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Prismatic Scopes and dark images
6/13/2012 10:54:45 PM
I have owned prismatic scopes manufactured by AIM, Famous Maker, Burris and still own a Primary Arms 3x. I have noticed all of them have a dark image. They are darker than all of the tube style scopes that I have owned and currently own. Is this a characteristic of prism sights or just budget prism sights? Of all the prismatic sights, the PA and Burris are not as dark as the others.
The PA 3x compact is growing on me, and I want to keep it on my coyote/hog rifle. Has anyone had problems at dusk or early morning with the PA 3x scope?
The PA 3x compact is growing on me, and I want to keep it on my coyote/hog rifle. Has anyone had problems at dusk or early morning with the PA 3x scope?
6/14/2012 12:53:43 AM
The more light you have going through the scope to your eye the better.
Factors for light transmission.
Polishing of each lens.
Coatings on the lenses.
Objective lens size.
Tube diameter I understand makes a difference all else being equal.
I assume the reflection of light in prism would also cut down on light transfer.
FM needs more magnification to make up for poor glass. I had a 3-9x24 that I had to put at 7x to see detail at 100 yards equal to my Millet DMS on 4x.
Larger Objective lens will allow more light into the scope enabling better visibility and target identification in real dim light or into shadows.
Go lood through a good set of 7x35 binoculars and a pair of good 10x50 binoculars on a clear night with good moon light.
Trijicon glass is fantastic.
I've seen the 2.5-10x56 Trijicon on sale for under 1000.
3-9x40 isn't a bad alternative. Both are out of my price range.
Some have found it beneficial to use a red dot mounted offset at 1:30 for closer shots.
Factors for light transmission.
Polishing of each lens.
Coatings on the lenses.
Objective lens size.
Tube diameter I understand makes a difference all else being equal.
I assume the reflection of light in prism would also cut down on light transfer.
FM needs more magnification to make up for poor glass. I had a 3-9x24 that I had to put at 7x to see detail at 100 yards equal to my Millet DMS on 4x.
Larger Objective lens will allow more light into the scope enabling better visibility and target identification in real dim light or into shadows.
Go lood through a good set of 7x35 binoculars and a pair of good 10x50 binoculars on a clear night with good moon light.
Trijicon glass is fantastic.
I've seen the 2.5-10x56 Trijicon on sale for under 1000.
3-9x40 isn't a bad alternative. Both are out of my price range.
Some have found it beneficial to use a red dot mounted offset at 1:30 for closer shots.
6/14/2012 1:11:55 AM
I have a Burris FF 2 3-9x40 with the illuminated reticle for my rifle but I like the size of the PA 3x and the reticle. The Burris ff2 blows the PA out of the water when it comes to brightness.
I understand the basics of tube scopes and their operation. I don't know much about prismatics. Does the prism hurt light transmission?
Or is it the coatings used by the manufacturers? ACOGs are prism scopes and are bright and clear; but way out of the price range allowed by my wife.
I understand the basics of tube scopes and their operation. I don't know much about prismatics. Does the prism hurt light transmission?
Or is it the coatings used by the manufacturers? ACOGs are prism scopes and are bright and clear; but way out of the price range allowed by my wife.
6/14/2012 10:16:52 AM
Originally Posted By Luke15:
I have a Burris FF 2 3-9x40 with the illuminated reticle for my rifle but I like the size of the PA 3x and the reticle. The Burris ff2 blows the PA out of the water when it comes to brightness.
I understand the basics of tube scopes and their operation. I don't know much about prismatics. Does the prism hurt light transmission?
Or is it the coatings used by the manufacturers? ACOGs are prism scopes and are bright and clear; but way out of the price range allowed by my wife.
I have a Burris FF 2 3-9x40 with the illuminated reticle for my rifle but I like the size of the PA 3x and the reticle. The Burris ff2 blows the PA out of the water when it comes to brightness.
I understand the basics of tube scopes and their operation. I don't know much about prismatics. Does the prism hurt light transmission?
Or is it the coatings used by the manufacturers? ACOGs are prism scopes and are bright and clear; but way out of the price range allowed by my wife.
ACOGs are prism sights and they have excellent optical quality.
Casper507 listed a lot of factors that can affect optical quality. I would have to assume that you get what you pay for in this case just like all other optics. There is likely no manufacturer making top quality (ACOG quality) optics and selling them at budget prices.
6/14/2012 8:53:16 PM
Are red dot sights prismatic? Leupold's prismatic sight is not a red dot, its essentially a 1x scope with etched glass
I was thinking a prismatic lense was used to bend light (prism
)
I'm curious..
Edit
I see, a magnifier is prismatic..
I was thinking a prismatic lense was used to bend light (prism
)
I'm curious..
Edit
I see, a magnifier is prismatic..
6/15/2012 7:14:32 AM
The prisms are used to fold the optical path to reduce the overall length of the optic. Unless it is variable magnification scope, most 1x optics don't need that.
You will lose light at every surface of glass the light has to go through. Good anti-reflective coatings help improve the light transmission by helping to ensure that light goes into the prism or lens instead of bouncing off the outside. Those can add noticeably to the cost of the glass.
You will lose light at every surface of glass the light has to go through. Good anti-reflective coatings help improve the light transmission by helping to ensure that light goes into the prism or lens instead of bouncing off the outside. Those can add noticeably to the cost of the glass.
