Rifle Scopes why are 6x zoom scopes so much more expensive

[longshot2000]

So, I thought I knew a lot about scopes, but I keep learning, which is good.

I am trying to understand why a 6x zoom or a 5x zoom cost so much more than a 3x or 4x. I am not talking about the maximum magnification, but the amount of zoom.

Take for example the Leupold Mark 8 or Mark 6, compared to a Leupold 3-9. Or, even better yet, a Sig Tango 4 or 6. When I spoke with the Sig representatives, I was told that the internal glass is the same, and not much different from the Tango 4 and the Tango 6, except that Tango 6 gives you 6x of zoom, and the Tango 4 4x of zoom.

Now, compare, say a S&B. For the PMII, there is little cost difference from the 5-25 than there is 3-15, or even 1-5, both with same zoom and different top-end magnification.

I would think that a scope that gives you 25x of magnification v. a 15x would have much more in terms of cost and glass to get that additional magnification, but zoom seems to be a rather simple technology, so I am obviously missing something.

 

[Clearlight]

The higher the zoom ratio , the more likely POA shifts can happen while altering
magnification , requiring a higher standard of construction . I see the new Schmidt
with a 9 x zoom ratio is considerably more expensive than the 5 - 25 .

March scopes seem very good value by comparison : similar evelation travel to
the new Schmidt , 10 x zoom ratio in the 8 - 80 X model , for half the price ....
They have a 5 -50 as well .

 

[diverdon]

Following up on the S&B example if we compare the PMII 5-25x56 to the 3-27x56 the latter has a much more modern optical design. At first glance it might seem that it is only 2 power more on each end of the adjustment range, but when you dig into the numbers, a whole new paradime emerges.

The field of view for the PMII 5-25x56 is 5.3 - 1.5M @ 100M.
The field of view for the PMII 3-27x56 is 13.0 - 1.4M @ 100M.
That is a lot of extra field of view. I can find and hit a moving target a lot faster with a 13M fov than a 5M fov. Thats worth more to me than the extra 2x.

The S&B PMII 5-25x56 has been around a long time, the design and production costs were amortized years ago so now S&B just has to recoup their cost of production, distrubition, and profit. The S&B PMII 3-27x56 was designed very recently so S&B still has to sell a lot more of them to recoup their design and tooling up costs.

 

[Steel+Killer]

I don't have anything intelligent to add to this conversation, but the question reminded me of this so please laugh a little with me

OP one reason could simply be because a higher zoom ratio will fetch a higher price just because people are willing to pay more for it.

 

[CBDR]

Question for Clear light. And no I am not baiting you for a squabble. I realize most of our comments on quality are subjective based and formed out of personal experience. With that being said. With regards to the March 3 x 24. I have never had the chance to look down range with one. A few folks here on the hide speak highly of them. Do you or have you owned this model. The reason I ask is I am closing in on another custom build completion in 6.5. It's a bolt action 100% hunting rig.. The smaller size and magnification range and light weight is what sparks my interest.

 

[Clearlight]

I've tried the 3-24 briefly at a local range , shooting steel with holdovers off a 100 zero .
Great little scope well suited to a hunting rig . The owner was similar in size to me with
similar eyesight , so was able to hit everything in sight no issues with no adjustments to
diopter or scope position , just set parallax to mid range and got busy ringing .

Its on my scope wish list , to replace an LRHS and a PST on a couple of rifles .
Im running a 5-40 FFP March and an 8--80 SFP March on other rifles , they have both
been utterly flawless , despite the abuse I've heaped on them .

 

[CBDR]

Thank you. One last question. From the pictures I have looked at, it appears the illumination knob is a dial and push of a rubber gray boot type button. Is that correct. Tell me that is not correct.

 

[Covertnoob5]

Thank you. One last question. From the pictures I have looked at, it appears the illumination knob is a dial and push of a rubber gray boot type button. Is that correct. Tell me that is not correct.

That is correct. It's a rubber push knob. I had a 3-24x52 and it wasn't bad.


Better to have it and not need it, than to not have it and say oh shit.....

 

[bobtodrick]

It's the same with camera lenses.
Once you go beyond a 3 or 4 power zoom ratio, things get expensive fast.
Simple fact of optics. Pincushion and barrel distortion (wherein straight lines do not appear 'straight' especially at the edges of the field of view) and chromatic aberration (typically known as purple fringing) are all very difficult to correct with higher zoom rations.
You just have to look through some of the budget hi-power scopes (Leapers for example has a 4-56X for about $200)...all the lines at the edges of the field of view bend in or out and all light to dark transitions have a bright purple fringe around them.