When it comes to twilight capabilities in a scope, a reputable outfit needs to do an updated version of the Finnish Low Light Test, using a range of several qualified testers - Many times I'll read anecdotal "scope test results" on the internet written by Joe Blow saying that his xyz is the best thing out there, and wonder what kind of vision the guy has ..... only to hear comments from other posters that "Joe is blind as a bat"
here is a copy of the original FLLT from 10 years ago. And for what it's worth, the top performers from back then still outperform some newer models that I've tested myself, and my diavari is still the last one on the table.
19 scopes with 56mm objective and illuminated rectile or red dot were chosen. A silhuette of a deer was placed out on a field abt 55 yards away from the testers. Then they waited for the sun to set. They looked through the scopes and when it was not possible to see the deer anymore, they put the scopes away.
Scopes tested were the following:
Barska Euro Pro 3-12x56IR
Docter Classic 3-12x56R
Docter Unipoint 3-12x56R
Kahles CBX 3-12x56L
Leupold VX-L 4,5-14x56
Meopta Meostar R1 3-12x56RD
Micro Dot 2,5-10x56
Night Force 3,5-15x56NF
Nikon Monarch E 2,5-10x56 SF M IL
Schmidt & Bender Zenith 2,5-10x56 FD LM
Swarovski 2,5-10x56 L LD
Vixen VF 2,5-10x56
Weaver Classic Extreme 2,5-10x56 SF
Zeiss Classic Diavari 3-12x56 T*
Zeiss Victory Diavari M 3-12x56 T*
Zeiss Victory Varipoint 3-12x56 T*
Zeiss Victory Diarange M 3-12x56 T*
At 4pm the deer was difficult to see the deer without a scope. Also at 4pm the first scope was put to the side. This was Barsk. The next seven in the order of how difficult to see were Luger, Vixwn JahtiJakt, Weaver, Leupold, Micro Dot and Nikon. All within 40minutes (4pm - 4:40pm).
With the rest of the scopes it was still possible to see the deer picture to be able to make a shot at it. The moon started to give some light, so the deer picutre was moved to a darker place. After that the scopes were put in an order by which it was hardest to see the picture and so on. The two scopes that fell out first were Meopta and Schmidt&Bender. The next two scopes were Kahles and Docter Classic It was still somewhat possible to see the outlines of the deer with Docter. The next two were Docter Unipoint and Zeiss Diarange. Zeiss Victory Varipoint was a bit better than the last two. Swarovski PVI-2 and Zeiss Classic Diavari were on the same level, a little better than the varipoint. The last scope on the table was the Zeiss Victory Diavari.
In Metsästys & Kalastus march 2009 there was another low light scope test. This time the test consisted of 13 2.5-10x50 scopes.
Top performers:
Zeiss Diavari
Zeiss Varipoint
Docter Unipoint
Middle class performers (low light performance is sufficient/ok with reservations):
Kahles Helia CBX
Swarovski Z6i
Nikon Monarch E (not sure if this model is available in U.S.)
Centaur (former MicroDot)
Low performers (poor low light performance):
Burris Euro Diamond
Bushnell Elite 4200
Weaver Extreme
Hakko Majesty
Milicom S
JahtiJakt Premium (generic chinese made scope)
The test also had Meopta Meostar R1 3-12x56 from the previous test as a benchmark. This scope performed better in low light situations than any other scope in the 50mm test.
Also 2.5-10x56 Trijicon Accupoint was reviewed separately. It was considered to be at least equal to the top Japanese made 56mm scopes in the previous 2008 test. Also Trijicon performed better in low light situations than any other scope in the 50mm test. Looks like the extra 6mm in objective size makes the difference.
