Meostar R1r 3-12x56 vs Swaro z8i 2.3-18x56 quick observation

[Warbird2006]

Zeiss or Leica all the way

 

[the blur]

Forget Leupold. You need a channel lock pliers to turn the magnification dial.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

I noticed all of you picked a different scope for light gathering capabilities. Does this part of the optic equation differ from person to person depending on their eyes. I have heard S&B are the best at light gathering before.

In terms of brightness, most high end scopes that are known for light gathering are comparable (meaning they will last within a minute or two of each other into the twilight). They use similar high quality glass, premium coatings, and they are designed for brightness (obj matched to the magnification, larger erector with less travel, etc). The alpha zeiss, S&B, hensoldt, etc. are all excellent. They will all last comfortably beyond legal hunting hours.

Then you have the second and third tier stuff, where the differences are more dramatic. A Leupy supporter special VX3i looked laughably bad side by side in the treestand with an 8x56 S&B and EL binos in the early morning when deer were walking around in the field. So while you are always going to hear the opinions that XYZ for 200 bucks is "just as good" as a high end zeiss....many of the people who say that have never looked through alpha glass in the field. And even if they glanced through one once, most people will never have 7 or 8k worth of glass in a treestand at the same time in order to compare them side by side under valid hunting conditions (not a gunstore parking lot with stray light). I have done this many times, so I stick to my own opinions. So, beg, borrow, and buy whatever you can and test them out side by side under identical field conditions, keep the winners, sell the losers, and then don't worry about what other people claim.

 

[bearcat2]

Forget Leupold. You need a channel lock pliers to turn the magnification dial.

On some of them I have to agree. My Mark IV isn't bad at all, but every other Leupold I own is stiff, and my old compact is so bad that I actually did use pliers on it once when my hands were cold and numb and I couldn't get it turned!

Honestly my biggest complaint against Leupold and I thought it was just me, I've never heard someone else mention it.

I have always been a Leupold fan but drifted away from them over the years. For a few years it seemed like the price had gone up and the quality had gone down. When I was a kid any scope carrying the Leupold name was good, then it got to where you have to go to their higher end scopes to get a good one.

 

[SHDeersniper]

I am pretty setup now I suppose and the money I have to spend on shooting goes towards other stuff at the moment, so I guess money?

I see. It just seemed like you could sell a few high end scopes and buy one. Wasn't sure if it was a legal issue. Some stupid laws here and there

 

[Toydy]

I see. It just seemed like you could sell a few high end scopes and buy one. Wasn't sure if it was a legal issue. Some stupid laws here and there

It really is a great question and something I haven't considered, I will try and find someone with one that I could use. Thanks.

 

[the blur]

What's interesting talking about twilight. I have the illuminated Z6. The illumination makes absolutely no difference when hunting at dust, or dawn. In fact, if the illumination is on full brightness, it has a nasty glare, & is more of a hinderance.

 

[Austin Dial]

So just to give a heads up to the Leica and Zeiss guys. I'd put Zeiss under swaro, Leica and meopta. I've had all 4. Leica was bright but too bulky, swaro fov is unreal compared to the rest but that meostar still wins for low light

 

[Austin Dial]

So just to give a heads up to the Leica and Zeiss guys. I'd put Zeiss under swaro, Leica and meopta. I've had all 4. Leica was bright but too bulky, swaro fov is unreal compared to the rest but that meostar still wins for low light

For my eyes. Meostar is am r1r. I'd love to see an r2

 

[Riflehunter1776]

For my eyes. Meostar is am r1r. I'd love to see an r2

you have to compare with a diavari or newer victory (which is a hair brighter) not with the conquests. the old conquests were actually assembled by meopta in NY, ironically enough.

But as far as the premium meoptas, I'm replacing mine with another diavari that i got for a great price. so I'll probably be putting my R2 up on classifieds. the R1 claims 92/90 light transmission (same as the new meopros, of which I have several), the R2 94/92. How they determine those numbers is up for debate. My 10 year old zeisses are brighter.
Leica doesnt impress me, but I have not checked out the new magnus.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

On some of them I have to agree. My Mark IV isn't bad at all, but every other Leupold I own is stiff, and my old compact is so bad that I actually did use pliers on it once when my hands were cold and numb and I couldn't get it turned!

Honestly my biggest complaint against Leupold and I thought it was just me, I've never heard someone else mention it.

I have always been a Leupold fan but drifted away from them over the years. For a few years it seemed like the price had gone up and the quality had gone down. When I was a kid any scope carrying the Leupold name was good, then it got to where you have to go to their higher end scopes to get a good one.

I have a few mk4s and they are good, durable scopes. combined with leupys warranty, i tend to keep them on heavy recoiling stuff because I know that leupy is good for it, if they do manage to blow themselves apart somehow. But their glass is dim. Even the 50mm objectives. no comparison to the german alpha glass.

 

[Austin Dial]

I have a few mk4s and they are good, durable scopes. combined with leupys warranty, i tend to keep them on heavy recoiling stuff because I know that leupy is good for it, if they do manage to blow themselves apart somehow. But their glass is dim. Even the 50mm objectives. no comparison to the german alpha glass.

I have a diavari but it's a 3-9x36 and yes it is very bright for the 36mm please let me know if you sell the meoptA

 

[snox801]

Have looked through Swarovoski and Leica binos, but never used one of their scopes. Nor have I ever so much as seen a Meostar, so I can't compare to them. I've used Zeiss binos and have a rifle sitting upstairs with a Zeiss Victory 4-12 scope on it though. I can tell you that my old Leupold 3-9 compact I bought as a teenager is comparable to the Zeiss for light gathering; and my Leupold Mark IV 4.5-15x50 with a 30mm tube blows it away. I've never been impressed with any of Leupold binos I've had a hold of though, and I've got a 6.5-20x40 Vari-x III with a 30mm tube that absolutely sucks in low light. So you have to go by particular model, not just brand. I will say that while I've looked through a few Nightforce scopes (made only an hour from me) I've never owned one and the one I actually checked in low light I wasn't impressed with. I really wish I had my Mark IV along to test side by side, but I was guiding and glassing with my Steiner Nighthunter binos and could see about like daylight through them, looking through the clients Nightforce I would have been lucky to pick out a deer or elk, and actually seeing horns would have been impossible. For such an expensive, heavy boat anchor of a scope I wasn't impressed. Made me think back to a former client I had with one though who couldn't spot two bull elk standing in a logging road at last light through his. Maybe he wasn't such an idiot as I thought. . . yes, yes he was; he turned the illumination on to try and help spot the elk because he couldn't find them in the scope in low light.

First problem is you can't compare bios with scopes. I have every brand of high end scope listed and can tell you a cheap set of vortex bios with seem night and day over a scope. Now compare those vortex cheap ones to my Liaca bios. Huge difference. Same with scopes.
Both my nightforce gather very good low light but I wouldn't say it's the best.
I also believe it has something to do with your eyes.

 

[snox801]

I to have heard the line saying the vortex low $200 stuff is as good as high dollars. I even had a cabelas rep tell me that is I had the vortex I wouldn't be happy with the liecas. I just laughed to which he said " I look through them all day and can tell you the vortex cheap ones are better."
Now some truth to that. If you are out in full daylight the vortex looks brighter. Until you strap them into a mount. Then you realize what you can really see. I even caught myself thinking I wasted money when comparing them mid day. Then when lights got low wow big difference. So comparing in a store or daylight is kinda worthless imo