Moderator said:
Catshooter--
Are you using the zoom eyepiece or a fixed power? I had the chance to use both recently--a 10-60 and the 10W,52x) on a Pentax 80ED. The fixed lens was really nice because of very generous eye relief. It seemed a little sharper than the zoom.
I have the 20x60 zoom - it's the most convenient, but it's not as sharp as the fixed. The fixed eyepieces are so sharp that it is scary. When I find some loose greenies, I plan to get some fixed eyepieces too.
For guys looking to see bullet holes at long range,as opposed to 2" high power spotters) I really think the Pentax is the leader right now in price/performance.
The Zeiss is impressive--but at HALF the price, make mine a Pentax.
I hope to get a 100ED for testing soon. We will put it to the test on 6mm bullet holes at 600 yards.
Of all the scopes, regardless of price, "Betterviewdesired.com" rate the Pentax 80ED as THE scope that others are compared to.
I know the host of that website, and he caters to bird watchers, and if you think "we" are fussy about scopes, you have never spoken to a birdwatcher - they are friggin' nuts about scopes, and think nothing of taking out a second mortgage to buy a 3.5" Questar,same size as the little Meade 90, but nearly $4,000), to watch Mumming birds get frisky.
The reason for the quality of the Pentax is in part, the objective, but other scopes have good objectives... it's that humongous eyepiece,the size of a beer can).
It is, by far, the best eyepiece in the field, and it is the eyepiece that kills most scopes.
Bushnell put out a 60mm "Spacemaster" with an ED objective,veeery expensive) about 15 years ago. The scope objective was equal to anything in 60mm made now, but it bombed and was off the market in a year, cuz it used the same ol' shitty eyepieces as the regular Spacemaster.
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