Swarovski HD Spotting Scope

The Swarovski ATS 80 HD Spotting Scope is a marvelous piece of optical equipment that out performs any other spotter on the market. The generous 80mm lense lets in a lot of light, which is important and the entire purpose of any optic. The HD (high definition) glass produces a sharper image with better color definition than the non-hd versions. Whether you are looking for the trophy piece or just want to snap a photo of an animal, the HD is the only way to go. Mother nature wants to fool you and blend into the environment, with the HD glass and it’s color correction you are able to discern colors that would normally blend together with regular glass and get a better view of the animal in hiding.

What’s really important to know about all Swarovski Spotting Scopes is that the focus mechanism is a direct drive. This means the focus is not run by belts that can develop memories, but with solid metal parts. Basically, the focus is controlled by a peg that runs along a screw. This simplistic, yet highly effective design is by far the best way to build a focusing system that will last for decades. The design also allows for a three inch focusing band on the barrel which uses the viewers whole hand to focus and not just his finger and thumb. What does this mean? It means that focusing the scope is easier; even with mittens on!

The scope body itself is fully protected with a rubber armor and has a built in sun shade. It is nitrogen purged to preserve the metal gears inside as well as prevent internal fogging. It comes with the famous Swarovski lifetime warranty (through authorized dealers only) and is the last scope you’ll ever need to buy. I highly recommend it.

 

Steiner 10×42 Merlin binocular

The Steiner Merlin binocular is the subject of today’s scrutiny of high quality optics. Upon opening the box I am pleasantly greeted by a fully zippered deluxe thermo-molded case. So many manufacturers make great binos and then fall asleep in the design of the extras like the case, eye cups and straps. I must say, Steiner has this one right and as a whole I think they do a fair job in this area across all their series.

The roof prism Steiner binocular is compact, more like a mid-size binocular, with a brown rubber armor. The brown rubber armor absorbs light; this means the binoculars won’t reflect light and alert wildlife to your presence. When you wrap your fingers around it you can tell that this bino is meant to be a tool…an everyday tool if necessary. And this rugged binocular has some interesting features that the user can decide on. First off, it has winged eye covers that will turn down for viewers with glasses. This is a nice option to have; other manufacturers will gladly sell you an extra set of eyecups for those lucky enough not to wear glasses when using binoculars. Another nice feature that Steiner has incorporated is in the flip down objective covers and neck strap. Both the strap and the lens covers have a button that will release them should the user want to leave them at home. Personally, I didn’t think they flipped down very well, but in Steiner’s defense, this pair is fresh out of the box and would probably loosen up with age and hang better. The center focus knob and diopter adjustment are kind of tight but again, I suspect that they will work better with use.

The optics on this binocular is fantastic. The image is crisp and clear at it’s closest range (about 6 feet) and far off. The German optics are fully coated and offer remarkable color fidelity…this is especially nice for the naturalist viewing wildlife. You can tell that Steiner put careful thought into the design of the  Merlin binocular series for hunters, birders and naturalists. The optics are spectacular, the unit is hiker friendly, the armor is both silent and anti-reflective, and the accessories are well made with the additional option of detachment. I like this binocular and would readily recommend it as a true bargain in it’s price range. Way to go Steiner.

Nightforce 2.5-10×32 Rifle Scope Review

Nightforce has taken a good thing and made it better. This new 32mm scope is made entirely in the US and was produced by adapting the 24mm scope that was originally designed for a special operations contract requirement. As a matter of opinion, the 24mm objective left little to be desired, but this new Nightforce Rifle Scope manages somehow to improve on an already good thing.

With an objective lens size one third larger than its predecessor, this new scope does not disappoint in its picture quality. Brightness and resolution improvements are equally impressive and are better than many comparably priced scopes having much bigger lenses. This Nightforce NXS Rifle scope’s low magnification and larger objective combine to produce an enormous eye-box that is very forgiving. This makes the scope’s target picture extremely fast to acquire when quick shots are necessary. The objective lens, still being relatively small at 32mm, gives this scope a tremendous depth of field and eliminates the need for parallax adjustment. Parallax is less than .5  MOA at all practical distances and is zero at 150 yards.

