Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
GOOD Low light scopes
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Donham" data-source="post: 17010" data-attributes="member: 1068"><p>You need to consider the science involved before knocking Leupold in this case friend.</p><p></p><p>The amount of light gathered by an optic is a function of the objective lens -- the one that looks out. Then you got quality of glass, coatings (preferably full multicoatings), blackened internals, and the like to ensure the maximum amount of light gets transmitted to your eye. A variable magnfication optic will not transmit as much light as a fixed power optic. Lastly, you need to consider 'exit pupil', which is how big the light image is that you can actually see at the ocular lens (eyepiece).</p><p></p><p>To compare how bright an image is from a cheap bino to a fine riflescope is like saying you'd rather count change from a muffin tin than a cash register -- because you don't know how the cash register works.</p><p></p><p>Exit pupil is calculated by dividing magnification into the objective lens diameter. In a 7x35 bino, the exit pupil is 5mm. And of course you have the double advantage of an image at both of your eyes.</p><p></p><p>So what you are experiencing at 10x is not out of the ordinary. You've got both eyes seeing a 5mm image, in a glass that has very little else happening between the objective and the ocular lenses, vs. one eye looking at a 5mm image that is transmitted through a scope that must also provide other magnification and the internal ability to change point of impact.</p><p></p><p>Furthermore, the porro-prism design (presuming this here, as most inexpensive glasses are of that sort, cheaper to make them) is inherently superior to a 'roof' prism (which you get in straight, vs. dog leg style binoculars, and riflescopes).</p><p></p><p>In a 6.5-20x50 scope, you have a 7.7mm exit pupil at lowest power (where you should have cranked your scope to get a brighter image), and at max magnification the exit pupil is a mere 2.5mm.</p><p></p><p>The human eye can dilate to about 7mm maximum, in general. So if you want to see the best you can in low light, you need to utilize an optic with a similarly sized exit pupil. Next time, crank your scope down.</p><p></p><p>High magnification is best used at stationary targets in broad daylight. Consider the exit pupil on a fixed 36x scope with a 40mm objective. Just 1.1mm. Does that make it a crappy scope? Hardly. It does make it an unsuitable scope for lowlight useage, or for shooting at moving targets in virtually any conditions, unless the target is a snail.</p><p></p><p>You want a bright riflescope? Use a fixed power, like 6x with a 40mm objective, and ensure that the lenses are fully multicoated and the internals are blackened.</p><p></p><p>Otherwise, you can always turn to NOD stuff, (Night Optical Device), but that's a whole 'nother story.</p><p></p><p></p><p>________________________________________</p><p></p><p></p><p> I'm not sure I'm knocking Leupold Nate, just they could do better...</p><p> Your argument is well taken about optics..</p><p> But still look at Leupod.. the cream of the crop of American made scopes... They should either be the best or be really darn close to it, yet you can stick a Nightforce besdie the best Leupod and you can see a NOTICABLE Differnace if quality, sharpness and light gathering ability....</p><p></p><p> Everyone else is offering huge 56mm objectives, and Leupold is stuck back in the "Cave man" days with the dinky 50mm...</p><p> and yes 50 is dinky in the world of light gathering by todays standards...... When over 3/4 of the scope makering have gone up to 56-57mm objectives, 30-35-40-42mm tubes even..</p><p></p><p> Your argument on turning down the power is mute... I bought a 6.5-20x50 to use 20 power if I wanted.... a Coyote at 450-500-600 yards is not as big as a Elk.. alot of scope Crosshairs a bigger that the Yote at that range... you need magnification...</p><p></p><p> Yes I like my Leupold, and yes they are good.. but it seems they are falling further back in time... everyone is starting to make good or even better optics it seems now..</p><p></p><p></p><p>scott</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Donham, post: 17010, member: 1068"] You need to consider the science involved before knocking Leupold in this case friend. The amount of light gathered by an optic is a function of the objective lens -- the one that looks out. Then you got quality of glass, coatings (preferably full multicoatings), blackened internals, and the like to ensure the maximum amount of light gets transmitted to your eye. A variable magnfication optic will not transmit as much light as a fixed power optic. Lastly, you need to consider 'exit pupil', which is how big the light image is that you can actually see at the ocular lens (eyepiece). To compare how bright an image is from a cheap bino to a fine riflescope is like saying you'd rather count change from a muffin tin than a cash register -- because you don't know how the cash register works. Exit pupil is calculated by dividing magnification into the objective lens diameter. In a 7x35 bino, the exit pupil is 5mm. And of course you have the double advantage of an image at both of your eyes. So what you are experiencing at 10x is not out of the ordinary. You've got both eyes seeing a 5mm image, in a glass that has very little else happening between the objective and the ocular lenses, vs. one eye looking at a 5mm image that is transmitted through a scope that must also provide other magnification and the internal ability to change point of impact. Furthermore, the porro-prism design (presuming this here, as most inexpensive glasses are of that sort, cheaper to make them) is inherently superior to a 'roof' prism (which you get in straight, vs. dog leg style binoculars, and riflescopes). In a 6.5-20x50 scope, you have a 7.7mm exit pupil at lowest power (where you should have cranked your scope to get a brighter image), and at max magnification the exit pupil is a mere 2.5mm. The human eye can dilate to about 7mm maximum, in general. So if you want to see the best you can in low light, you need to utilize an optic with a similarly sized exit pupil. Next time, crank your scope down. High magnification is best used at stationary targets in broad daylight. Consider the exit pupil on a fixed 36x scope with a 40mm objective. Just 1.1mm. Does that make it a crappy scope? Hardly. It does make it an unsuitable scope for lowlight useage, or for shooting at moving targets in virtually any conditions, unless the target is a snail. You want a bright riflescope? Use a fixed power, like 6x with a 40mm objective, and ensure that the lenses are fully multicoated and the internals are blackened. Otherwise, you can always turn to NOD stuff, (Night Optical Device), but that's a whole 'nother story. ________________________________________ I'm not sure I'm knocking Leupold Nate, just they could do better... Your argument is well taken about optics.. But still look at Leupod.. the cream of the crop of American made scopes... They should either be the best or be really darn close to it, yet you can stick a Nightforce besdie the best Leupod and you can see a NOTICABLE Differnace if quality, sharpness and light gathering ability.... Everyone else is offering huge 56mm objectives, and Leupold is stuck back in the "Cave man" days with the dinky 50mm... and yes 50 is dinky in the world of light gathering by todays standards...... When over 3/4 of the scope makering have gone up to 56-57mm objectives, 30-35-40-42mm tubes even.. Your argument on turning down the power is mute... I bought a 6.5-20x50 to use 20 power if I wanted.... a Coyote at 450-500-600 yards is not as big as a Elk.. alot of scope Crosshairs a bigger that the Yote at that range... you need magnification... Yes I like my Leupold, and yes they are good.. but it seems they are falling further back in time... everyone is starting to make good or even better optics it seems now.. scott [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
GOOD Low light scopes
Top