Sightron scopes

Amazon has two high end sightron scopes one priced at $2900.

SIGHTRON SVIII 5-40x56mm ED FFP Riflescope, Zero Stop Illuminated LRM Reticle​


The other is priced at $1600. cheaper

SIGHTRON 25003 SIII 30mm Riflescope 10-50x60mm, Long Range MOA Reticle​


Who knows the difference at these dollar price points- where’s the value?

 
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@cavedweller Still investigating. I went to Sightron’s site because the Amazon page lacked pertinent details. For instance - in regards to the 25003 model it is a SFP scope, but Amazon doesn’t say this in their description. The ED scope is a FFP scope. The 25003 has a 30mm tube and 60mm objective, focuses down to 13 meters. The ED FFP scope has a 40mm tube with a 56mm objective, zero stop, seemingly higher quality glass (low dispersion), and focuses down to 10 meters. Basically at first glance the ED FFP model appears to be the newer version with more features. They both have different reticles. In reviews of the 25003 model, some reviewers complained of a lack of features for the price point. Still looking at the details.

These links are better sources of info: https://sightron.com/products/sviii-ed-5-40x56-ffp-ir-zero-stop

 
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I own both of those scopes as well as an SV 10-50x60, and can say without any hesitation that the SV and SVIII series leave the SIII series WAY behind in the dust. The SV 10-50x60 has two side focus dials. One for getting there fast and the other for very fine movement - pretty slick. I have 3 of the 10-50x60 SIIIs, and they are pretty soft and gray at 50x, even in bright sunlight. I own 6 of the 8-32x56 SIIIs, and to my eyes they are sharper and brighter at 32x than the 10-50x60 SIII at the same power setting, but neither of them are that great when compared to ED glass scopes. I wish they were all SV series. The Sightron SVs are superb optics with clarity on a par with glass costing quite a bit more. I am not sure what I am going to mount the SVIII 5-40x56mm. It has a 40MM TUBE on it and weighs 49 ounces!
 
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I own both of those scopes as well as an SV 10-50x60, and can say without any hesitation that the SV and SVIII series leave the SIII series WAY behind in the dust. The SV 10-50x60 has two side focus dials. One for getting there fast and the other for very fine movement - pretty slick. I have 3 of the 10-50x60 SIIIs, and they are pretty soft and gray at 50x, even in bright sunlight. I own 6 of the 8-32x56 SIIIs, and to my eyes they are sharper and brighter at 32x than the 10-50x60 SIII at the same power setting, but neither of them are that great when compared to ED glass scopes. I wish they were all SV series. The Sightron SVs are superb optics with clarity on a par with glass costing quite a bit more. I am not sure what I am going to mount the SVIII 5-40x56mm. It has a 40MM TUBE on it and weighs 49 ounces!
Thanks for explaining some of the differences. I've always been curious about Sightron and their comparison between series.
 
"ED" is extra low dispersion, It's not just a coating, it's a design of the lenses in the optical path to reduce or eliminate Chromatic Aberration (CA) ED glass will combine different minerals and manufacturing techniques throughout the glass and coatings combined to minimize CA and produced sharper, brighter images.

Because distinct colors refract differently as they traverse optical components, CA often results in lenses being unable to focus multiple hues uniformly. This manifests in color fringing. For instance, you might take what you think is a great photo only to discover that the edges of objects display rainbow blurs or purple fringes.
In a rifle scope, this is going to really mess up the image quality.

Here's a great description;
 
"ED" is extra low dispersion, It's not just a coating, it's a design of the lenses in the optical path to reduce or eliminate Chromatic Aberration (CA) ED glass will combine different minerals and manufacturing techniques throughout the glass and coatings combined to minimize CA and produced sharper, brighter images.

Because distinct colors refract differently as they traverse optical components, CA often results in lenses being unable to focus multiple hues uniformly. This manifests in color fringing. For instance, you might take what you think is a great photo only to discover that the edges of objects display rainbow blurs or purple fringes.
In a rifle scope, this is going to really mess up the image quality.

Here's a great description;
ED glass has been around since the days Canon was using fluorite elements in their hi-end camera lenses. I try to use only ED glass scopes if possible — more expensive but clearer images. Aberrations can lead to mistaken holds at longer distance.
 
There are things, especially in the type of work that I performed, would just stand out and catch my eye as different, non-conforming or wrong. Scope or binocular images are not one of them currently. But , no pun intended, I’ll be looking into it.
I’ve known a few people that go way overboard, in my estimation, on stereo with extremely good pure sound quality and weren’t happy unless what they listen to was such. Not sure if I have ever gone to that degree with anything in my life.
How much does ED glass and CA really matter on a scope that is used for say squirrel hunting out to 50 or 60 yards ? Not trying to be a $hithead, just curious. I think I have some decent optics on my rifles. I have three Elements and one Aztec Emerald that I feel give me a nice clear image. I of course don’t shoot benchrest where it would be smart to spend as much as one can afford/justify.
Definitely, now that I read the ED glass link, going to look at all my binoculars and rifle scopes to see if I can notice any CA or are my eyes just to uncritical (or tired) to see the difference.
It was nice to see the comment the link had on the Vortex Razor binoculars. There are definitely a bunch of binoculars on the market that are significantly higher priced.
I don’t think any of my binoculars are over $200 so I guess I shouldn’t expect much. I don’t do a ton of glassing when hunting since I’m typically in heavy woods but lately I’ve started taking them. More out of something to entertain myself while waiting on a shot opportunity than actual need. I bought them, I might as well use them.
 
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ED glass has been around since the days Canon was using fluorite elements in their hi-end camera lenses. I try to use only ED glass scopes if possible — more expensive but clearer images. Aberrations can lead to mistaken holds at longer distance.
I've still got some Flourite Canon lenses. Magical stuff. Modern ED manages to achive what flourite did with less concern about temperature effect. Canon also did wonders combining leaded glass with flourite in the old 200mm f/1.8. Nothing else ever looked quite like it.
 
Soon I’ll be able to say: my erector tube is bigger than yours! 🤨😆🤣

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