ATC 17-40x56 underwhelming (3 Viewers)

[Boogieshrew]

Hi all,

I had a try of this scope today. I have to say I was really rather underwhelmed.

Optically it was lovely to look through but I didn't want to buy it for three reasons.

1. I was surprised that although e/r is 20mm I still could not use the zoom comfortably over about 25xor so. No better than my MM460 with SDL zoom which is ok up to about 30x.

2. Also very disappointed by the focus wheel. Nice action/motion focussing to near focus but very stiff and jerky moving to infinity focus. The ring rubbed against the rubber armour of the body.

3. The connection to the tripod plate did not feel secure. It was fairly easy to get the scope to rotate on the plate.

I'm disappointed because on paper the ATC looks perfect. I love low mag & wide fov so the 17x end of the zoom is great. I seldom feel the need to go much over 30x so the top end of the zoom also gets a big tick. I don't need 50-60x. It's lightweight- tick. It's Swarovski so you know the optics will be top notch.

On the plus side I've saved myself £2k and I am actually quite happy with my MM4 and it has the advantage of good fixed mag e/ps as well as the zoom.

Oh well. I await the future appearance of the next generations of travel scopes 😄

 

[Hermann]

Interesting take. I also had a brief look at the Swaro, and decided to stick to my old Nikon ED50 for the time being, simply because (a) I've got it and a decent set of eyepieces already, and (b) because it's quite a lot ligher than the Swaro. And even my old EDIIA isn't really that much heavier than the Swaro ...

Hermann

 

[chill6x6]

I considered it for sure... BUT I've read too many negative reports concerning the tripod connection point.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

I considered it for sure... BUT I've read too many negative reports concerning the tripod connection point.

I applied a bit of red loctite on the screw thread and it has not budged since Feb.

2. Also very disappointed by the focus wheel. Nice action/motion focussing to near focus but very stiff and jerky moving to infinity focus. The ring rubbed against the rubber armour of the body.

Strange because I did not find any stiff and jerky motion with the focusing wheel on both sides with my unit.

 

[Boogieshrew]

Strange because I did not find any stiff and jerky motion with the focusing wheel on both sides with my unit.

There was something wrong with the armour. It had come unstuck from the body and rubbed against the focussed as it turned in the one direction.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

There was something wrong with the armour. It had come unstuck from the body and rubbed against the focussed as it turned in the one direction.

Hope the seller will send that unit for service etc

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

Hi all,

I had a try of this scope today. I have to say I was really rather underwhelmed.

Optically it was lovely to look through but I didn't want to buy it for three reasons.

1. I was surprised that although e/r is 20mm I still could not use the zoom comfortably over about 25xor so. No better than my MM460 with SDL zoom which is ok up to about 30x.

2. Also very disappointed by the focus wheel. Nice action/motion focussing to near focus but very stiff and jerky moving to infinity focus. The ring rubbed against the rubber armour of the body.

3. The connection to the tripod plate did not feel secure. It was fairly easy to get the scope to rotate on the plate.

I'm disappointed because on paper the ATC looks perfect. I love low mag & wide fov so the 17x end of the zoom is great. I seldom feel the need to go much over 30x so the top end of the zoom also gets a big tick. I don't need 50-60x. It's lightweight- tick. It's Swarovski so you know the optics will be top notch.

On the plus side I've saved myself £2k and I am actually quite happy with my MM4 and it has the advantage of good fixed mag e/ps as well as the zoom.

Oh well. I await the future appearance of the next generations of travel scopes 😄

Ok, I have the STC 17-40x56, but we may assume that the eye relief, focus wheels and connectors are the same.

1. About the eye relief, it might help if you adjust the eyecup. In my case, it has to be fully extended above 22 magnification, for 17 - 22 the eyecup needs to be shorter. It is very easy to adjust the eyecup since it has no fixed positions. This works well for me, no more blackouts at 17.

