Schmidt and Bender Zenith

[Despotes]

How do the optics compare to Swarovski Z6, Zeiss V6/8? Brightness, fov, eyebox, contrast etc.

 

[Casscade]

Optics are tier one, the 10x56mm is the stand out in that line imo, the 3-12x50mm Ret was to think. If similar power range it'll depend more on sample than brand of the ones you have listed, as for my experience anyway.

 

[Despotes]

I'm considering the Zenith 2.5-10X56mm. I've tried Zeiss V6, Swarovski Z6, Magnus, Meopta R2 and haven't had much luck with them. I'm cursed.

 

[7stwnut]

I have the 3-12-50's and they are just as sharp if not sharper than my 3-18-50 Z6's. They are First Focal and the Z6 are second.

 

[Despotes]

I have the 3-12-50's and they are just as sharp if not sharper than my 3-18-50 Z6's. They are First Focal and the Z6 are second.

How's the FOV and eyebox compared to your Z6's?

 

[7stwnut]

To me the glass is better on the S&B's, You can look up the FOV from their web sites. The eye boxes on both are very forgiving.

 

[Casscade]

Fov on the zenith should be around 23 to 24 degrees, that's about as large as it gets in premium scopes, in other words it's about the same as the V8's or the swaro z8's/6's.

 

[Despotes]

The FOV on the Zenith 2.5-10 is 39.6/12ft. The Swarovski Z5 2.4-12 is 45.9 ft at 2.4X which is much bigger for only being .1X less mag. Swarovski Z6 2.5-15X has 49.5ft FOV at 2.5X which also is much bigger. My Swarovski Z3 3-10X has 11.7ft at 10X which is almost the same as the Zenith's 10X (12ft). My Z3 has too small of FOV to my liking.

 

[Casscade]

Look at the fov on 12x, many scopes tunnel on the lowest power and get in to the real fov a power or so up. So at 10x it's 12, what's the swaro at 10x. The sb site has it at 3.8 meters which is around 12.4. The swaro list it's z6 at 12.6 so it's pretty close. I've noticed sb has specs that are all over the place sometimes depending where you look.

 

[Rich Coyle]

I'm considering the Zenith 2.5-10X56mm. I've tried Zeiss V6, Swarovski Z6, Magnus, Meopta R2 and haven't had much luck with them. I'm cursed.

You're not cursed. They're way over rated. People pay a lot and can't admit they didn't get what they paid for.

 

[Despotes]

You're not cursed. They're way over rated. People pay a lot and can't admit they didn't get what they paid for.

Any recommendations for relatively light weight scope with great glass/eyebox/fov and of course reliable?

 

[Rich Coyle]

If you're not averse to used, and are lucky enough to find a used Bushnell 4200 or 4500 you would have what you are looking for.

 

[Despotes]

I have a Bushnell Elite 4200 lol

 

[Despotes]

Correction on the Zenith fov. S&B site says 46.58/12.46 ft. (2.5-10x56), but that is at 100 meters (109 yrds).