50mm or 56mm is it bright enough to make it worth it???

[superlite17]

Hi everyone, and thanks!

I have just ebayed my old Vari X III 40mm tube, it simply was not bright enough. I had an Elite 4200 50mm tube and it let A LOT more light in, but in my opinion it was not as crisp and contrasty as the Leupold VX3.
I really want the brightness for dusk and dawn and assume that the reason i lost it was due to the 40mm tube. So I am now considering either Leupold 4.5-14x50 VX-III or BURRIS BLACK DIAMOND 4-16x50. Any help there would be great also as I am really on the fence! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

But here is part of my delima... With light being a HUGE factor for me is the 56mm objective that much brighter???
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

If it is then Nikon makes one within my price range and the Zeis Conquest 56mm is kinda close to my range. But...

People do not seem that impressed with Nikon rugedness and features

And I could go an extra $150 for the Conquest but it doesnt even have fully multi-coated optics

Any way I was wondering if any of you had used the 56mm and what you thought. Or of the makers of the 56mm!

Like I said brightness is super important to me.

[LB]

Exactly how do we view the results?

If you want to evaluate a scope, forget about "low" light conditions and use it in the dark of night. I do a lot of hunting at night and am satisfied that the 56mm euro scopes are the way to go. I have two. They are both brighter than my 4.5X14X50Leupold. Sorry about the term, but the fact is, you can discern more detail under poor light conditions with the larger objective; all things being equal.

Good hunting. LB

[Mysticplayer]

size of objective is not as important as the size of the internal lenses and coatings. I have used my Elite 4200 6X24 to view and get my deer in light so dim I could not see 50yds in front of me (still legal light). This is a small 44mm lense on a 1" tubel. With the Nikon Monarch binos and Elite scope, I was able to locate, identify and take the deer at 335yds.

You might want to consider the Nikon Tactical line if you need hard knocks type durability. I have used the new Buckmaster and it is bright, as are the Monarchs.

All else being equal a 30mm tube will be brighter then a 1" tube IF the internals are sized to match and coatings are equivalent.

The only way to know what works for you is to view the scopes under the lighting conditions you will hunt in. Most quality fully multicoated scopes should deliver around 95% of available light. That is more then enough to hunt in legal light.

Jerry

[superlite17]

How do you know IF the internals are sized to match??? I had heard some manufacturers did not use properly sized lenses in 30mm so how do you know who does and who does not because they ALL tout their products as being the "best"

[superlite17]

Check this out on Zeis site:
Carl Zeiss MC multi-coating on all glass-to-air surfaces for maximum transmission (markedly above 90 %), color fidelity and brilliance.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
http://www.zeiss.com/C1256BCF0020BE5...256BCF0061320D

Key is GLASS TO AIR which means all the glass is not multi-coated, only outer glass.

[Chrismadrid]

[ QUOTE ]
Key is GLASS TO AIR which means all the glass is not multi-coated, only outer glass.

[/ QUOTE ]Glass to Air normally refers to internal GLASS TO AIR surfaces too ( A scope is full of air - the Nitrogen purging thing is pretty temporary - eventually there is gas exchange and your scope contains other gasses). It basically means all non GLASS/GLASS sandwiwich surfaces. If it says ALL GLASS/AIR - then it probably means it. If it says SOME Glass to Air surfaces that's another story.

[LB]

We all have various interpretations on features. Some are more important than others.

This guy wants to know about 56mm objectives, and how that contributes to so called "brightness", not lens coatings or internal dimensions, or even assurances of what is good enough, under "legal light" conditions.

The straight answer is that 56mm is an advantage for shooting in extremely low light conditions....all things being equal. Meaning: same internal construction, same multi coatings.

The only caviat, aside from the premium price, is the height of the mounting to clear the barrel. If you are okay with that, you will see more detail during low light, with the larger objective. period.

Good luck with your choice, LB