I wont dive into the technical specifications here, as that information can be found on Vortexs website, Eagle Optics, and other places in more depth than what I would write. So I will focus on my personal assessment of this scope instead.
First off, this is only the second scope that Ive owned, so I dont have a lot to compare to, but from a birders stand-point (birding is what I primarily use it for), it is a nice scope. As of this review, Ive had it about a week, but I have had a chance to do some basic trial runs with it. At 20x magnification, objects appear about as they really are, no brighter and no darker. As its zoomed in to 60x, the view does get darker, which is its main detraction, but its not too bad. Aside from brightness, the view is very clear. All of the moving parts move smoothly, and is easy to use. The case that it comes with isnt top of the line, but Im still glad to have it, and it serves my purposes well, so I often use it in the field and while not in use; though the scope would also be fine without it, as it seems to be a rugged piece of equipment, with rubber armor and waterproofing. In addition, the grand warranty alone should make this scope an option for everybody. My first scope was straight bodied, and I must say that I prefer the angled so far. Overall, Vortex has again made some nice gear, and Im pleased with this scope. I would recommend it.
If youre used to top-of-the-line brands like Swarovski, I wouldnt be very surprised if you were not impressed with this scope, but if youre looking for an affordable, tough, and lightweight scope that you can use for most anything (as I was), this is probably just what youre looking for.
First off, this is only the second scope that Ive owned, so I dont have a lot to compare to, but from a birders stand-point (birding is what I primarily use it for), it is a nice scope. As of this review, Ive had it about a week, but I have had a chance to do some basic trial runs with it. At 20x magnification, objects appear about as they really are, no brighter and no darker. As its zoomed in to 60x, the view does get darker, which is its main detraction, but its not too bad. Aside from brightness, the view is very clear. All of the moving parts move smoothly, and is easy to use. The case that it comes with isnt top of the line, but Im still glad to have it, and it serves my purposes well, so I often use it in the field and while not in use; though the scope would also be fine without it, as it seems to be a rugged piece of equipment, with rubber armor and waterproofing. In addition, the grand warranty alone should make this scope an option for everybody. My first scope was straight bodied, and I must say that I prefer the angled so far. Overall, Vortex has again made some nice gear, and Im pleased with this scope. I would recommend it.
If youre used to top-of-the-line brands like Swarovski, I wouldnt be very surprised if you were not impressed with this scope, but if youre looking for an affordable, tough, and lightweight scope that you can use for most anything (as I was), this is probably just what youre looking for.