Light gathering scopes

[Rich Coyle]

Swarovski

I compared Swarovski z5 5-25X52, Leupold VX-6 4-24X52, Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50, Swarovski z81 2.7-18X56, and a Leupold VX-5 3-15X56 on deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods after sun set. The first three went down in the same minute. The VX-5 lasted six minutes longer than the first three. The z8i lasted twenty minutes longer than the first three.

 

[General RE LEE]

I compared Swarovski z5 5-25X52, Leupold VX-6 4-24X52, Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50, Swarovski z81 2.7-18X56, and a Leupold VX-5 3-15X56 on deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods after sun set. The first three went down in the same minute. The VX-5 lasted six minutes longer than the first three. The z8i lasted twenty minutes longer than the first three.

VX5HD has excellent glass especially considering the price point

 

[JTH]

I compared Swarovski z5 5-25X52, Leupold VX-6 4-24X52, Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50, Swarovski z81 2.7-18X56, and a Leupold VX-5 3-15X56 on deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods after sun set. The first three went down in the same minute. The VX-5 lasted six minutes longer than the first three. The z8i lasted twenty minutes longer than the first three.

This is consistent with my experience comparing the Z8 (and Z6) 56mm objectives against TT and ZCO 50mm objectives. The Swarovski's deliver a legitimate 15-20 minutes of additional usable light.

 

[Nimrod]

I can see well enough to shoot past legal shooting hours with about any decent scope I have ever owned, I shot a buck a couple of years ago that was literally last minute with a Bushnell Legend on my rainy day rifle.

 

[KoolBreeze]

I think where you are hunting and the conditions are going to be big factor. I hunt mostly in the timber and we can legally hunt 30 minutes after sunset. Sunset was at 4:53 this afternoon and I was still in my stand. I had an 8 point about 60 yards away in the crosshairs of my VX5-HD 3-15x44 at 5:20 and could have easily taken him had I wanted too. Five minutes later that same shot would have been a no go. It was cloudy, overcast day though. So basically the VX5 is just good enough for my 52 year old eye (yes that's an intentional singular) in the conditions I hunt in. My sight is noticeably darker than it was a few years ago as well. On a better day, sitting over a food plot or some other open area, or under a full moon, I'm sure it could get me in trouble.

I hope to put together a 243 for the kids this offseason and I think I'll try a Swarovski Z3 on it. I've never owned one but I've read a lot of posts that claim they hold their own against scopes that cost 3x as much.

I'd love to try a S&B Polar but I just can't justify the price tag.

 

[Rosebud]

Where we hunt is what is called a bean field in the south. Four to six hundred acres. In Alabama you can hunt thirty minutes past sunset. I can assure you that the last ten of those can be a chore for the best scopes. And it all depends on the direction you are looking! Looking west , forget it. Looking east , good until last five minutes! But you'll have trouble seeing antlers, and no way to tell if late season doe is this years button buck when thinning does late season. Some young bucks are killed at this time of day. We're killing deer for farmers and feeding people, also going to church food banks, so, sometimes it doesn't matter whether its a doe or un antlered When you report it there is line for un antlered bucks that don't count on your three buck limit. I use a leupold VX5HD 3-15 firedot reticle set at lowest setting for the red dot. I've killed some at three hundred yards plus in last five minutes with this. But it's looking east.

 

[General RE LEE]

I think where you are hunting and the conditions are going to be big factor. I hunt mostly in the timber and we can legally hunt 30 minutes after sunset. Sunset was at 4:53 this afternoon and I was still in my stand. I had an 8 point about 60 yards away in the crosshairs of my VX5-HD 3-15x44 at 5:20 and could have easily taken him had I wanted too. Five minutes later that same shot would have been a no go. It was cloudy, overcast day though. So basically the VX5 is just good enough for my 52 year old eye (yes that's an intentional singular) in the conditions I hunt in. My sight is noticeably darker than it was a few years ago as well. On a better day, sitting over a food plot or some other open area, or under a full moon, I'm sure it could get me in trouble.

I hope to put together a 243 for the kids this offseason and I think I'll try a Swarovski Z3 on it. I've never owned one but I've read a lot of posts that claim they hold their own against scopes that cost 3x as much.

I'd love to try a S&B Polar but I just can't justify the price tag.

I can tell you right now Swaro Z3 glass is not going to beat out Leupold VX5/6 HD glass. That is entry level Swaro.

My Schott glass, German made Zeiss Conquest V6 is barely sharper and brighter than VX5/6 HD glass.

 

[Rich Coyle]

I definitely agree.

 

[KoolBreeze]

I can tell you right now Swaro Z3 glass is not going to beat out Leupold VX5/6 HD glass. That is entry level Swaro.

My Schott glass, German made Zeiss Conquest V6 is barely sharper and brighter than VX5/6 HD glass.

That very well may be but I've read several posts like these from Despotes that suggests his Z3 is comparable to a Magnus, V6, and others.

Zeiss Diavari FL T

Does anyone have any experience with the Diavari FL T? My main purpose is light gathering. Can’t afford a Polar or Ultra Bright from S&B. (Refuse to pay for Schmidt’s new prices 🤮. So Im either going to get a Swaro Z6i or Z8i, Meopta R2, or Leica Magnus. On my search, I’ve come across the...

www.longrangehunting.com

Schmidt and Bender Zenith

The Zenith is due to arrive Wednesday. I hope it's at least as good as the Z3.

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[G19Jeeper]

I compared two Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56's next to my Gen II Razor HD 4.5-27x56 side by side. Conditions were low light underneath tree cover looking out into a field 600 yards away. It had rained so it was a little hazy with the humidity and in the dim light that Razor was night and day. I sold the two NF's later that week. I did something similar in a Kahles although I didn't have the razor with me to compare however in the low light the clarity was exceptional. I do not recall the model but it was $3500, I think a 5-25 power.

 

[Mark37082]

I've only actually done side by side comparisons in low light situations on two pairs of scopes. One was a Vortex Razor LHT vs a Leupold VX5HD at a range. My shooting partner had the Razor and I was shooting the Leupold. We set the up and viewed a Black and Tan target at 200 yards. Both of us agreed the VX5HD provided better low light capability. The other comparison was the VX5HD vs Zeiss V6. The Zeiss edged out the Leupold but only marginally.

 

[graywolf]

I compared Swarovski z5 5-25X52, Leupold VX-6 4-24X52, Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50, Swarovski z81 2.7-18X56, and a Leupold VX-5 3-15X56 on deer antlers 131 yards away in the woods after sun set. The first three went down in the same minute. The VX-5 lasted six minutes longer than the first three. The z8i lasted twenty minutes longer than the first three.

Did you compare them on the same power?

 

[Rich Coyle]

Did you compare them on the same power?

Yes. It's the only way to be "objective". I have proven time and again turning up the magnification allows the scope to last longer.

 

[shooters]

The person to have the best conversation with when it comes to this low light is Jeff Huber.
That man threw so much information and knowledge at me that I couldn't retain half of it.