Buckmasters and Monarch have the same glass??

[omahaguy]

I got to look through a 6-18x40 Buck & 4-16x42 Monarch I was looking across the store appox 70yrd away in low lit artificial light, at this distance I was able to read letters 3/4" to 1", but the kicker was the optical clearity and brightness appeared to me to be the same, now if the monarch was better I would think in a low light situation it would really be noticeable, but to me with both at 16x to me they where identical, does any one know if they are the same glass or has anyone else noticed this?
Im thinking about E-mailing Nikon but first i want to make sure im not just crazy..lol

Thanks guys

 

[TheOpticZone]

I don't know if they use the same glass, but the Monarch offers 95% light transmission where the Buckmaster offers 92%, so there is a slight diffence in the amount of coatings that are on the Buckmasters.

 

[NateHaler]

I got to look through a 6-18x40 Buck & 4-16x42 Monarch I was looking across the store appox 70yrd away in low lit artificial light, at this distance I was able to read letters 3/4' to 1', but the kicker was the optical clearity and brightness appeared to me to be the same, now if the monarch was better I would think in a low light situation it would really be noticeable, but to me with both at 16x to me they where identical, does any one know if they are the same glass or has anyone else noticed this?

Your comparison 'test' of these two scopes, hand-held, in a store, is hardly conclusive. In fact, I would consider this as barely relevant. The only way to compare optics is as you intend to use them, which I presume is mounted on a rifle, at various distances, outdoors.

 

[Ackman]

You can't tell anything in a store, or at 70yds. To make any kind of comparison you really need to be outside and spend at least a little time looking through both of them.