how can the swarovski z5 be so good optically?

[chevytruck_83]

I posted this on the hide and have no takers. IIwas recently at cabelas to compare a couple high end tactical style optics. Mainly the nf atacr, nf nxs 8-32 leupold mark 4 etc. I went there more or less to confirm what i read that the atacr would blow the rest out of the water in terms of clarity. But what i found shocked me. As good as the atacr was the swarovski z5 i picked up on a whim was that much better to my eyes. It was a 3.5-18x44. It has a 1" tube and only a 44mm objective. By all accounts the 34mm tube 56mm objective atacr should have been the winner. How can this be? I realize only testing it indoors at maybe 125 yards isn't a great test but to my eyes the z5 was the clear winner. The colors were amazing.

 

[Steve3]

Great glass.

 

[Joe R]

I had a couple of Swarovski Z6 5-30 and they had clarity second to none. IMO they are without a doubt the best hunting scopes on the market. Unfortunately, they do not make the higher magnification necessary for the target market.

 

[midnightsunfun]

I had a similar experience--I was looking at a Zeiss Conquest 5-25x50 and a Swarovski Z5 5-25X50. Both nice, but the Swaro was clearly superior. You are welcome for the pun. It was also $1700 compared to a sale price right at $1000 for the Zeiss.

Not only was the detail resolution much greater, the scope weighs much less, and all the controls were smoother to operate. I guess it is just the normal elegance that comes with the high price. I will just have to wait until I can get the Swaro into my budget, personally.

Regards,
Jim

 

[wmdron]

Hard to beat the glass on a Swaro. +2 on they are the best hunting scopes.

 

[mshelton]

NF never impressed me on their glass, the ones I have produce a nasty fishbowl on the lowest power.

If you want the best of both worlds, great glass and solid tracking and repeatability, check out the Marchs.

 

[gilmillan1]

i have gone through this analysis before. the Swaro will be superior to most optics in terms of glass. If you are only comparing glass, you will realize that there are very few scopes that can compete with them. However, when you compare the complete package, to alot of people the other features outweigh the clarity of the glass. For example, the swaro doesnt have much elevation range, its not rugged, does not track well, the reticles are not target/tactical oriented, and they tend to lose zero easier. in contrast, the ATACR is designed to address all of those issues.

so when comparing the scopes, the whole package might make a difference to most people.