Some Swarovskis and a Bushnell

[Rich Coyle]

Today I had a chance to compare a couple Swarovskis. I compared a Swarovski z6 5-30X50, a Swarovski z8i 2.3-18X56 and a Bushnell 6500 4 ½-30X50. They all have 30mm tubes. The Swarovskis are rifle mounted so I didn't get a chance to weigh them. I didn't have much time so I went right to the 13" wide deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods for low light comparison. The way I determine if I can continue with a particular optic is can I see the first long tine on the left enough so I would shoot the deer carrying them. By the time we got them adjusted on the antlers I had to turn up the z6 to 15X to positively identify the antlers. That was about 7:05PM. Then I adjusted the other two to the same magnification setting. The z6 was like a couple of z5 5-25X52 I had and sold. (Sometimes you don't get what you pay for.) It lasted until 7:13PM. When it came to the other Swarovski it was like a college player against a professional. The z8i was that much better. Bright and clear. Light right to the edge with almost no ring. The Bushnell went down at 7:24PM. The fantastic Swarovski lasted until 7:44PM! Twenty minutes longer than a very good scope. That is enough time to actually make a successful hunt if you have a very wary quarry which waits until almost dark before it moves out to feed or water.

 

[Zmgsvt]

Do you have an overall list of what you've liked best as far as light transmission?

 

[Rich Coyle]

This answer is strictly for low light comparisons. So far the Swarovski z8i 2.3-18X56 above was about the same a my Nightforce 12-42X56. The next one down was a recent Leupold. The new VX-5 3-15X56. It beat my Swarovski z5 5-25X52, Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50 and Leupold VX-6 4-24X52 by six minutes. The Minox ZA 5HD 5-25x56 SF PLEX and the Nikon Monarch 3 5-20X44 was behind these by a minute. The Zeiss Conquest HD 5-26X50 went down twelve minutes before the z5, 6500 and VX-6!

Hope this is helpful.

 

[WRO]

There are a lot more things that matter than low light.

Its on the list, but it isn't the top for me.

 

[Rich Coyle]

WRO,
You are correct. The owner of these two Swarovskis was curious about low light performance. Recently I purchased a Nightforce for a rifle I plan to dial. After my z5 failed twice, I don't trust the scopes I already had.

Another requirement for me is very good glass at an affordable price. That's why my favorite is the 6500 4 1/2-30X50.

 

[broomd]

Very cool thread, thanks for taking the time to share this info, guys....