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NIKON SCOPES #5659352 03/20/15 12:49 AM
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posqualie Offline OP
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YOUR THOUGHTS ON 3X9X50 BDC. LOOKING TO TRADE NIKON 4X12X40 BDC.NEED LITTLE MORE LIGHT WILL IT HELP?


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Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5659592 03/20/15 03:17 AM
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Bart H Offline
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The short answeris YES.
Here's the long answer, defintely worth reading from
Quote:
OpticsThoughts


The exit pupil is a function of scope magnification and objective lens. To calculate its diameter, divide the objective lens diameter by the magnification. For example, a 6×42 riflescope has a 7mm exit pupil. A variable magnification 3-9×40 riflescope has ~4.4mm exit pupil at 9x and it gets progressively larger as you lower magnification. In practice, with a 3-9×40 riflescope, you end up with the best low light performance at somewhere between 4x and 7x magnification, depending on how large your eye pupil gets and how low the light is. To know for sure, it is worthwhile to experiment.
Aside from the exit pupil diameter, high image quality really helps. Human brain utilizes the images from both eyes to extract detail, but there is no binocular vision in riflescopes. However, keeping the off-eye slightly open helps. Also, images with higher contrast allow you to maintain some elements of color vision longer. That also helps your brain extract detail out of the picture.
There are a few other things to consider as well. For one, in very low light you actually see a little better with the “corner of your eye”, so to speak. It is also easier to see moving details than stationary ones. In that case, it helps to have the exit pupil of the scope a little larger than your eye pupil. That way your eye can move a little without blacking out the image. Another factor is the change in the F/# of your eye as the pupil dilates. That causes the perceived depth of field of your eye to be quite a bit shallower in low light. Hence, eye distance behind the scope’s eyepiece becomes more critical. Moreover, in daylight, when cones are responsible for light collection, your eye is most sensitive to green-yellow part of the spectrum. In low light, as the rods in your eye starts to collect the bulk of the information, eye sensitivity shifts into the green-blue. That implies that some scopes with anti-reflective coatings well optimized for daylight will not perform all that well after sunset. On the other hand, a scope that looks decent, but not exceptional during the day, might look better than you thought at night. Once again, there is no substitute for experimentation.
When all is said and done, keep in mind that for truly good low light performance, you need both high image quality and large exit pupil. If in doubt, err on the side of top notch glass. If the scope delivers just a bit extra light and higher image fidelity to your eye, a moderate exit pupil works surprisingly well in failing light.


Longtime hunter/shooter/fisherman who loves being outdoors. I used to hunt/compete with my son, but he's now stationed in Germany. Never enough time.
Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5664359 03/23/15 01:37 AM
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Question to Barton...

I thought a key to better low light performance was not just objective lens size but the lens coatings.

Is the Original Poster better off going to a 3-9 50MM scope or staying with a 3x9 x40mm scope that has better light gathering qualities (better coatings)say one of the higher end Nikons or a more economically priced a Zeiss or a mid-ranged leupold VX2.

So it's really coating vs Objective size....where would you spend your money.

Last edited by TonyinVA; 03/23/15 01:38 AM.
Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5664711 03/23/15 07:45 AM
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My Meopro's and Conquest have 44 and 40 MM objectives respectively. Two 3.5-10x44's and a 3-9x40. I can see much better through them in low light than I can with my VX-3 3.5-10x50. In my experience the quality of the glass and coatings are more important than objective size.


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Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: TonyinVA] #5664999 03/23/15 02:23 PM
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That's where I would go as well..and the 40mm vs 50mm is probably a lighter scope which I see as a plus.

Last edited by TonyinVA; 03/23/15 02:24 PM.
Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5665808 03/23/15 10:27 PM
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posqualie Offline OP
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Forgot to mention it will be a Nikon pro staff on both scopes. Field of view is better on 50mm also.


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Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5665826 03/23/15 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted By: posqualie
Forgot to mention it will be a Nikon pro staff on both scopes. Field of view is better on 50mm also.


My opinion..and I do not want to offend anyone, if you want good low light performance buy a higher end scope than The Nikon Pro staff. Field of view means nothing if you cannot see it.

Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: TonyinVA] #5665850 03/23/15 10:48 PM
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posqualie Offline OP
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Ihave a simmons 3x9x50 on another gun and it collects more light than the Nikon 40mm.Just seems weird to me its a 50 dollar scope. Just saying'


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Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5666155 03/24/15 02:10 AM
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You seem to already have your mind made up on needing a 50mm scope..so just do it and enjoy yourself.

Last edited by TonyinVA; 03/24/15 02:17 AM.
Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: TonyinVA] #5667372 03/24/15 08:59 PM
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posqualie Offline OP
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OH K IM NOT SET ON 50MM Just wanting ideas on scope that doesn't break the bank. my eyes are not that good close up but are ok otherwise. So what coatings am I looking for and scopes with good glass,i know prostaff is not great but figured it was decent glass.


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Re: NIKON SCOPES [Re: posqualie] #5668297 03/25/15 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted By: posqualie
OH K IM NOT SET ON 50MM Just wanting ideas on scope that doesn't break the bank. my eyes are not that good close up but are ok otherwise. So what coatings am I looking for and scopes with good glass,i know prostaff is not great but figured it was decent glass.


You'd probably get good information doing a few Goggle searches. You want all the lens multi-coated so you get maximum light transmission...and good glass so you can see the detail. So look for both. Read reviews.

Natchez Shooting Supply has great deals on refurbished and closed out scopes

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=HQR01538&src=exrbSrch


Last edited by TonyinVA; 03/25/15 12:05 PM.
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