2. The focus wheel of my STC is extremely smooth, I tried another one before buying, also smooth, and I tested two in the field. That's n = 4 for what it's worth In fact it is much better than the focus wheel on my former ATS-65. The zoom/focus wheels of my STC are perfect. Probably, you had no luck with your unit.

3. Agree with the connection to the tripod plate, you have to find a quick release plate with some 'resistance' (rubber, plastic parts). And using the 3/8 connection instead of the 1/4 helps too. In my case the scope does not rotate (anymore).

The only downside I notice: the view is getting dark at 35+ magnification. On sunny days, it's no problem though.

 

[Boogieshrew]

Ok, I have the STC 17-40x56, but we may assume that the eye relief, focus wheels and connectors are the same.

1. About the eye relief, it might help if you adjust the eyecup. In my case, it has to be fully extended above 22 magnification, for 17 - 22 the eyecup needs to be shorter. It is very easy to adjust the eyecup since it has no fixed positions. This works well for me, no more blackouts at 17.

2. The focus wheel of my STC is extremely smooth, I tried another one before buying, also smooth, and I tested two in the field. That's n = 4 for what it's worth In fact it is much better than the focus wheel on my former ATS-65. The zoom/focus wheels of my STC are perfect. Probably, you had no luck with your unit.

3. Agree with the connection to the tripod plate, you have to find a quick release plate with some 'resistance' (rubber, plastic parts). And using the 3/8 connection instead of the 1/4 helps too. In my case the scope does not rotate (anymore).

The only downside I notice: the view is getting dark at 35+ magnification. On sunny days, it's no problem though.

Hi Blackgrouse,
I agree with you on 2 and 3 but my problem on 1 was not enough eye relief. With 20mm of it I expected to be able to use the full zoom range very comfortably but I could not. I need a little more e/r at higher mags.
I can live with that on my MM4 which cost £400 secondhand but for £2k I want perfection from Swarovski. Hence being underwhelmed.
Also the MM4 has very nice fixed mag eyepieces and the ATC has only the zoom option.

 

[ANK]

Ok, I have the STC 17-40x56, but we may assume that the eye relief, focus wheels and connectors are the same.

1. About the eye relief, it might help if you adjust the eyecup. In my case, it has to be fully extended above 22 magnification, for 17 - 22 the eyecup needs to be shorter. It is very easy to adjust the eyecup since it has no fixed positions. This works well for me, no more blackouts at 17.

2. The focus wheel of my STC is extremely smooth, I tried another one before buying, also smooth, and I tested two in the field. That's n = 4 for what it's worth In fact it is much better than the focus wheel on my former ATS-65. The zoom/focus wheels of my STC are perfect. Probably, you had no luck with your unit.

3. Agree with the connection to the tripod plate, you have to find a quick release plate with some 'resistance' (rubber, plastic parts). And using the 3/8 connection instead of the 1/4 helps too. In my case the scope does not rotate (anymore).

The only downside I notice: the view is getting dark at 35+ magnification. On sunny days, it's no problem though.

After a year of using the ATC, I can only agree with the above statements.
No other telescope that I know of is as suitable for people wearing glasses with more than ample eye relief. The focusing drive is smooth and absolutely backlash-free. As I already wrote in another post, I have no problems at all with tripod screws coming loose.

 

[PatR]

After a year of using the ATC, I can only agree with the above statements.
No other telescope that I know of is as suitable for people wearing glasses with more than ample eye relief. The focusing drive is smooth and absolutely backlash-free. As I already wrote in another post, I have no problems at all with tripod screws coming loose.

Must agree, only been using my ATC for a couple of weeks but it been a revelation. Superb bit of kit and both focus and zoom rings are super smooth.

 

[Yarkho]

Had a look through orange ATC once and was left unimpressed - too much CA at the edge of field, horribly violet.

 

[AllanG]

Had a look through orange ATC once and was left unimpressed - too much CA at the edge of field, horribly violet.

I expect this was because it was the ‘Orange’ version!! 🤣🤣