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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jim M." data-source="post: 1095833" data-attributes="member: 60675">Here is the only "professional" review I know of for the vortex scopes (it covers the non-ED skyline):<a href="http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/scopenews2006.html" target="_blank">http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/scopenews2006.html</a>The reviewers made it their recommended scope for under $500.  I bought it and quite liked it -- except the clarity and brightness at 60x left something to be desired (though it was usable).  Also, I wear glasses and eye relief at high power was also somewhat less than I needed.  I wound up returning it and getting a Kowa 883.  But if you do not want to spend that kind of money on a scope (and most people probably do not), I definitely like the vortex for that price range.  It is quite light and has good ergonomics.  The ED version is supposed to be an improvement, but it is considerably heavier as well as somewhat more expensive.The nomad is even lighter and cheaper, but I read one user review suggesting it was pretty useless at 60x.Hope this helps,Jim</blockquote>