Birdwatching Dot Com

Ratings Chart

May/June, 2009, Bird Watcher's Digest
Copyright Michael and Diane Porter 2009

 

  Legend


Manufacturer
Name of Scope
Obj. (mm)
Eyepiece
Zoom
Range
Eye Relief
(mm)
Eyecups
Style
FOV
in ft
@ 1000 yds.
Close Focus
(ft)
Weight
(oz.)
Length
(in.)
Special Glass
Coatings
Street Price
Resolution Score
@ 30x
Resolution Score
@ 60x
Image Quality
Score
Focus Knob
Score
Ergonomics Score
Overall Score
   Sub Compact 50mm Scopes
Nikon Fieldscope ED50
50
13-30x
12.9
Fold
157
9.8
20.1
8.1
Yes
FMC
$700
4.4
-
4.8
4.6
4.2
4.42
Leupold Golden Ring
15-30x50 Kit
50
15-30x
17.5
Fold
136
13.5
21.5
11.0
-
MC
$500
3.6
-
3.7
2.4
2.7
3.45
Bushnell Legend Ultra-HD
12-36x50
50
12-36x
17.0
Twist
179
15.0
36.3
9.8
Yes
FMC
$340
3.2
-
4.0
3.8
4.0
3.41
Yukon Firefall
12-36x50 AE Kit
50
12-36x
19.0
Fold
150
17.0
21.0
10.5
-
FMC
$80
3.0
-
2.9
4.4
4.0
3.22
Minox MD 50 W
50
16-30x
15.0
Twist
142
16.4
21.7
8.4
-
FMC
$349
2.9
-
3.4
1.6
3.6
2.90
   Compact 60-70mm Scopes
Pentax PF 65 EDA II
20-60x65
65
20-60x
15.0
Twist
111
16.4
37.7
10.6
Yes
FMC
$899
3.7
2.8
3.6
4.6
4.5
3.87
Yukon Firefall
15-45x60 AE Kit
60
15-45x
17.9
Fold
131
17.0
27.0
11.9
-
MC
$100
3.3
-
3.1
3.8
3.4
3.35
Vortex Impact RA Scope
70
25-75x
18.0
Fold
89
33.0
37.4
10.2
-
FMC
$200
3.3
2.3
3.0
3.7
3.4
3.34
   Full-Size 80mm Scopes
Alpen Model #788
20-60x80
80
20-60x
19.0
Twist
113
24.0
56.0
16.0
-
FMC
$434
4.3
3.3
4.1
4.4
4.3
4.27
Bushnell Legend Ultra-HD
20-60x80
80
20-60x
18.0
Twist
110
35.0
80.1
16.5
Yes
FMC
$500
3.7
2.9
3.7
3.2
3.2
3.64
Vortex Skyline
20-60x80 ED
80
20-60x
19.0
Twist
113
26.0
68.0
17.7
Yes
FMC
$750
3.6
2.6
3.6
3.2
3.5
3.58


Copyright Michael and Diane Porter 2009

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