Being true to typical Nightforce scope form, this model is extremely rugged and tracks like a bloodhound. The tube body is machined from a solid piece of T6 aluminum bar stock and is two times thicker than most other manufacturers. The lenses are bedded with a mil spec bonding agent in individual aluminum housings. This unique method of production isolates the lenses from shock by eliminating metal to glass contact in the rifle scope. Lastly, this scope possesses copious amounts of internal travel. 100 minutes of elevation and windage adjustment are verified accurate to 1/8 moa throughout the entire adjustment range during the rigorous inspection process that each scope undergoes before being certified by a factory technician.

Nightforce has proven itself to be consistent in producing quality products and this scope is no exception. By improving on an existing model, it has produced an ideal lightweight scope for short and mid range use. With innovative products continuing to be produced by today’s manufacturers, one can hardly wait to see what this industry has in store for us next.

Nikon Monarch ATB review

The Nikon Monarch ATB series is a wonderful line of binoculars developed specifically with the hunter in mind. Nikon has done a great job providing an array of sizes for just about any hunting adventure; ranging from 8×36 up to 12×56. These roof prism binoculars are small and compact with full size function and crystal clear optics. Each bino has a rugged rubber armor to protect the it from the weather as well as reduce noise by preventing any metal to metal contact. The entire line is nitrogen purged to eliminate internal fogging and has fully coated optics for the very best light transmission possible. Each binocular features adjustable eyecups for ease in viewing regardless of whether you view with or without eyeglasses. The newest feature added to the line are the flip down objective covers that snap into the barrel but can be taken out and left at home if one prefers. One neat feature that is underplayed or just plain overlooked is the ability for tripod adaption and rock steady viewing; just remove the hinge cap and screw in the accessory (not included) to any standard photography tripod you already own. The soft case completely envelopes the bino for added protection and can be looped through your belt for hiking. They come in green and black or two forms of photo realistic camo (Team Realtree and Drury Outdoor: Dream Season). The Monarch series is the flagship line for Nikon and boasts a 25 year “No Fault” warranty. You should take this line into serious consideration when about to purchase a new set of glasses for your hunting lifestyle. Nikon has certainly made a solid name for itself with outstanding camera equipment over the years, why wouldn’t they know a lot about sport optics and be able to create an excellent product for a reasonable price? Go check them out for yourself at www.nikonsportoptics.com

Pentax Papilio 8.5×21 Binoculars

The Pentax Papilio binocular is a refreshing surprize to the compact / travel size class. It has the wonderful optics that Pentax is known for as well as all the standard magnification and field of view for a perfect travel companion, but what is exciting is its close range focusing. The close up focus range is a foot and a half. That’s amazing. When your through checking out the vista, point them at your feet and discover a whole new world as well as a sudden urge to buy new shoes. It’s Disney’sBug Life brought to life. No need to drive across the country to see amazing things; just walk out in the backyard and check out what you’ve been missing. This is a binocular for every weekend and fun with school age kids. I highly recommend this one.

Zeiss Victory PRF “Pocket Range Finder”

The long awaited Zeiss PRF Pocket Range Finder has finally made its way into store shelves and the reviews are excellent.  Carl Zeiss has made this range finder light, powerful and reasonably priced, a real trick in the sport optics industry. Here are some of the main functions:

• 10 to 1300 yard ranging capability
• Super fast illuminated display that’s easy to read in the poorest of light conditions.
• Highly Accurate +/- 1 yard to 600 yards and +/- 5% beyond
• Exclusive BIS System: Ballistic Information System that will tell you how much you should hold over for those long shots.
• Powerful 8X magnification allows you to range even the smallest of targets at great distances.

There is little doubt that Zeiss has set a new standard in the pocket size rangefinder market.  We are very big on this unit and give it a top recommendation.