• Frank's Lesson's Contest

    We want to see your skills! Post a video between now and November 1st showing what you've learned from Frank's lessons and 3 people will be selected to win a free shirt. Good luck everyone!

    Create a channel Learn more

  • Having trouble using the site?

    Contact support

Rifle Scopes Question Expanded to all SB Owners

G

Graham

Generalissimo
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 30, 2007
49,802
48
Michigan
#1
I am wondering how many people who own the <span style="text-decoration: underline">4-16x42 model</span> of SB PM II have the following issue:

A chromatic aberration consisting of a bright yellow edge around the scope image that flares up in bright sunlight.

I am trying to get a consensus on whether or not other people see the same thing through their version of this particular scope.

Here are two pics of my scope (it's much brighter in real life, and the yellow rim is visible around the entire scope image):
IMG_3876.jpg

IMG_3874.jpg
 
#3
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

Pretty much every scope I owns displays some form of CA around the edges, especially if you look at a plain solid background.

From my Hensoldts, to my S&B, to my NF they all have it.

Don't look for it you won't see it
 
#4
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

I ask because I don't see a bright yellow rim in other SB scopes and I don't see it in my NF scopes. Even when I look for it, it isn't there.

So I sent my 4-16x42 to Phil at SB, and he said that he thought this was unique to the 4-16x42 model.

He was very helpful, but rather than have him track incoming scopes for this issue and wait for months for an answer, I thought that I would ask the question here and see if it's an issue with 4-16x42s.

If most of the other 4-16x42s have this 'problem' then I'll take my scope back from him and try hard to ignore it. But if other 4-16x42s don't have it, then my scope is going back to Germany.
 
#5
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

Just checked mine. It has a yellow ring around the outside but seems to be smaller than the one in your pic.
For reference I compared to my 5-25x56 and I don't see any there.
 
#6
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

RG,
Give me a call. I can meet you somewhere this weekend if you want to look through that one I just picked up. I couldn't really tell with mine, but it was dark out by the time I got home.

Jim
 
#7
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

My 3-12X S&B has it too... the NF is very light but they are not heavy on the color coatings...

NF focuses on Resolution and not color, which is why people say other optics "look" better, or that Brand "B" pops compared to NF, when in fact the NF has excellent resolutions, just not heavy color added to create contrast.

But I have like 5 scopes sitting in front of me and they all have some degree of it, especially looking up at the cloud-less sky on a bright day. It's definitely not a equal amount but there is something there on all of them.
 
#8
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

I've changed the Thread title and expanded the question to all SB owners.

Some people have told me that they don't see it on their 4-16, but have it on their 3-12.

Because there were few 4-16s produced compared to 3-12's, can I hear from the 3-12 and 5-25 owners out there?
 
#15
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pgh_rugger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's a question, what difference does it make if it's there or not? </div></div>It's better if it's not there.

It won't turn a hit into a miss, but it's annoying as hell when observing through the scope for long periods of time against a white snowy backround.

Do you see it in your SB?
 
#16
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pgh_rugger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here's a question, what difference does it make if it's there or not? </div></div>It's better if it's not there.

It won't turn a hit into a miss, but it's annoying as hell when observing through the scope for long periods of time against a white snowy backround.

Do you see it in your SB? </div></div>

I'm honestly not sure, I'll have to check tonight. Mine is a fixed 10x42 PMII.
 
#18
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

Thanks everyone for the responses, the PMs, and the offers to look through their scopes. It appears as if some of this CA is normal, and that the amount of visible CA differs from scope to scope of the same brand. Perhaps my 4-16 has it a bit more than some others, but because of the way this particular scope is made the 4-16s appear to have it and the 5-25s appear not to have it.

I spoke again with Phil at the SB service center. He was aware of this Thread and has been monitoring the replies. SB takes an active interest in these kinds of things and he will keep track of this issue. He offered to send my scope back to Germany and make an attempt to cure the CA - with the proviso that it may not be able to be completely cured in a 4-16x42. I didn't send the scope back. The CA is limited to the edge, which is a bit blurry, but the rest of the image is excellent and the scope functions well otherwise.

I have always said that NF is the best value, but on balance SB is still the best scope. Although NF glass, especially on the F1s, has become noticeably better in the last few years, this issue with my SB has not changed my opinion. Meanwhile, I just heard that my new 5-25x56 MSR is in and I am looking forward to having a look through that one.
 
#20
Re: Question Only for SB 4-16x42 Owners

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: taseal</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Man how do you guys afford multiple S&B? Scopes
laugh.gif
</div></div>I sue governments, corporations and insurance companies.

There's no shortage of work these days if you wear the white hat.
wink.gif
 
#21
Re: Question Expanded to all SB Owners

Just checked the S&B's I have here... Both 4-16x42's and both 10x42's have the CA you mentioned... The 10x42's seem to be less noticeable...

Did check the 3-12x50's and they had it very faintly... the 5-25's didn't seem to have it at all...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

carbonbased
Flare / Glare / Backlit notes on 4 scopes (NX8 4-32, Razor Gen II 4.5-27, Razor LHT 4.5-22, S&B 5-25)
Replies
10
Views
434
carbonbased
carbonbased
Glassaholic
  • Poll
Rifle Scopes Which Crossover Scope would you choose?
Replies
146
Views
8K
gpquinney
gpquinney
Glassaholic
Rifle Scopes Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 Review and comparison with NF ATACR 4-16x42, S&B US 3-20x50 and March 4.5-28x52
Replies
129
Views
12K
Kickin45
Kickin45
Glassaholic
Rifle Scopes Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 vs March 3-24x52 vs Schmidt 3-27x56 - battle of midrange magnification juggernauts
Replies
32
Views
8K
Glassaholic
Glassaholic
Glassaholic
Rifle Scopes March FFP 1.5-15x42 MPVO Review and Comparison (w/ Nightforce and Athlon)
Replies
246
Views
23K
OlivierFR
O
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts