mm, 30-06, or similar. Belted magnums not included.)
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I'll go out on a limb and say something we can probably all agree on:
Our scope selection these days (especially for airgun uses) is pretty badass compared to what it was even a decade ago. And you generally get better glass for your money.
Our scope selection these days (especially for airgun uses) is pretty badass compared to what it was even a decade ago. And you generally get better glass for your money.
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Agree totally. I recently bought a new Athlon Ares ETR 4.5-30x56 on sale for $625. I have compared this to the Cronus, and also to a few other higher end scopes ($1500 to $3500), and honestly, there is no difference. Turrets return to zero perfectly and have a great feel. Optics are awesome. So, for $625 I feel like I got the deal of the century. Yes, its Athlon's best Chinese scope, but so is your iPhone or iPad...
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