I can only speak to what i feel , and have seen with my own eye's . I wanted the s&b 5x45x56 34mm pm 2 , at the time I was looking they were 6,400 later found onsale for 5,400. I could not justify to myself spending that much so i purchased the ior crusader 5.8x40x56 40mm for 3000 dollars on sale that's with delivery and rings , and have been thrilled by my choice thus far . The cost difference is what grabbed me . all my friends that shoot have night force scopes like the atacr 7x35x think its 56 with a 34mm or the 5x25x56 ffp think a 34 mm tube all costing more around 3,600 something I like there scopes as well . For me the deal I got made my choice make more scene . The cost was less money spent with more usable mag range and either a better view or equally nice , and at less cost i got everything i wanted my glass is as clear as any i have seen through and the view is as described by Richard Utling and rex on you tube videos ineradicable . Will I be able to use it at 40x in summer heat , probably not any more than anyone else merge is what it is . As far as Japanese glass no one should have a problem just based on where it was made . Good glass is just good glass and vortex , night force , delta , and i think Bushnell all get there glass from the same places at least some of it , so its up to the companies to quality control their products . Do bad things happen yes , look at every car company any where on the planet . 100,000 good cars role off the line a few of them are bound to be lemons . you just have to hope they will stand bye there product and do the right thing. most do some will not. But you have to decide for your self which you prefer and what works best in your budget and for your need . And if you can wait for it on sale almost every scope i have mentioned i have seen lower prices online for in the last year or so . If a ferrari a good car yes . Does everyone own and drive one no same for rifle scopes S&b are great they are the bench mark that every other compare other scopes to and that is for a good reason .