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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
Viper vs. SIII ???
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<blockquote data-quote="bruce_ventura" data-source="post: 704930" data-attributes="member: 34084"><p>I normally don't jump in when there's an obvious love-feat like this one going on over two scopes, but I think the OP deserves to be fully informed. I think both scopes would be good choices for long range target shooting or competition. Both companies seem to spec decent quality glass and have good mechanical performance. Vortex scopes certainly offer great features for their price point. </p><p></p><p>For big game hunting, however, I would recommend looking at scopes with less glare and higher contrast. The Viper PST has below average glare performance for that price point. Contrast is mediocre at low mag and degrades fast above 20X. </p><p></p><p>There is another post on the forum that links to a youtube video of the same Viper PST scope. The glare and contrast problems are obvious in that video. The Sightron model has even worse glare. </p><p></p><p>High glare is the primary reason for low contrast. Looking at high contrast, well illuminated targets at a shooting range will not reveal optical contrast problems in a scope. Atmospheric turbulence is also usually high at a shooting ranges, which degrades contrast and resolution to the point that different performing scopes appear to have similar performance. </p><p></p><p>To assess contrast, you have to look at low contrast targets with bright sky in the background, and under low turbulence conditions. Those conditions are typical of big game hunting. </p><p></p><p>It seems that neither Vortex nor Sightron does their own optical design, and rely instead on offshore factories for their optical designs. They probably have no equipment for measuring glare, nor any optical engineers capable of using it even if they did.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bruce_ventura, post: 704930, member: 34084"] I normally don't jump in when there's an obvious love-feat like this one going on over two scopes, but I think the OP deserves to be fully informed. I think both scopes would be good choices for long range target shooting or competition. Both companies seem to spec decent quality glass and have good mechanical performance. Vortex scopes certainly offer great features for their price point. For big game hunting, however, I would recommend looking at scopes with less glare and higher contrast. The Viper PST has below average glare performance for that price point. Contrast is mediocre at low mag and degrades fast above 20X. There is another post on the forum that links to a youtube video of the same Viper PST scope. The glare and contrast problems are obvious in that video. The Sightron model has even worse glare. High glare is the primary reason for low contrast. Looking at high contrast, well illuminated targets at a shooting range will not reveal optical contrast problems in a scope. Atmospheric turbulence is also usually high at a shooting ranges, which degrades contrast and resolution to the point that different performing scopes appear to have similar performance. To assess contrast, you have to look at low contrast targets with bright sky in the background, and under low turbulence conditions. Those conditions are typical of big game hunting. It seems that neither Vortex nor Sightron does their own optical design, and rely instead on offshore factories for their optical designs. They probably have no equipment for measuring glare, nor any optical engineers capable of using it even if they did. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
Viper vs. SIII ???
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