Re: ranging reticle and rotating body
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdice</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone have experience with a ranging reticle like the one from vortex and a spotting scope that rotates? What happens when you rotate the body, how do you ensure that the reticle is perpendicular with the ground? </div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ssatt68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">PD,
Just get the scope as close to vertical as you can and snug it down. The reticle really needs to be perpendicular to the traget when you are attempting to estimate range using the mil or moa scale and not the ground. So if you are ranging an ipsc style target and it is leaning to the left a bit you'll want to line the reticle up so the long axis and short axis match the tilt of the target in order to get an accurate mil reading. </div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pdice</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm actually planning on using it not vertical, so it sounds like I am out of luck. I am placing it on a mount next to another optic, and I need the eyepiece at about a 45 degree angle. I may just have to range with my scope instead. </div></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">pdice</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">(and anyone else interested in <span style="text-decoration: underline">a spotting scope with a MIL-based reticle that can be "squared" to the target regardless of the scope's postion within a rotating collar):</span></span></span>
You're not out-of-luck, unless you're dead-set on the Vortex. As I explained in my <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"
Optolyth S80 HD Compact Spotting Scope"</span></span> write-up, the (MIL-based) reticles in the Optolyth 30X and 45X Optolyth MIL Reticle Eyepieces rotate. The rotating reticle allows the user to rotate the reticle in the Eyepiece so that it is oriented perfectly "square" with the target, <span style="text-decoration: underline">something that IS NOT POSSIBLE with spotting scopes such as the Vortex Razor and Zeiss 65T/Zeiss 85T FLs' because the reticle are fixed (non-rotating).</span> <span style="font-weight: bold">Without the ability to rotate the reticle to "square" it with the target, the spotting scope itself must remain oriented so that the reticle remains square with the target. This typically requires that the spotting scope remain positioned with the controls at 12:00. This is inconvenient and impractical with an angled spotter.</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">pdice</span></span> - since you replied <span style="font-style: italic">"I had a chance yesterday to look through the 20-60 eyepiece at the range and was very impressed"</span> in my <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"
Optolyth S80 HD Compact Spotting Scope"</span></span> thread, hopefully you actually read my write-up. The Optolyth Eyepieces with MIL Reticle does exactly what you need. Maybe you didn't understand that the Optolyth (MIL-based) reticle rotates within the Eyepiece, allowing the reticle to always remain "squared" in relation to the target. Or, perhaps you're looking at the Vortex because of the price differential. I've looked through a [20-60X85mm] Razor HD Spotter (and through a [5-20X60mm] Razor 5-20X scope) and IMHO the Optolyth Compact's optics are better than the Vortex Razor Spotter. Coupled with the Optolyth's rotating reticle Eyepiece the price is more than equitable and fair.
Or, maybe you just want to <span style="font-style: italic">"buy American"</span>. I like to buy American-made stuff too, but if the product doesn't do what I want it to do and/or the quality isn't what I'm looking for I wait until I can buy what I need/want. Below are three photos from my <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"
Optolyth S80 HD Compact Spotting Scope"</span></span> write-up. Note that while the spotting scope has been oriented to about 45-degrees within it's Collar (so the Eyepiece is also oriented to 45-degrees), <span style="font-style: italic">the reticle remains perfectly square to the target, thanks to the rotaing reticle in the Optolyth Eyepiece.</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Gitzo GT1550T Traveller + G2285MB Adapter and Optolyth S80 HD Compact w/30X WA MIL Reticle Eyepiece. Here the scope is
set-up to the Left of the shooter/spotter. The spotting scope has been rotated to the Right within it's Collar, while the Eyepiece's
Reticle has been rotated to the Left to remain "square" with the target area:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Through-the-scope photo of Optolyth 30X Wide Angle MIL Reticle Eyepiece. The "+" at -5 MILs' Elevation is at 1,032 yards:</span></span>
Keith